Help with period clothing ID

[Mississippian]

Everyone,

A few months ago I visted my grandmother here in North Carolina. While there we found a box full of pictures from my late Great Grandmother, and among the old family photos were two old tintypes of unknown relatives. I think they are from the CW era, but I'm not sure. I'm trying to date the photos by the clothing they are wearing, but I'm at a loss since my knowledge of period clothing is somewhat limited. I'm posting them here for help ID'ing the time frame which they were taken. Thanks,

Will MacDonald

[Spinster]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

WillieMac

I'm having trouble getting full resolution on these, a function of being in the hinterlands with a bad phone signal.

From what I can see, she is classic wartime to pre-war.

Absent any other identifiers to hang your hat on (names, photographer,) this may pose a slight problem, given your location. I've forgotten exactly where in the Carolinas your people hail from. Mine however, are Western North Carolina, and the mountains are sometimes their own time machine. I have an image where all three are clearly identified in a period hand, the date of the marriage is known, as is the date of the only live birth of the marriage. Both are post war. Yet the woman in my image is wearing an 1850's style, well out of fashion by the known date of my image.

Clothing gives us a date range, but absent a tax stamp, not a true date.

[crabby]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

Mr. MacDonald,
Is it possible to to post the backmarks (if any) and the size of the photos themselves? The pasteboard holders are of much later vintage, however, changing frames and holders is quite common. So is reprinting old photos.

Sincerely,

[Spinster]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

Mrs Crabb

I was assuming from the holder and the clarity that these were 'restored' copies of the sort common in the 1970's rather than the originals. I so hope that's not the case.

[Mississippian]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

Mrs. L,

What I posted were the "restored" prints we had done of the the photos around Christmas. The "real" photos are about 4inches tall by 2inches wide without any kind of backing or marking, just metal. These were found in a box full of my Grandfathers baby stuff from the 1920's, and kept by his mother. Most of her family came from the area around Raleigh and up to Franklin County NC, where they owned a good bit of land and many slaves. I think they may be my GGGG Grandparents Chamblee

Will MacDonald

[MissMia]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

"Clothing gives us a date range, but absent a tax stamp, not a true date. "

So true!
It's not uncommon for the older generation to wear clothing styles that are quite old fashioned...

[Spinster]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

Now, then, in a short trip to town and a real screen connection: The dress trim is quite detailed and tasteful, indicative of wealth but not ostentation. Lovely buttons, embrodiered trim, pleats, rosettes, .......

Not mourning by the way- this is a tasteful dress, but heavily adorned.

The hairstyle conservative and well kept. These folks remind me of the images of the staunch Presbyterians that founded the various spinning and weaving mills around Marietta, Georgia. I'd love to know dates of birth for the people you hope these are.......

[Mississippian]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

Mrs. L,

Thank you very much for the help. As I said before, these photos were found in a box that was kept by my Great Grandmother, Mrs. Vera Mae MacDonald (nee Rosemond) I think they are one of three sets of her great-grandparents.

Set 1: Robert Pleasants and his wife Anna, Robert was born in 1806 and Anna was born in 1814, Robert was a tailor of fairly modest means who lived in Hillsbourgh NC

Set 2: Raiford Chamblee and his wife Mary, Raiford was born in 1812 and Mary in 1808. The Chamblee's owned a fair amount of land and slaves in Franklin County just northeast of the capital of Raleigh NC. Their son Bertus Dallas was Vera Mae's Grandfather and served in the 24th NC and was wounded at Antietam and discharged in Dec. 1862. Raiford lived until about 1880.

Set 3: William Baker and his wife Elizabeth. They were slightly less weathly than the Chamblee's but still fairly well off. They lived in the same area as them. Both were born in 1805. William died in 1861, I'm not sure when Elizabeth died.

[Elliott]

Re: Help with period clothing ID

I am going to say the man is a tailor. While this is not all-inclusive, I would like to draw attention to his hands. All of his fingernails are squared except his thumb and forefinger. Anyone who has spent time with needle, thread, and fabric has a tendency to wear those two fingernails into a more round shape (if not, to file them rounded so they do not catch on thread or fabric). Even though it appears that hand is his left-hand, tin types are mirror image.
Also, is that a fabric measure I see hanging around his neck to each side of his cravat? It is hard to tell from the scans.

Kait Elliott