Figure 1.--Here we have Elford Caughey in 1918. Elford is a name we no longer see. I'm not sure what kind of name Cauhey is, perhaps Irish. He looks to be about 13 years old. There are several interesting aspects to this photograph. First and foremost is "Wolf", Elford's wonderful German shepard.

Here we have Elford Caughey in a photograph taken July 10, 1918. Elford is a name we no longer see. I'm not sure what kind of name Cauhey is, perhaps Irish. The Irish by the 20th century had largely assimilated into American society, but there was lingering prejudice, in part due to their Catholocism. He looks to be about 13 years old. There are several interesting aspects to this photograph. First and foremost is "Wolf", Elford's wonderful German shepard. (Because of World War I, Americans began calling German shepards, Alsatians.) Wolf certainly has his eye on something. Because of Wolf we can't see exactly what Elford is wearing, but it surely was knickers. We can see the dark long stockings. Note the sport shirt. They were designed to be worn a a open collar shirt. Some mothers insisted that a tie be added as is the case with Elford here. There was no collar button. Some mothers insisted the tie be pulled tight. Here Elford wears it as more of a knotted scarfe. Note the short sleeves. A reader writes, "I am doing research on an Elford Caughey, who was principal harpist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1938-1951. Your website has an image and brief description of a boy of about 13 taken in July of 1918 who is identified as Elford Caughey. Given how unusual the name is, I thought this boy might be the person I am researching, whom, it so happens, was born in 1904 and so might be the boy in your photo." [Zeller]

Sources

Zeller, Terry. E-mail message, April 29, 2006.

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Created: 9:35 AM 12/30/2005
Last edited: 6:39 PM 4/29/2006