Figure 1.--Photographic albums like this were a standard in the parlors of American homes during the first half of the 20th century. The snapshots were held in the pages using adhesive corners.

Here is a wonderful photo album illustrating the life of an American family during the 1910s and 20s. Virtually every middle class family had alnums like this in the parlor. Snapshots had replaced the CDVs and cabinets cards found in earlier albums. The family is not identified, but the first names of the family children are noted and the last names of neighbor children. This seems to be a comfortable middle class family. They lived in a big house with a porch. There were 200 photos dating from 1915 to 1928. Unfortunately most of the the individual photographs are not dated. This of course streaches from World War I to just before the Great Depression. Most photos are of children, some with parents, cats, dogs and rabbits, and there are also a few photos from Cornell University with fraternity brothers. Some photos are marked as being from Titusville, Pennsylvania, and there is photo of a house from Montclair, New Jersey. Photos are various sizes and are held to the page as was common at the time with corner tabs.

Family Home (1915)

There are photographs from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. There is a photograph of the New Jersey home. It is called the "Ware House". Ware may be the family name. This photograph is dated--1915. We are not sure if the family moved or perhaps one home is the grand parents home or perhaps the home of a brother or sister. At any rate, the large New Jersey hime show that the family lived in comfortable circumstances. The home was located at 178 Valley Road, Montclair, New Jersey. It had a great front porch. One of the chilkdren is sitting on the porch, but we can't tell who.

Kamp Kill Kare

We are not sure what this was all about. The children seem to young for an actual summer camp. They are with father. We are guessing the children are Howard, Margaret, and Helen. Howard wears a tunic suit. The girls weaer dresses with large colored hair bows. The banner looks like something more involved than a family outing, but it is clarly not a real summer camp which were for older children.

World War I

The photographs begin in 1915, although a few mya be a year or two ealier. World War I in Europe had begun the year before. America was still at peace, but entered the War in 1917. The result was a patriotgic outburst. We see Howard wearing a tunic suit and his tricycle festooned with flags and red, white, and blue bunting. A compnion photograph shows him wearing a sailor suit with his trike and sisters Margaret and Helen. All the patriotic regalia suggests to us that the photographs were taken during the War, but given Howard's age here it could have been just before the War. It could be a 4th of July photograph.

Back Yard Scene (1919)

Here we see a backyard scene with John and Jim with two neighbor children. They are all bundled up for a chilly day in MayThe children look to be about 3-4 years old. This portrait is dated. It was taken in 1919. The boys were very close in age. They may even be twins. I think they are Howard's younger brothers. It is possible, however, that they are Howard's counsin. We don't see any photographs with Howard with John and Jim.

The Farm

Thre are photographs taken at "The Farm". We are guessing this means the grandparents farm. America was a very rural country in the 19th century. Indusdtrialization raically changed te country in the late 19th and early 20 centuries. Many americans moved to the cities, but often as not their roots and their parents were still on te farm. The Farm here was located somewhere near Bath, New York. We see fields and streas, but nothing of an actual farm. There are also several rural photographs of the boys playing. These were probably taken at The Farm as well. We seen scenes in fields as well as the children playing in streams. The boys seem to have made some local friends.

The Beach (1922?)

The family took trips to the beach. We are not sure just which beach they went to, but surely they must have been some of the Jersey coast beaches. The photographs were taken in the 1920s. The boys seem to have rather old fashioned bathing suits.

Little Red Waggon

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, a little red waggon was a must have item for every American kid. The best known was the American Flyer. Of course John and Jim had a waggon, although we can't tell just what make. Here we see them in the back yard with two friends.

Camping (1926)

Some images seem to show the family camping. Akk we know for sure though was that the photograph was taken in 1926. This isn't a children's summer camp, but looks like it may have been a camp where the family rented a cabin. We see the boys in their old fashioned bathing costumes at a stream. The stream looks rather shallow. Perhaps there is more water on the other side of the camera. John has a net. I'm not sure just what they are after. If it had been a more marine scene it might have been crabs. But this seems more like an inland stream. Perhaps it is frogs they are after. I'm not sure what they would do with them. I don't see any fishing poles. I'm not sure who Bon is and why he is called Little Moose. The nae suggests that they are in up-state New York. Note Mary at the left. She looks to be wearing knickers, but I am not sure.

Fraternity

Created: 5:22 AM 2/8/2007
Last updated: 5:22 AM 2/8/2007