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.
This 19th century cabinet card photograph shows a young woman who appears to be in her late teens or early twenties. A more modern looking inscription on the bottom of the photo has her identified as, I believe, a Mary Hunscker. There may be an alternate spelling of her last name, but that is what it looks like to me.
The back of the photo has a pinkish hue and stamp of a “Zelner Photographer” in Mauch Chunk, a city in Pennsylvania known today as Jim Thorpe. The photographer was located on Susquehanna St., I believe at the corner of Race St. (“cor., Race”).
Here are some questions I encourage you to think about.
Questions:
Who was Mary Hunscker and what is her story?
When do you think this cabinet card photograph was taken?
What do you make of this woman’s clothing?
What do you think, feel, and wonder about as you look at her photo?
What can you learn about the photographer Zelner?
How about the city of Mauch Chunk?
I would love to hear your thoughts about these questions or other ideas that occur to you about the photo. Please feel to leave a comment below!
Featured Tag: Your Storied Life: Unique Biographical Portraits
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