Every Friday The Psychogenealogist shares a "pic of the week." The intent is to provoke thought and imagination about the spaces where psychology, genealogy, and history converge.
The Pic of the Week for February 10th, 2017 comes from a random lot of old photographs. The note on the back of the photo reads, simply: "Mom, 1945."
I know nothing about this woman other than details and clues on the photo. Her stance is strong and determined. Cowboy boots, denim, plaid, bandana, and hat all convey West. She appears to be on a ranch of some sort. My guess is that she is about 60 years of age which, if the date of 1945 is accurate, places her date of birth around 1885.
"Mom, 1945" (back)
I found one clue on the back of this photo only after scanning it under high resolution. Notice the "Velox" label stamped diagonally at several points on the film paper. This was a detail that I missed at first. In retrospect it was visible to the naked eye, but the scan made it much more prominent.
Velox was a Kodak film paper invented by chemist Leo Baekeland. There were several versions of this photograph paper, but the one labeled simply "Velox" dates to th 1940s and 1950s.
Questions:
What is this woman's story?
How did her photograph end up in an eBay auction?
Where is she at? What has she seen?
Who took the picture and are they alive today?
Do you know who this woman is?
These are just a few questions to stir your imagination as you think about your own (and others') psychology, genealogy, and history.
Do you have an old photograph with a story that you would like to share? I am happy to consider guest submissions for possible Pic of the Week posts in the future. Send an email to info@psychogenealogist.com for more information.
Related posts: 1940s
A mystery photo identified (perhaps incorrectly) as Isaac Benson Chapman (1888-1952) of Columbus, Ohio some time in the very early 1900s.