Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Best guess on approximate date of this photo? (Original Post) rdharma Jul 2013 OP
August 2, 1928. Seriously, mid 20s to early 30s. Hoyt Jul 2013 #1
I'm thinking slightly earlier. rdharma Jul 2013 #3
Do you have any idea where/what it is? Hoyt Jul 2013 #4
Do you see the two women in the first seated row at the center of the picture? rdharma Jul 2013 #26
My guess is 1910 - 1920. Arkansas Granny Jul 2013 #2
That would be my best guess. rdharma Jul 2013 #5
And the women still have their hair up dixiegrrrrl Jul 2013 #8
I agree with you Sanity Claws Jul 2013 #27
I was thinking 1910 or so, too n/t kdmorris Jul 2013 #11
Four different types of men's collars is interesting. DURHAM D Jul 2013 #6
Above the guy's head? dixiegrrrrl Jul 2013 #7
Off his right elbow. DURHAM D Jul 2013 #9
Wow! I didn't notice that! A stamp...... rdharma Jul 2013 #10
There is a Rice Hall at Oberlin College in Ohio. No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #12
Definitely Oberlin College No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #13
Wow! You've got some amazing sleuthing skills! rdharma Jul 2013 #16
Thanks! You can do it, too! No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #24
I thought it looked like a school photo too rdharma Jul 2013 #14
The younger boy does look young, and there's a woman in the middle in a print blouse/dress No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #15
My guess is the older woman is a House Mother. DURHAM D Jul 2013 #17
If a house mother, only for the young ladies. No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #18
It appears that Rice Hall was the Conservatory. DURHAM D Jul 2013 #20
Good info. I knew someone would follow through. No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #22
Long story.... but I'll tell you what I know.... rdharma Jul 2013 #19
Are you a member of ancestry.com? DURHAM D Jul 2013 #21
I'm a long-time member of Ancestry.com, as I suppose are many regulars in this group. No Vested Interest Jul 2013 #23
Have you noticed how the older lady appears in a rather central position in the photo? rdharma Jul 2013 #25
I was rather surprised by the width of men's ties... CBHagman Jul 2013 #28
 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
4. Do you have any idea where/what it is?
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 03:56 PM
Jul 2013

The women in your photo are quite pretty. The men all look like James Cagney.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
26. Do you see the two women in the first seated row at the center of the picture?
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 02:50 AM
Jul 2013

The one on the right with her arm around her friend is my relative.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
8. And the women still have their hair up
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 04:29 PM
Jul 2013

not yet wearing the shorter bob
plus, would there be so many young men in a photo take during 1914-1918?
I am thinking 1919.1920.

Sanity Claws

(21,822 posts)
27. I agree with you
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 07:39 AM
Jul 2013

I don't think it is as early as 1910 because the women's skirts are too short for that early. It could be early 1920's, like 1921 or 1922, because the women appear to be wearing a uniform. Uniforms are not exactly au courant. They usually lag at least a few years, especially in a time of big transition, as 1915-1922 were for women's clothing.

DURHAM D

(32,595 posts)
6. Four different types of men's collars is interesting.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 04:09 PM
Jul 2013

Also, what is that behind the guy on bottom of pic on our right side?

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
7. Above the guy's head?
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 04:22 PM
Jul 2013

Looks like the neck scarf of the women seated above him.
Several other women are wearing the same type of neck thingy in the photo.

DURHAM D

(32,595 posts)
9. Off his right elbow.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 04:45 PM
Jul 2013

At first I thought it was the skirt of the woman behind him but don't think so.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
10. Wow! I didn't notice that! A stamp......
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 05:25 PM
Jul 2013

In a circle there's indented stamp "RICE OBERLIN, -O.-"

Damn, I didn't even notice that!

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
12. There is a Rice Hall at Oberlin College in Ohio.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 05:37 PM
Jul 2013

This looks like some type of club or college group. They're all fairly close in age.

There are old yearbooks shown on a number of sites.
Perhaps you'll locate something from Oberlin College which will identify the photo.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
13. Definitely Oberlin College
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 05:52 PM
Jul 2013

I scanned a 1916 Oberlin College yearbook online. -
The same setting with the columns as shown at the top of photo is shown in several of those in the yearbook, though I didn't see the exact same photo.
Further sleuthing necessary.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
16. Wow! You've got some amazing sleuthing skills!
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 06:33 PM
Jul 2013

Oberlin College rings a bell.

I searched that photo to see someone I recognized and the young lady on the right (seating with her arm around another young lady in the center of the photo) looks like a relative of mine.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
24. Thanks! You can do it, too!
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 01:11 AM
Jul 2013

It's known as googling.
There's not much you can't find out with a few words googled.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
14. I thought it looked like a school photo too
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 06:04 PM
Jul 2013

But the young looking kid behind the front left guy threw me off. He looks way too young. Maybe not.

Thanks.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
15. The younger boy does look young, and there's a woman in the middle in a print blouse/dress
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 06:25 PM
Jul 2013

that looks a little older.
I'm sure the answers are out there, with a little searching.
Care to tell us how you came by this photo?

DURHAM D

(32,595 posts)
17. My guess is the older woman is a House Mother.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 06:40 PM
Jul 2013

Perhaps the young boy is related to her but usually the Mothers did not have dependant children around.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
18. If a house mother, only for the young ladies.
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 06:48 PM
Jul 2013

There sure as heck were no coed houses in that period -even at Oberlin.
I'm thinking it might have been some type of musical or religious organization, or the like.
Not completely academic.

But what do I know?
Someone will figure it out, and let us know - I hope.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
22. Good info. I knew someone would follow through.
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 12:30 AM
Jul 2013

Perhaps the older woman is the accompanist.
The younger boy may have sung a role appropriate for his voice range in a particular piece.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
19. Long story.... but I'll tell you what I know....
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 07:04 PM
Jul 2013

This photo came from my grandmother's brother's collection. He lived in western PA (Hadley).

I have somehow inherited the position as family historian. Which I find as both a great honor and a pain in the ass.

OK.... here I am..... ready to learn.

DURHAM D

(32,595 posts)
21. Are you a member of ancestry.com?
Sat Jul 27, 2013, 07:11 PM
Jul 2013

I just logged on and it looks like they may be having a free trial period right now if you are not.

I try not to go there unless I have a couple of weeks to kill as it is so addictive.

If you want to PM me your great uncle's name and approximate date of birth I will look and see if there are any published records/pics.

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
23. I'm a long-time member of Ancestry.com, as I suppose are many regulars in this group.
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 12:41 AM
Jul 2013

I check several things almost daily on ancestry.com -
the new records added, several message boards, and other members activity.

I've also contributed a good deal of info over the years, on the premise that others with the same heritage will reciprocate, which is often the case.

 

rdharma

(6,057 posts)
25. Have you noticed how the older lady appears in a rather central position in the photo?
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 02:18 AM
Jul 2013

I think you folks are on to something.

CBHagman

(16,968 posts)
28. I was rather surprised by the width of men's ties...
Sun Jul 28, 2013, 01:07 PM
Jul 2013

I looked around for a timeline on styles for men's ties, and the search was inconclusive, but I do think this is likely circa 1910-1914.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Ancestry/Genealogy»Best guess on approximate...