Photo Analysis - 16 Jan 1938 Photos

 

Photo Analysis - 16 Jan 1938 Photos

Doing a good job of analyzing old photos is an ongoing process… not a one-time thing. One must not only look at the people, their clothes, what they are holding, what they are doing, but each detail in the background of the photo. And then, realize that you will see something different the next time you look, especially with some time gone by between. What you have seen elsewhere will affect what you see. Case in point:

These two photos, each dated 16 Jan 1938, certainly appear to be taken at the same place indeed, but not quite at the same time. Picture quality of the first is much better than the second, which complicates matters. In the first photo, we have Buzzy, Leo, Ida, Paul, Pete, Eileen, and Dorothy. A car. A barn. Look at their clothes, coats, hats, etc. Did you see that Paul has a hat in his hand?

In the second photo, Pete and Eileen, two months before their marriage on Mar 17, are not in the photo. We only have Leo, Buzzy, Ida, Paul (now with hat on, other clothes the same) and Dorothy…and, a young boy on the lower left, along with a chicken, perhaps, in foreground and cow behind the fence in the background with a different angle of the barn. Who is the little boy?? I have seen this a hundred times, and still don’t know. Is this the farm where Pete and Eileen will live after they marry? Or, is it somewhere else? This is a nice family photo, especially the top one. Posed. The lower one seems to be more casually taken, perhaps a few minutes later. Or, are they visiting another family - who is the boy?

Very intriguing… likely never to know the actual facts. Comments welcomed.

Families are Forever! :-)