Figure 1.--This image is unidentified and undated. We think the two children are probably girls. This is primarily because of the center hair part and also the fancy dress styles. I have not see images of boys in dresses like the ones worn here. Boys also wore ringlet curls and even hair bows--but usually with side parts. The size and placement of the hair bows, however, is similar to the ways boys sometimes had their hair done. We would date the image at about 1905, primarily because of the photographic format. Because of her age, the older child is probably a girl. The younger child is more of a question and the dress is clearly more plain.

This image is unidentified and undated. We think the two children are probably girls. Our convention at HBC is to assume older children in dresses are girls unless there is some reason for thing differently. In this case, all we know for certain is that the children are American. The pse strongly suggests thst they are siblings. Several indicators suggest that they are girls. This is primarily because of the center hair part and also the fancy dress styles. I have not see images of boys in dresses like the ones worn here. Boys also wore ringlet curls and even hair bows--but usually with side parts. The size and placement of the hair bows, however, is similar to the ways boys sometimes had their hair done. We would date the image at about 1905, primarily because of the photographic format. Because of her age, the older child is probably a girl. The younger child is more of a question and the dress is clearly more plain.

The Children

This children in the portrait here are unidentified. The pose strongly suggests that they are siblings. They look to be about 6-9 years old. Because of her age, the older child is probably a girl. The younger child is more of a question and the dress is clearly more plain.

Location

In this case, all we know for certain is that the children are American. We have no idea where they lived in America.

Chronology

The portrait is undated. We would date the image at about 1905, primarily because of the photographic format. Here we are referring to the oval paper frame holder.

Indicators

There are several indicators that offer cluses as to gender. We think the two children are probably girls. Our convention at HBC is to assume older children in dresses are girls unless there is some reason for thing differently.

Dresses

The fancy dress styles suggest that they are girls. Also the fact that they look to be about 6-9 years of age. That is an older age than most boys wore dresses, even in the 19th century. I have not see images of boys in dresses like the ones worn here.

Hair styles

The center hair part suggests that the children are girls. This is, however, certainly not an absolute indicator. Some boys a;so had center parts, especially when wearing ringlets. (A center part was helpful in doing the ringlets.) Boys also wore ringlet curls and even hair bows--but usually with side parts. The size and placement of the hair bows, however, is similar to the ways boys sometimes had their hair done.

Facial structure

A reader writes, "I am fairly certain that the child on the right (the older one) is a boy because of facial structure. The older child on the right with the fancier dress is clearly a girl for the same reason." HBC does not disagree with our reader here. In fact, we think she may well be correct. We are, however, always a little cautious when assessing facial characteristics. This is because on muneros occassions when working with these images, we have been surprised to find with identified portraits, boys that look like girls and girls that look like boys.

Created: 3:31 AM 12/10/2006
Last updated: 3:31 AM 12/10/2006