An examination and explanation of clues to establish the
date of 19th century photographs.
This Weeks Photograph - August 22, 2011
Photo Facts
Photo Type:
Oversize Cabinet
Image Size:
7 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Card Size
10" x 12"
Card Color
Natural
Card Border
None
Front Imprint
None
Back Imprint:
None
Print Technology
Albumen
About the Case Studies
Every Monday a new case study of a picture typical of old family photographs will be published.
These examples can help genealogists learn the skills that will help date their own photos.
An estimated date (if one was not available) will be given with a +/- number of years it could be. Dating old photos is a science that provides answers usually within 2 - 6 years of when the photo was taken.
The plain mounting board was replaced by fancy textures in the late 1890s
The women's dresses are very stylish for the early 1890s.
Click Here for cabinet cards with similar dresses. Here for more 1890s images.
Clues
Photograph Size
Mounting Card
Women's Dresses
This oversize cabinet card became popular in 1890s. Improved camera and lens technology provided the means to create large, high quality photographs. Tthey would have been expensive for the time, however this picture taken in Williamsport, PA was probably of a well-off family.
The plain mounting board is typical of earlly-mid 1890s (even before), as towards the end of the decade, much finer mounts were used, usually exhibited some texture or embossing.
The women's dresses confirm the time. The moderately pointy or raised shoulders were the style of the early 1890s. In addiion the sleeves are loose but not bulky. In the late 1880s and about 1890 the sleeves were tight to the arm. By the mid-1890s the sleeves (and shoulders) became very large and bulky.
You can become an expert at analyzing photographs.
Much of the information used to analyze this photograph is covered in the Identification section of this web site. In addition, comparison to similar yet dated photographs in the Gallery section will help confirm the estimates. Even greater detail, organized for this type of research is available in PhotoTree.com's books. Learn More.