Figure 1.--Here we see the Newell family, taken somewhere in America about 1919-20. We know nothing about the family except the surname. They seem to be a mid-Western family.

Here we see the Newell family, taken somewhere in America about 1919-20. We know nothing about the family except the surname. The three children sitting in the front row (two girls and a boy) all wear black long stockings, virtually universal at this period. Notice the supporter buttons showing at the hem of the smaller girl's dress (or possibly rompers). The little boy also appears to be wearing rompers. The three older boys, standing in back, are probably wearing above-the-knee knickers with similar black stockings although their lower bodies are concealed in the photo. Two of the boys are wearing what appear to be hand-knitted sleeveless sweaters over colored shirts with ties. The boy in the middle wears a shirt buttoned to the neck but without a tie. He wears a coat sweater with front buttons and a rolled collar that also might have been home-knitted. The Newells appear to have been a middle class family, living in a somewhat rural community--perhaps even on a farm. They wear simple, practical clothing with home-made elements but have considerable green space around their home. We have no notion of the location except that it was probably the eastern or mid-western United States. The foliage, clearer in an uncropped version of this photograph, suggests this.

Created: 3:54 AM 3/17/2006
Last updated: 3:55 AM 3/17/2006