Posted 5 years ago
JewelryFin…
(11 items)
I purchased this old framed photograph at a garage sale this past summer given its wonderful antique frame since it was next to nothing. Each time a friend of mine sees it he says that he thinks he has seen these women before like it is of well known individuals. Can anyone help in identifying if any of these women are well known or not or if it has any other historical significance? Thanks!
I don't see anyone famous/ that I recognize.
Image/ frame date from the early 20th century. Could be a group of sisters/ other relatives-- endless possibilities.
Removing it from the frame, MAY shed more light on it with photographers information and location of the photo, marked identification of the group, or possibly date.
scott
The ladies with the glasses look like sisters?? Hope Brunswicks or Scott are on it!!!
If not they look like the Schoolmarms!!!! My grandfather warned me about!!!
Wow... this is fascinating! Keep the input coming :)
How about Susan B Anthony, an icon of the women's suffrage movement? The lady on the far left looks similar to her but I am not good at matching people.
You are right, the hair in all of her photos never was like the hair in this photo.
The chin is different as well, good observation. My sister always beat me at that Old Maid game that we played as kids too.
I think it might be the Famous Family
They had two separate sets of twins
8 years apart
JewelryFinder, that tattered back could stand to be replaced so I hope will do so and let us know if the ladies are id'd there!
In the meantime, here are my thoughts:
I believe the lady looking toward the camera is the "main" subject. The other ladies are paying homage to her by looking at her. The open pamphlet angled between the 2 ladies on the left indicates some special connection between those two ladies.
I think the older lady on left is Ann Maris Reeves Jarvis (1832-1905), the mother who was the inspiration for Mothers' Day.
Next to her, looking at the camera, is her daughter, Anna Jarvis (1864-1948), who successfully campaigned for the creation of Mothers' Day.
I don't have any guess of the 3rd lady's ID but the 4th lady who is young, could be Anna's sister Lilly.
Anna campaign was a success: Mothers' Day was established as a National Holiday in 1904 by Persident Woodrow Wilson.
By 1920, Anna had soured on the holiday because it had become commercialized by florists, card companies and candy companies.
For the rest of her life, she vigorously tried to get the holiday rescended.
Anna spent her final years committed to a sanitarium. She and her sister, Lillie, spent all the money they had trying to defend the holiday from commercialism.
Anna never married and was never herself a mother.
Delving into the identities of these ladies has led to some interesting reading...especially about the history of Mothers' Day!
I hope I'm correct!
Correction: holiday established in 1914, not 1904.
That's a fantastic story and she knew it was going to be a mess even back then.
I just wonder if it's her because this photo shows actual ear lobes on the lady on the left but the photos of Ann Maris Reeves Jarvis that I see, don't have lobes. I sure could be wrong again.
Wow Watchsearcher… I am so intrigued now especially after looking at some pics of the Anna you are referring to & I too think there is such a huge resemblance! I am hesitant to remove the back of the frame, as I don't want to do any damage to it, but I agree it should be removed especially if there's the chance that it could confirm your finding. Let me ponder they best way to accomplish this & I will post my findings. Thanks so much again everyone for your interest & suggestions!
TreasureTex, a good point there about Ann, the mother of Anna. I was concentrating on other features, trying to imagine what Anna would look like with eyes wide open, looking at camera. I will check out the earlobes. Great point!