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.
Here is another great eBay acquisition. It is a set of two antique cabinet card photographs from Leadville and Pueblo, Colorado. The working hypothesis is that this first photo is of husband and wife Peter (b. 1830) and Agnes Young (b. 1842) of Leadville. The photo appears to be taken around 1920.
The photo was in a folded heavy paper matting with “Portrait By Wagner’s Elite Studio” of Pueblo, Colorado stamped on the front.
On the back was written “Mr. and Mrs. Young” with a number stamp of “41824”.
With it was another, older photo purported to be a younger Mr. Peter Young, probably taken around 1880. The photographer is “Howard and Co.” in Leadville.
On the back is “Mr. Young” with a matching “41824” stamped on the back.
Here is the very thorough and seemingly well researched eBay product description:
“What you are viewing is an original Antique Leadville and Pueblo Colorado Black Americana Cabinet Card Photos of the Young family that we believe we have identified as Peter and Agnes Young from Leadville, Colorado. Both photos feature Mr. Young around the 1880’s, and the 2nd image features Mr. and Mrs. Young later in life around the 1920’s. Both photos have a catalog number on the backs of 41824 proving that these have more then likely been in an archive elsewhere, and probably have some importance to genealogical history somewhere.
The earliest photo of Mr. Young was taken by Howard & Co. In Leadville, Colorado, and the later photo was taken by Wagners Elite Studio, in Pueblo, Colorado. We are also under some assumption that they came to Colorado after the Colorado Homestead act of 1862, but we are unsure for certain when they may have settled there. According to our genealogical research on the Young family that we know of from Leadville, they originally came from Kentucky, and Peter was born in 1830, while Agnus was born in 1842.
Our research is not 100%, but is the only Young’s in the area around the time of the earliest photos was taken. Pieces are in nice shape for there age with some minor aging to contend with, and displays nice for its age . Earliest photos measure 4 1/4” X 6 1/2”, and the folder photos measures 4” X 6”, and are both a nice displayable size.”
There is indeed an 1880 United States Federal Census from Leadville listing a “Black” couple matching the names and details of Peter and Agnes.
There are also at least two possible matching entries in the Corbett and Ballenger´s Second Annual Leadville City Directory for 1880 and 1881.
Here are some questions I encourage you to think about.
Questions:
Are these photographs in fact of Peter and Agnes Young?
What were the lives of African American’s like in late 1880s Colorado?
What do you think, feel, and wonder about as you look at these photos?
What is the possible genealogical significance of the stamped catalog dates on the back of both photos? Were these in someone’s collection before?
How and why did these photos end up on eBay?
Are there any living relatives of Peter or Agnes who might be interested in having these photos? Can you help me find them?
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: Colorado
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