Figure 1.--Here we have a CDV portait of S.S. Guen. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1880s. He looks to be about 12-13 yeats old. One might think that he is a soldier in the Britih Army. He seems to be wearing a trpoical uniform, perhps the uniform of the British Army in India. Both the Army and Royal Navy at the time accepted boys this age. We re not positive, however, that he was actually in the Army. We note that the potrait was taken by Runicles of Eton. We wonder if the boy is not an Eton College boy drssed up in the uniform either for fun or as part of the school cadet program.

The HBC biography section is for people or families that have achieved some degree of notariety or fame. HBC readers in many cases have submitted family portraits. HBC has until now not added them to the biography section. We believe now that this is a mistake. Many of the HBC readers contributing family portraits can also provide details about the boy and him family. This background information help us to assess social trends and put the fashions involved in perspective. This is just why the biographical section is an important part of HBC. As a result, HBC has decided to create pages for these relatively unknown people, when some basic family data is available. Incidentally if you find a relative here, please do tell us somehing about him. Here we are listing these biographies alpahabetically to facilitate looking up individual names. The alphabdetical list is the primary data base in this section. While we have not persued geneolgical resreach on these individual, having the names and in many cases the loaction provide the potential to acquire more back ground information in the future which may provide additonal insights into the fashion and life style trends.

G?????, Otto (Germany, about 1905)

We have a portrait of a German boy from Eberswalde. We are not sure just where in Germany that is. The portrait was probably taken about 1905. On the back it reads, "Onkel Otto, Bruder von Hans G?????". This means in English: "Uncle Otto, brother of Hans G?????". Unfortunately the handwritting is not very clear and we cannot make out what this surname might be. Perhaps our readers can make out the family name. Hans wears a front buttoning smock. I'm not sure about the color. He also has a small bow. His collar has stripe detailing. We have not noted German boys wearing smocks very commonly. Otto is pictured with a book. We wonder if he wore this smock to school or if it was just for homewear. This is, however, a formal portrait, suggesting he commonly wore it.

Gagnon, Gustave (Canada, 1901)

Here we have a photograph of a 16-year-old boy with (probably) his older sister taken in the city of Quebec in 1901. We know almost nothing about the family except that the father was Gustave Gagnon and seems to have been a prosperous figure in the capital city of Quebec at the turn of the 20th century. We are told that the boy is 16 years old but not told his Christian name, only that he is a son of Gustave Gagnon. The older girl standing next to him appears to be his older sister. Notice the boy's Eton collar which covers the collar of his suit jacket. He wears a single breasted knee-pants grey suit (it seems to be grey flannel) the trousers of which lack the usual ornamental buttons near the hem. He wears the standard long black stockings and high-top boots with metal hooks for the upper laces. The somewhat casual haircut looks rather modern for 1901.

Gersich Family (Germany, 1917)

Here we have the children of the Gersich family. The portrait is not dated, but as we know the birt dates of the children, we would guess that it was taken during World war I, probably about 1917. We do not where in Germany that the children lived. The children are: Heinz (born 01/1912), Franz (born 01/1907), and Hanna (born 05/1909). The portrait is notable for several reasons. One is the severity of the boys' hair cuts. Also notice the touching way the two older children are holding hand. The body language in these old photographs is often very telling. The portrait certainly suggests that they were a very close family. The importance of the sailor suit can also be noted. Both the younger brither and sister wear sailor-styled outfits. Notice how a lave trim has been added to the boy's sailor collar. Note the older boy's open collar. It is rather like a Schiller collar, although most Schiller collars we have noted had ponted tips. It is a good example of the trenbd toward informality during the war.

Gill, Harry (United States, 1890s)

This boy is Harry Gill and had his portrait taken in Petersburgh, Virginia. We know nothing about the boy or his family. The elegant way he is dressed suggests to us that he came from an affluent family. He looks dresses up in his best suit, It is a rather elegant kneepants suit which she wears with an Eton collar and floppy bow. Because of the banjo it is not possible to see much of the jacket. Perhaps this is the outfit he wore for a recital with his banjo. One observer suggests that the Piedmont of Virginia was an important area in the development of the modern banjo The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1890s. Notice the black long stockings.

Gloss, Frances (United States, about 1915)

This AZO postcard portrait is undated. The flag tells us that is was taken during or most probanly after 1913 when Arizona entered the union. The boy is identified as Francis Gloss. Frances wears an Uncle Sam costume which mother has surely sewed for him. Frances holds what would have been at the time a new 48-star American flag. We see quite a number of boys wearing these Uncle Sam coistumes n the early 20th century. Tey seem especially common in the 1910s, both before and duing World War I.

Goldstein, Barney (United States, 1910)

This photograph shows a newspaper boy in Wilmington Delaware. The archival record reads, "Barney Goldstein, 83 W. 5th St. Newsboy, 10 years of age. Selling newspapers 1 year. Average earnings 50 cents per week. Selling papers own choice. Don't smoke. Visits saloons. Works 5 hours per day. Investigator, Edward F. Brown. Location: Wilmington, Delaware / Photo by Lewis W. Hine., May, 1910"

Grand, Alex and Elsa (France, about 1899)

Here is an engraving of Alex and Elsa Grand. I believe they were French siblings. The portrait is undated, but was probably painted in the late 1890s. Alex wears a suit with fancy cuffs. He has a large white collar and floppy bow. He looks about 11-12 years old. He has longish hair. I don;t think that wa very common for school age boys at the time. This suggests a wealthy family which is almost surely the case because only a wealthy family could afford a quality protrait like this. Elss was the older sister. She wears an elaborate dress with a very long back bow. We believed the engraving is based on a painting by F. Hunert. We know nothing about the artist. The print was exhibited at the Salon 1900 and Decennial Exhibition.

Grimsley Family (United States, 1900?)

Here we have a photo of a little boy and I think his baby brother. This was from a set of photographs from the Grimsley family album. The prominent Grimsley family was from Greensboro North Carolina. So all are most likely related in some way. The album and other information, i.e.newpaper clippings & letters, contain the family names of Lyon, Strode, Warren and Grimsley. I'm not sure quite how to dte the photograph, but would guess about 1900.

Grisen, E.V. (United States, 1850s)

Many daguerreotypes are unidentified and undated. Unlike CDVs and cabinent cards, the name of the photographer is usually unknown. Here we have a sixth plate daguerreotype which is identified. Written inside the case is "E.V. (Grisen) 11 years of age. Honey Brook, Pa (Pennsylvania). Sister Elizabeth." The boy appears to be wearing a small bowtie and a jacket with lapels and closes with quite a row of buttons. The portrait is undated, but almost certainly was made in the 1850s.

Guadango, Marie and Michael (United States, 1925)

This is a portrait of Marie and Michael Guadango taken in Staten Island, New York during 1925. Note that Michael is wearing a dress, which was the traditional garment for young children both boys and girls in this family. Both my grandmother and grandfather were immigrants from Italy. Grandfather was a mudsic arranger and worked for the big bands in the late 1930s and era;y 40s. My grandmother was a seamstress. The clothes worn by my mother were hand made by grandmother. Both of my grandparents were from Naples and their marrigae was prearranged by the families. They were married here in the United States after grandmother arrived in 1912. Mother was born April 22, 1918. She would have been 6-7 years old in this portrait. My Uncle Michael was born February 22, 1922. He would have been about 2 years old. Mother passed away December 12,2000. Uncle Michael is still living and resides in New Jersey. -- Wesley Harrison

Guen, S.S. (England, 1880s)

Here we have a CDV portait of S.S. Guen. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1880s. He looks to be about 12-13 yeats old. One might think that he is a soldier in the British Army. He seems to be wearing a trpoical uniform, perhps the uniform of the British Army in India. Both the Army and Royal Navy at the time accepted boys this age. We re not positive, however, that he was actually in the Army. We note that the potrait was taken by Runicles of Eton. We wonder if the boy is not an Eton College boy dressed up in the uniform either for fun or as part of the school cadet program.

Gulick, Carl and Fritz (United States, 1880s?)

Here we have two twin boys from Lincoln, Nebraska. The boys had their portrait taken when they were 7 years old. Unfortunately the portrait is not dates. We would guess that the portrait was taken in the 1880s. Nebraska is a farm state, but it is the capital and thus these are probably city boys. It is of course possible that the boys were brought to the city for the portrait, but we believe it is more likely that they actually lived in the city. Both boys have identical hair styles and clothes. Their hair is long, but not curled. The boys wear bib-front garments that might be called pinafores over dresses with lace collars.

Gustavson, Russell (United States, 1940s?)

We see Sidney Franks with his schoolmate and buddy Russell Gustavson. They are pictured in the school yard. The photograph is undated. The dealer suggested the 1930s, but the Denver, Colorado school in the background looks rather modern. We might guess the photograph was taken in the 40s. Strangey the photograph was printed in New York City. The boys wear the casual clothes common in Americam schools at the time.

Created: 4:36 PM 3/9/2005
Last updated: 6:21 PM 9/27/2008