Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows the Blackburn family, mom and dad with three children. Mom holds a book which was not all that common in these old photographs. We thought it might be a Bible, but does not look like one. She also has some kind of badge which was also not very common. Dad seems rather elderly for such a young family. He is wearng what looks more like a military jacket than a suit. Note the medal. We wonder if they may be involved with the Salvation Army

This CDV portrait shows the Blackburn family, mom and dad with three children. Mom holds a book which was not all that common in these old photographs. We thought it might be a Bible, but does not look like one. She also has some kind of badge which was also not very common. Dad seems rather elderly for such a young family. He is wearng what looks more like a military jacket than a suit. Note the medal. We wonder if they may be involved with the Salvation Army The Salvation Army was founded in England and cwas already a well-established institutiin by the 1870s. Its main message besides Christianity was temperance. Unfortunately, the image is not clear enough to tell. The children look to be about 3-11 years old. The girl wears a hat, but we are not sure how to describe it. She also seems to have a badge. The youngest boy wears a cap which we can also not identify. He seems to be wearing a jumper (sweater). This is earlier than we see many boys wearing sweaters. The older boy wears a sailor cap with a ship tally and a pom, what became a French style but was not commom for English sailor caps. He has a collar-buttoning jacket wirn with a small Eton collar. Both boys wear knee pants and what may be hand knitted long stockings. The CDV portrait is undated, but looks like the 1870s. The studio was Gibbs in Middlesboro, Yorkshire.

Created: 7:46 AM 3/19/2024
Last updated: 7:46 AM 3/19/2024