Figure 1.-- his American family is unidentified. We do not know where in America it was taken or when. We suspect that it was taken in the late-1920s or early 30s, most probably the early-30s. The family has four children, a baby, two girls, and a boy. Image courtesy of the BP collection.

This American family is unidentified. We do not know where in America it was taken or when. We suspect that it was taken in the late-1920s or early 30s, most probably the early-30s. The family has four children, a baby, two girls, and a boy. The girls are probably wearing their best party dresses with classic strap shoes and white stockings. These shoes were more common in the 30s than 20s. Especially in the early 20s we see often ankle-strap shoes, rather than the insep straps here. The boy wears a button-on outfit, also with white stocking, but low-cut oxfords rather than strap shoes. This we think is much more indicate than the 30s when younger boys often wore strap shoes when dressing up. Another indicator of the 30s is the older girls hair style, which looks rather modern to us, again more likely the 30s than the 20s. The adult clothing overall suggests the 30s to us more than the 20s, although we see trouser cuffs in the 20s.

The Family

This American family is unidentified. The family has four children, a baby, two girls, and a boy. The family would seem to be a middle-class family in compfortable circumstances. Notice that none of the family members are touching. Body language often provides clues as to family relations.

Location

We do not know where in America it was taken.

Chronology

Nor do we know when the portrait was taken. We suspect because of the clothing that the portrait was taken in the late-1920s or early 30s, most probably the early-30s. The girls' dresses and the fact the baby is barefoot suggests that this was a late-spring or summer portrait.

Portrait

The portrait here is a rather formal pose. It seems similar to the rather stiff portaiture of the 19th and early 20 centuries than the more informalposing that was bginning to become more popular in the 30s. The portrait was presented in a moteled-grey paper frame with arc-deco styling. Particularly notable is that it is a stand up frame. We are not yet sure just when these stand up frames first appeared. We think it was the late-1920s, but they were much more common in the 30s. This needs to be conformed.

Clothing

The girls are probably wearing their best party dresses with classic strap shoes and white stockings. These shoes were more common in the 30s than 20s. Especially in the early 20s we see often ankle-strap shoes, rather than the insep straps here. The boy wears a button-on outfit. It seems to be a blouse with a small lace collar that he has rather outgrown worn with black velvet button-on short pants. Like his sisters, he wears white stocking, but low-cut oxfords rather than strap shoes. This we think is much more indicate of the 30s when younger boys often wore strap shoes when dressing up. The adult clothing overall suggests the 30s to us more than the 20s, although we see trouser cuffs in the 20s.

Hair Styling

The boy has his hair cut in bangs. Another indicator of the 30s is the older girls hair style, which looks rather modern to us, again more likely the 30s than the 20s. I'm not sure quite what to make of the father's hair cut. It seems unusual for the inter-war period.

Reader Comment

A reader writes, "A very impressive dating analysis. Good detective work. I was born in 1927 and wore outfits similar to this boy's in about 1932, so I think you are right on the money. I don't think I ever wore white long stockings, however. I think mine were tan or beige. But since I was only five at the time, I don't entirely trust my memory, and it is hard to be positive about such details. What I do remember is the underwaist and supporters for holding up the stockings. That is what the children here are probably wearing also."

Created: 6:10 PM 1/11/2008
Last updated: 11:08 PM 1/11/2008