Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified English family in thrir homey back garden. A scene recorded by the new family snapshots now added to the photopgraphic record. Here they are all dressed up, including headwear--biaterm briad-brummed sailor hat, and baby bonnet. To see their everyday home clothes put your cursor on the image.

The 19th century photographic record was mostly studio photography which meant that that people dressed up in their best clothing. This of course is interesting, but does not tell us what people wore everyday or around home. For some reason we have found quite a few outdoor images taken in towns and vilages during the 1890s, mostly wide frame images of street scenes. We have found more of these than in America, but these are not exactly home scenes. Many of the children look like they are dressed up for school, not for wear around home. Suddenly photography changed significantly. In America, Kodak came out with the Brownie camera, making the home family snapshot possible. At last we have images of people at home, mostly outside around the home. Photogaphs insoors were more complicated because of lighting. But outside it was just point and shoot. Results were great if you followed a few simple rules such as don't shoot into the sun. And the kids were a primary subject to photograph around the home. While this innovation occurred in America (1900), it very quickly spread to England and the rest of Europe, at first mostly Western Europe. Thus in the 20th century we have a marvelous new addition to the photographic record--the family snapshot and we can see how peoole dressed casually at home.

Created: 9:45 PM 6/12/2020
Last updated: 9:45 PM 6/12/2020