Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait shows three brothers in Worcester Massachusetts, probably in the 1870s or early 80s. We are not entirely sure about dress styles, although a reader tells us the dresses are done in 1880s styles. The CDV foirmat, however, suggest the 1870s. Unlike Europe most American photgraphers switched to cabinent cards in the 1870s. American CDVs are relatively rare by the 1880s. The photographer was A.F. Daniels. The children are not identifitied, but they certainly look like brothers. Girls could have short hair cuts, but cuts with the ears so prominent were not very common. The dealer writes, "This listing is for one original Carte De Visite photo of three little boys from Worcester, Mass. Can't you just hear the argument that morning in the house between the mother and these boys, trying to convince them to wear dresses and large straw hats to make a better picture? Too funny." He is of course inposing 21st century sensibilities on the 1870s, but these boys are of an age that you would think they would be begn to object to wearing dresses, even in the 1870s.

This CDV portrait shows three brothers in Worcester Massachusetts, probably in the 1870s or early 80s. We are not entirely sure about dress styles, although a reader tells us the dresses are done in 1880s styles. The CDV foirmat, however, suggest the 1870s. Unlike Europe most American photgraphers switched to cabinent cards in the 1870s. American CDVs are relatively rare by the 1880s. The photographer was A.F. Daniels. The children are not identifitied, but they certainly look like brothers. Girls could have short hair cuts, but cuts with the ears so prominent were not very common. The dealer writes, "This listing is for one original Carte De Visite photo of three little boys from Worcester, Mass. Can't you just hear the argument that morning in the house between the mother and these boys, trying to convince them to wear dresses and large straw hats to make a better picture? Too funny." He is of course inposing 21st century sensibilities on the 1870s, but these boys are of an age that you would think they would be begn to object to wearing dresses, even in the 1870s. The two younger boys wear identical dresses with lace collars. Their older sibling wears a different dress without a lace collar. Notice the elaborate straw hats. Unlike many period portraits, there are no props. A reader writes, "Interesting observation. The boys might not have minded if that was there normal dress and other boys their age wore similar. I do not that the boys do not look all that happy at being photographed. They seem to come from a wealthy family and maybe did not associate with peers. There would then be no peer pressure about the clothes they wore. My guess is it was the hat they did not like. Maybe this photograph was taken at around the time they were breached and they wanted to wear their new clothes." Yes. what we do not know is what their regular clothese were. It is unlikely they were any kinds of pants outfit. We suspect that they did not play with other children outdide of the family or even go to public school. This portrait is interesting because the boys are wearing hats. Headwear is not common in these portraits.

Location

The portrait was taken in Worcester Massachusetts. Woorcester was at the her of the American revolution before the Civil War. Important textiles mills were opened here and barbed wire was first made here. It developed as one of the larges citirs in New England. Thus Worcester when this portrait was taken was an important industrial city.

Studio

The photographer was A.F. Daniels. Worcester was a well, established northeastern industrial city. A Daguerreotypist was operating in Worcester almost as soon as the process was developed. Daguereotypes were beeing made (1841). Daniels opened his studio (1861). [Rice,p.66.] This was when CDVs first appeared in America. We do not know how long Daniels operated his studio, but we do know that he was active throughout the 1870s and into the 80s. .

Chronology

We believe that the portrait was taken in the 1870s, operhaps the late 70s, but the early 80s is possible. We are not entirely sure about dress styles, although a reader tells us the dresses are done in 1880s styles. The CDV foirmat, however, suggest the 1870s. Unlike Europe most American photgraphers switched to cabinent cards in the 1870s. American CDVs are relatively rare by the 1880s, but we do know that Daniels was still making CDVs into the 80s. So it s quite possible that this CDV could have been made in the 80s.

The Children

This CDV portrait shows three children who we believe to be brothers. The children are not identifitied, but they certainly look like brothers. Identifying the gender of younger children is very difficult. While the children here look like boys and have short hair cuts, as a reader mentions, girls also could have short cuts. Unlike many period portraits, there are no props to give us clues on gender.

Clothing

The two younger boys wear identical dresses with lace collars. Lave collars are more associated with the 80s than the 70s. They look like the collars boys wore at the time. Their older sibling wears a different dress without a lace collar. Notice the elaborate straw hats. This portrait is interesting because the boys are wearing hats. Headwear is not common in these portraits.

Boys' Attitudes

The dealer writes, "This listing is for one original Carte De Visite photo of three little boys from Worcester, Mass. Can't you just hear the argument that morning in the house between the mother and these boys, trying to convince them to wear dresses and large straw hats to make a better picture? Too funny." He is of course inposing 21st century sensibilities on the 1870s, but these boys are of an age that you would think they would be begn to object to wearing dresses, even in the 1870s. A reader writes, "Interesting observation. The boys might not have minded if that was there normal dress and other boys their age wore similar. I do not that the boys do not look all that happy at being photographed. They seem to come from a wealthy family and maybe did not associate with peers. There would then be no peer pressure about the clothes they wore. My guess is it was the hat they did not like. Maybe this photograph was taken at around the time they were breached and they wanted to wear their new clothes." Yes. what we do not know is what their regular clothese were. It is unlikely they were any kinds of pants outfit. We suspect that they did not play with other children outdide of the family or even go to public school. Another reader writes, "It is also possible that the boys were home schooled and wore dresses all the time so that there was not any arguments. Or maybe the younger ones wore dresses and only the older one had to be "forced". There is no way of knowing how the boys felt about wearing dresses for the photo. It is possible it was no big deal." It is akmost sure that the boys were home schooled. We never see boys this age wearig dresses n school portraits.

Hair Cuts

Girls could have short hair cuts, but cuts with the ears so prominent were not very common. A reader writes, "In the 1880s it was fashionable for girls to have short hair." The children's hair seems rather short even for fashionable girls' cuts. But the children are unidentified and there is certainly no way of knowing for sure.

Sources

Rice, Franklin P. Dictionary of Worcester (Massachusetts) and Its Vicinity (Worcester: F.S. Blanchard, 1889).

Created: 1:23 AM 1/20/2009
Last updated: 1:23 AM 1/20/2009