Genealogy Chat

You can date the photos by the clothes they were wearing even though the clothes may be out of date. It is not just the clothes that they wore which dates a photograph but the different sorts of photograph taken like whether or not the photo was a Carte De Visite, a Daguerrotype, a Ferrotype etc. I have been to a few talks given on this subject and would reccomend that people try to go to at least one talk on this fascinating subject. Two books that I would not be without to help me with my old photographs are: Dating Old Photographs by Robert Pols Understanding Old Photographs by Robert Pols Both books I obtained second hand at a very reasonable cost. Janet

First, many thanks for your input everyone. You have confirmed what I thought myself, that the photo must date from the 1890s. Difficult to be sure how uptodate the fashions would be: the family were not well off, but if the youngest woman is who I think she is, she was a dressmaker by trade so she would probably be fairly uptodate. If the child is a boy he is probably my grandfather, in which case the photo would have been taken in 1898 ore 1899. If it's a girl or the photo is earlier I should start looking for a girl who died in infancy and for some reason was never mentioned by my great grandmother who left copious information about everyone else in the family ... Thanks again, Malcolm

Brenda You beat me to it - I was about to say that my elderly Great-Aunts, who I remember from my childhood, wore clothes that were at least 50 years out of date! Depends on their social status I suppose, but 'ordinary' people did not, or could not afford to, follow fashion. Their 'best clothes', such as they would have worn for the important occasion of having a Studio Photo taken, might have been twenty or more years old. Clothes can only tell you the earliest date it could have been taken. Marjorie

I'd challenge anyone to date a photo of me by my clothing: none of the items I'm wearing were bought this year. The youngest woman is likely to be the most fashionable. There is no sign of a bustle and her sleeves are fairly limp, which suggests mid 1890s, but you are only likely to be able to narrow the date down if you know the name of the baby: presumably her eldest child or eldest daughter.

Malcolm - if you only have a scan of the photo then it might be worth contacting the holder of the original to make sure that it's not a cabinet card. Basically this just looks like a photo mounted on card. These were amongst the most common type of photos for that period and give huge clues that many people overlook. I only discovered this myself recently and have managed to date some of my own photos by the address of the photographer and the type of advert on the back. Even the thickness and colour of the card can help narrow it down. It may also be the postcard type photo which can also give clues as to the date and exact place. It really is worth checking to make sure! I have now made sure that I have scans not just of the actual photo, but the mount and the back. It is something most people overlook. Julie

Hi Yes I would agree with what the others have said, how nice to have a photo that early with four generations. By the way my maiden name was Poole. Margaret

Just had a look & comparing clothes to those shown in fashion history book appears early 1890's - matching ideas of other replies.

I would agree with Louise. No later than 1900 and no earlyer than 1880, It would not be befor that time as the kind of Photo would be different. The way they were taken was slower and any movment blured, the child would not of been in the shoot as she would move to much. The latest it would be is 1900 but only if the photo was taken in an out of the way place, were fastion would be a bit behind times. other wise go with Louise.

Hi Malcolm, Just taken a look at your photo! I have 3 photo's of my own family wearing very similar clothing, the same leg 'o' mutton sleeves and high collars! My photo's have dates written on the back of 1895 and 1896. Hope this may help. Regards Annette

Is it Jake the Peg's grandmother?

Hi Julie, it was taken in England. I've only seen a scan of it but I believe it is an 'ordinary photograph' Thanks for your input, everyone. Malcolm

Where was the photo taken? England, Scotland, USA etc? Is it an 'ordinary' photo as we would think of one today, or is it a Cabinet card, mounted on card? If so are there any photographers names etc on it? If it is on a card, what is the thickness and colour. Is there any embossing etc? Julie

Sorry, forgot to put the brackets in! Try again: http://genealogy(.)about(.)com/cs/clothingtimelines/

Malcolm Perhaps this site may be of help: http://genealogy.about.com/cs/clothingtimelines/ Lovely photo! - the sleeves are very distinctive (leg o'mutton sleeves?)

late 19th centry (1880's/1890's) definatly after prince albert died and victoria went into mourning

I'm in the middle of a debate with a distant cousin about a photograph and the people in it. I think it should be fairly easy to date the photograph by the clothes of the ladies in it and have my own theory of when it was taken. It would be helpful to get other people's opinion and I would be grateful if some of you would have a look and tell me what you think. The photo is at www(.)lingua-z(.)co(.)uk/family/four_generations.jpg (please remove brackets) Thanks, Malcolm