Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Twice Told Tuesday - She Stuck In The Mud

Twice Told Tuesday features a photography related article reprinted from
my collection of old photography books, magazines, and newspapers.


Shades of HBO's Deadwood was the real life experience of a chechako at the hands of a kodak fiend. Has anything really changed?


SHE STUCK IN THE MUD
Nome and Seward Peninsula
History, Description, Biographies and Stories
1905


IN 1900 there were places in the main street of Nome where the mud and muck were of treacherous and uncertain depth, and it required courage and a pair of stout legs to navigate the primitive thoroughfare.

A feminine chechako attempted to cross the street, and got into a bad place. Her effort to get out increased the difficulty and added to her perplexity. No one happened at the moment to be near at hand to help the poor woman out.

A busy day - Front Street - Nome 1900

The first man to observe her predicament was a kodak fiend. The woman was standing thigh deep in the tundra mire, her skirts gathered around her waists, and her agony was finding vent in a flood of tears.

"Just wait a moment, madame, and I will help you out," said the camera man, as he focused the unhappy picture and snapped the shutter. The ludricous (sic) situation made the frightened woman laugh through her tears.

Then the kodak man got a board, and went to the rescue.


Note:

Definition:

Chechako is the Alaskan equivalent for the western word tenderfoot. Chechako is the Indian name of a bird that goes to Alaska early in the spring and after a brief stay disappears and is not seen again until the following season.


Kodak Fiend - In the early 1900s kodak was synonymous with camera. A kodak fiend was an amateur who was continuously snapping photographs.


Source:

Harrison, E.S. Nome and Seward Peninsula: history, description, biographies and stories. Seattle:Metropolitan Press, 1905. http://books.google.com/books?id=K5oUAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPP7,M1 (accessed February 20, 2009).

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Welcome To




APPEALING SUBJECTS
BY CRAIG MANSON
A Monthly - Weekend With Shades - Column









February on California's Central Coast can be bitterly cold. And for Florence Owens Thompson, a particular day in February of 1936, would be especially bitter and especially cold. It was the day her soul was stolen.

Desperate times had descended upon America and the rest of the world. By 1936, Oklahoma-born Florence Owens had been in California for more than a decade as she and her husband, Leroy Cleo Owens struggled to keep their family subsisting. They had traveled the length of the great Central Valley, enduring misfortune after misfortune. A sawmill in the town of Shafter burned down while Cleo was employed there. Later, he lost his job at a sawmill in Merced County. Then while doing agricultural work in Butte County, Cleo Owens became ill and died. Florence was expecting her sixth child at the time. She remained in Butte County with the rest of her husband's siblings.

But when she became pregnant again the year after her husband's death, Florence Owens fled with her children back to her family's home in Oklahoma. Eventually, circumstances drew her to California again and she left her youngest child with her mother, driving the other six back to Merced County.

Don't forget to read the answer to last month's quiz!


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Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Carnival's In Town

10th EDITION

Smile For The Camera ~ A Carnival of Images


It was the most wonderful fashion show I've ever attended. From the everyday costume to the oh so special occasion, they all attended the Carnival. You really have outdone yourselves. So sit back and enjoy, open the cover and browse the 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera's album of costume! You're going to love this one!


"I love this photo of my shoeless ancestors, Shoeless Country Kids," Valerie C. tells us and I think you'll agree. Visit all those little toes at Begin with 'Craft'.



Donna Hague Wendt has a very interesting post, Costume Customs - Fern Blanding Bullock photos, at Another Day With Donna. Fancy hats were a necessary part of the well dressed woman's costume in the early 1900's. Here are a couple of pictures of Donna's great Aunt Fern Blanding with very big hats. I love the photograph of Fern in her Salvation Army uniform, I think it's the hat.


Andrea Christman takes us to the portrait studio of a photographer in San Antonio, Texas, in 1891/92. This pale eyed little darling looks as if he might have been out of place in Texas, but right at home in New York City. The short pants, black stockings, straw hat, riding stick and the black button shoes are absolutely adorable! Visit him in the article, Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #2, posted at Family Tales.



Jessica Oswalt has another unknown photograph from her great aunt's album at Three Ladies in the 1940s? Yes, it looks like the costume of the forties at Jessica's Genejournal. Love the hats, when did we give them up?



The dress clothes of an Irish-American farming family in Darke County, Ohio c. 1909, is the submission by Jean Marie Diaz at Wordless Wednesday: The KELLY Siblings posted at Still More Genealogy --. "I particularly like the variety of lace pendants (for lack of a better term) worn by the women," Jean Marie says.



A trip to the photographer's studio meant dressing in your Sunday best and that is exactly what Carol Wilkerson's photograph posted at iPentimento - COI 10th Edition - Costume shows. The costume of 1904 at iPentimento | Genealogy and More.



therapydoc introduces us to a costume that has become all too familiar in today's world at Gaza and Israel posted at Everyone Needs Therapy. It's worn by her nephew representing the Israel Defense Force. This article gives us so much to think about.



Hats Off To You Girls submitted by Brian at Ancestors At Rest. Now a little sleuthing has convinced me Brian is married to one of our other submitters. Lorine, your husband needs a photo of himself! In the meantime, we'll just have to enjoy this most creative group of young women.




Midge Frazel asks us, "Don't you wish you could wear hoop skirts everyday? That's what Elizabeth Schofield wears under her Civil War era dress. With lovely velvet trim and interesting sleeves, all she needs is a smile." See for yourself at Lizzie's Dress posted at Granite in My Blood.


Greta Koehl tells us that, "My great-aunt Doll Brinlee must have been given her nickname because she loved to get "all dolled up." You just have to see these attention grabbing hats in Smile for the Camera: Doll Brinlee and Nina Pounds posted at Greta's Genealogy Bog.


Diane of Attic Treasures has a dilemma. Two photographs, two different costume time periods. Are they the same woman? See what you think the answer might be in Will the real Cornelia please stand up...!



Maneesh takes a look at some costume accessories in Trip to Kanyakumari: Chapter 9: Padmanabhapuram Palace: Part 7: Archaeological Museum that none of us would want to wear. Photographs from the armory at Padmanabhapuram Palace posted at AdmirableIndia.com.


Apple says, "For this edition I offer a mismatched trio from 1960" at Mom, Grandma and Me posted at Apple's Tree. The three are, however, all matched by the fact they are wearing white ankle socks. Yes, I remember them well!



Jennifer Trahan presents 10th Edition Smile For The Camera - A Carnival Of Images posted at Jennifer's Genealogy Blog. These are pictures of my family from the 1930s to the 2000s dressed in their working uniforms, bathing suits, Sunday best, and even Halloween costumes.


My favorite Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Terry Snyder, gives us a peek into the 1930s at Snapshot - Summer of 1932. You had to be a slim woman to wear those dropped waist dresses, but I love the way they appear to move. Check out the new and more positive Terry.


Tex presents the woman who mastered Maternity Clothes in 1929 posted at All My Ancestors. By your seventh child you probably would have mastered the maternity outfit. It also helps in dating this photograph.



Oh, Donna, the costumes are so glamourous in Fashions of the 1920?s posted at What's Past is Prologue. I absolutely love each and every one. But it's the chain mesh bags that grabbed my attention. I've seen them hanging on the walls of antiques stores, but being held by these beautiful women is so much more exciting.



"Jane and Thomas are sporting their best for their wedding photograph," Janet Iles tells us. And the result is a beautiful period wedding photograph at Janet the researcher: Smile for the Camera - 1905 wedding photograph posted at Janet the researcher.



Melody Lassalle presents a very elegant photograph of Picnic Attire Circa 1910 posted at The Research Journal. Children dressed in white, young boys wearing ties, women in beautiful dresses complete with hats! My kind of picnic!



Frances Whelan is pictured in a typical working woman outfit from the early 1900s. Knife pleat bodice and cuffs make for a very fashionable school teacher at Smile For the Camera Circa 1900. Kathy Brady-Blake always has some interesting photographs posted at Kathy's Genealogy Blog.



Judith Richards Shubert of Genealogy Traces shows us the Gailey children Dressed in their Christmas Finery complete with Christmas presents. Yes, dressed for the photographer, but not smiling for the camera.



Amy Coffin asks Who are The Feldzug Boys? posted at We Tree. They sound like a vaudeville act, but their costumes suggest otherwise in this photo with plenty of clues. Can you help solve this German mystery?



Holly of Raeburn Family Odyssey has a photograph that can only be labeled "divine." A fifteen year old Ida Wheeler wearing some very expensive looking furs in this 1900s submission for the 10th Edition Smile For The Camera - Costume.



Stephanie Lincecum wonders Is This Sam & Cora's Wedding Photo? posted at Lincecum Lineage. Photographs were a luxury and taken for momentous occassions, that and the clues in the photograph suggest Stephanie is probably correct. Stephanie, we need to talk as I am a Campbell from Missouri.



Cherie presents Smile for the Camera: Costume posted at Still Digging for Roots. Grandma and her sister dressed oh so stylishly for a trip to the state capital. Was something important happening that required their presence? Wish we knew!



M. Diane Rogers calls her submission, Smile for the Camera - 10th Edition - Costume, posted at CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt', a stray. I'll bet the family she strayed from would like to have her back. Diane writes a wonderful description of this photograph. I'd love to take one of your photograph workshops.



Ed Garee and his sister Elda are posing for the camera at Kay Bauman's Costume posted at Kay B's Place. This diminuitive little girl knows her jewelry. Earrings, bracelets and a chatelaine the end of which is tucked into her dress. It looks as if there is a watch attached. This is a great photograph!



Sheri Fenley treats us to a photograph of her very handsome grandfather and his family in There They Were, Just A Walking Down The Street posted at The Educated Genealogist. She also educates us as to "sidewalk and street photographers."




Geniaus (the musings of an amateur australian genealogist) has a wonderful period uniform shown in Costume - Smile for the Camera. "Frank Duncan wears his Aussie slouch hat with pride." She's also attached a link to his war record. Interesting post, very interesting photograph.



Lisa presents Six little girls on a summer day, 1922 posted at Small-leaved Shamrock. "Six little girls all dressed up on their First Communion day... the first for their brand new church. I couldn't resist sharing this photograph for your costume edition (just take a look at the size of their hair bows!). Along with the girls' photograph, I had to tell the story of their parish church, which closed its doors just last summer. I hope you and your readers will enjoy the photograph and the story." Lisa. I did!


"There are times when a man's costume can be equal to or outshine that of a woman," says Thomas MacEntee of A Sharp Dressed Man posted at Destination: Austin Family. I love this sharply dressed man with his shiny shoes. Don't you agree?



Jasia, the Queen of the COG, shows us Polish Folk Dress and asks some very intriguing questions at Creative Gene. I was leaning toward wedding, but which one is the groom? The man in the uniform is far too friendly with both women to be the groom. Is he the bride's brother and the very somber frightened looking young man the groom? Oh, the possibilities.





Richard O. Cheek shows us a photograph taken in Oklahoma Territory around 1903 in Smile for the Camera-Cheek Family Portrait posted at The Cheek That Doth Not Fade. I look forward to Richard's submissions to Smile as they are always unique and this one is no exception. You could spend hours looking at the details in this photograph. Are those hats hanging on the house behind them?




From a photograph of Pearl to "pearls of wisdom," John Newmark has them both in the two photographs that are What we used to wear posted at TransylvanianDutch. I'm sure he enjoyed this post while drinking his first bottle of Gavroche beer. So how was it?






"A picture of my Grandma Ritchie in her nurse's 'costume' taken when she was in nurse's training in Cleveland, Ohio," is Diana Ritchie's submission to the 10th Edition Smile for the Camera ~ Costume posted at Random Relatives. Ouch! Those shoes!




An Older Woman in Her Glory is a magnificent Civil War costume displayed by Lorine McGinnis Schulze at Olive Tree Genealogy. Where do you begin with this photograph? The bonnet, the broach, the gloves, the book, and so much more. This is a must see!




What a photograph! Amanda Erickson introduces her g-g-grandmother in Distinctive Style of Dress posted at Random Ramblings. And Amanda tells us this is just one of her more distinctive outfits. The hat, you must see the hat. Show us more!





Visit Pam Taylor's introduction to a woman with style at Ooo, la, la....Smile for the camera, 10th edition posted at Taylorstales-Genealogy. Far too elegant for Buffalo Bill, I think she'd be perfect in a chorus line.




Randy Seaver presents All dressed up posted at Genea-Musings. "My Richmond family from New England in the mid-1880's and the late 1890's are all dressed up and smiling for the camera (well, some of them are smiling)."




"Could this be the wedding picture of William Blanton and Mirenda Mills?" Debbie McCoy asks in 10th Edition Smile for the Camera posted at Blanton Family Roots and Branches. Although it is the typical wedding pose, man sitting down woman hand on shoulder, she is not displaying her wedding ring. Perhaps it is an engagement photo which was also taken by prominent families.




Craig Manson's Smile submission, "Can You Date These Clothes?," has a host of very helpful comments at Geneablogie. My only contribution would be to ask three questions: Is there a number written on the back of the photograph? Were there any other jagged edged photographs in the collection and can you match those jagged edges (like a puzzle)? This could show the sequence of photographs being taken and you may recognize some of the people in the other photographs giving you some clues for who this might be.





Barbara Holz Sullivan is my friend in the real world, having participated in the UW Genealogy Course and Nearby History with me. She is a wonderful writer, as you will see in her submission, Please Stop At My Booth. "My grandmother at age 15 or 16 dressed as a Dutch girl for a booth at a fair at her high school, the same high school I attended," posted at Chapter & Wurst.




Julie Cahill Tarr has told the story of a fashionable little Orphan Photo #5 at Who Will Tell Their Story? Banana curls, a lovely dress, and the perfect jewelry for a young lady of her age. But taking those shoes on and off must has been a mother's nightmare.




Terri does a brilliant job of colorizing these beautiful photographs in 10th Edition Smile For The Camera - A Carnival of Images posted at The Ties That Bind. "Nice and toasty in the fur coats, the photo's were taken prior to 1917 and are of my great grandfather's cousins."



JoLyn Day combines her Smile entry "Hats...Beautiful Hats," with the launching of her new family history blog - "Uphill Both Ways - Tales from the Big Black Book and other Family Lore." Don't you just love the name? Her post is a veritable fashion show of hat styles. Makes me want to go out and buy one right now. Stay for awhile when you visit, JoLyn is a very interesting blogger.




Wendy Littrell presents A Feather In Her Cap posted at All My Branches Genealogy. "The photo I chose to submit for this edition displays women's hat fashion in the early 20th century. And she's also wearing glasses!" Yes, women wearing glasses always gets my attention, but you could never miss this great hat. Beautiful!



Cindy presents 10th Edition - Smile for the Camera posted at Everything's Relative - Researching Your Family History. Two beautiful young women dressed to the nines. What was the occassion and why the corsage? Come on girls, talk to us.




foonoteMaven closes the album cover on this edition of Smile with Men Never Make Passes At Girls Who Wear Glasses posted at footnoteMaven. As always, even my women wearing glasses, are here to Smile For The Camera.




Thank You All!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fantastic 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera and welcome to all the first-time contributors. It is evident from each and every article that a great deal of time, effort, love, and research went into each photographic contribution. As Randy would say, please take a moment to stop and comment and show your appreciation!


Now The Call For Submissions!

11th EDITION

Smile For The Camera
10 March 2009


The word prompt for the 11th Edition of Smile For The Camera is brothers & sisters? Were they battling brothers, shy little sisters, or was it brother & sister against the world? Our ancestors often had only their siblings for company. Were they best friends or not? Show us that picture that you found with your family photographs or in your collection that shows your rendition of brothers & sisters. Bring them to the carnival and share. Admission is free with every photograph!

Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT)
10 March 2009

Posted - 15 March 2009

H
OW TO SUBMIT:

There are two options:

1. Send an email to the host, footnoteMaven. Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, your name, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!

2. Use the handy submission form provided by Blog Carnival, or select the Bumper Sticker in the upper right hand corner.

See you at the Carnival!


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