Figure 1.-- This is Elmer Dewey in an undated photograph about 1920. We know from both the clothing and the photographic format that it was an early-20th century photograph. The white whicker furniture usually means the turn of the 20th-century, but the boy's clothes, especially the short pants look more like the 1920s. Elmer wears a plain long-sleeved shirt, short pants, light-colored long stockings, and high-top shoes. We know nothing about Elmer except that he was nicknamed Earl. We have no idea where he was from. We suspect that he was living in a northern state. He looks to be about 7-years old. This is a rare portrait of a black child with curls.

This is Elmer Dewey in an undated photograph about 1920. We know from both the clothing and the photographic format that it was an early-20th century photograph. The white whicker furniture usually means the turn of the 20th-century, but the boy's clothes, especially the short pants look more like the 1920s. Elmer wears a plain long-sleeved shirt, short pants, light-colored, probably white, long stockings, and high-top shoes. We know nothing about Elmer except that he was nicknamed Earl. We have no idea where he was from. We suspect that he was living in a northern state. He looks to be about 7-years old. This is a rare portrait of a black child with curls. Here both the nature of the hair and family income were factors. A reader writes, "This is a fascinating photo. I agree that the shortness of the trousers makes the dating at least 1920, maybe even as late as 1923. I would guess that this boy comes from a relatively affluent family. I think the long stockings are beige rather than white."

Created: 8:40 PM 4/14/2010
Last edited: 10:26 PM 4/15/2010