Every Friday The Psychogenealogist shares a "Pic of the Week." The intent is to encourage thought and imagination about the spaces where psychology, genealogy, and history converge.
When I look through boxes of old photographs at estate sales, antique stores, or bookshops, I never know what I am going to find. In fact, I am usually not even sure what I am looking for.
But, I know when I find it!
That was the case with this darling photograph of a toddler, smoking a pipe, mowing the lawn.
I found this one in the dusty stack and boxes at John K. King Used and Rare Books. If you haven't been, you really ought to plan a trip to this Detroit Institution. Boasting over a million books in stock, it is a huge four story warehouse filled with treasures.
Here I am walking into the store with my kids on our most recent trek there. My wife and I love it. This was the kids' first visit and we heard words like "weird" and "creepy". So, though potentially overwhelming for kids, it is a must see for any adult who has even a passing interest in books.
In addition to books they have posters, artwork, maps, ephemera, photographs and more. I was struck by the subject of this photo as well as it's size. The mat it was on was about an 8 X 10.
I am guessing it was taken around 1900 or a little before. It seems like the kind of photo that was probably framed and hanging in someone's home or cottage for decades. There is a quirkiness and humor to it that I also like.
There were no markings anywhere on the back of the photography that would help me identify it's origin. That's okay though. Probably best to just enjoy this one and not think to hard about it.
Check out some of my other kid themed posts here at The Psychogenealogist.
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The image is incredibly crisp and shows a group of what looks to be teenagers from the 1920s.