This is a framed portrait of Lowell Copeland. Following is a close up of the photograph that I estimate was taken in about 1864.
Yes, this is a boy. In the 19th century, all young children were dressed in dresses. The way you tell it's a boy is because his hair is parted on the side. (A girl's hair would have been parted in the middle.)
This is an image that I have of Lowell Copeland as a boy, "about 6 yrs" noted on the back, so about 1868. I see a resemblance between the earlier photograph and this one: the eyes, the nose, the serious mouth, and those Copeland ears.
This photograph came in an envelope labeled: "For Townsend Copeland. Pictures of his father. I have no picture of your mother alas. Aunt Ruth C."
On the back of the envelope is another a note to my grandfather: "I have divided all pictures of your Father between you + Ruth."
Aunt Ruth C. is Ruth Lyman Greeley (1878-1975) who married Lowell Copeland as his second wife, after his first wife (Ruth's sister, Ethel) died. I wrote about "Aunt Lukie" in two blog posts, starting here.
Lowell Townsend Copeland (later known as Toby) is my grandfather and Ruth is his youngest sister, from whom my cousin Suzanne is descended.
Our ancestors likely knew each other. My Coleman and Crouse families were there by 1844 and Tarbox by 1855, although my Adams Loyalist descendants didn't move back into the U.S. until about 1858.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure our ancestors knew each other. Lowell Copeland's grandfather, Reuben Lowell, was there by 1825 and his other grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Copeland, was there by 1843. By 1912, my ancestors no longer lived there.
DeleteI still can't believe the dress photo is a boy. The photo seems to have loop braids and that keep throwing me for my own loop.
ReplyDeleteDevon, thank you for the comment. Yes, it took me awhile to get used to the idea, but I've read in several places about how children dressed in the 19th century, and everything else fits about this photo.
DeleteI knew that young boys wore dresses in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but it's really interesting to see how much Lowell's clothing and hair style had changed by the time he was "about 6."
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is interesting how the boys become "young men" in our eyes when we look at their clothing.
DeleteThanks for reading and commenting.