Here’s an old photo that remains unidentified. 35 years ago I asked my grandfather who the people were and he didn’t know. “I dunno. Mebbe some VanLieres” is what he said.
I actually have no idea what branch of the family these people perch on.
In order to track it down I need to figure out approximately what year it is. Are there any clues if this picture was taken in the United States or the Netherlands? There are no clues on the actual photo.
Any guesses on the ages of the people–or their relationship?
The Family Kalamazoo 
They look sort of 1910s to me? Just a wild guess. As for the ages, I assume the two oldest ones (center and right in front) are the parents though they look kind of young. The little boy in the back right looks about seven, the litle girl maybe nine or ten? The boy up front maybe 12? Parents then might be in their mid-30s??
Amy, I am so bad at figuring out ages of adults, back then or today. Do you think the people are sitting together like a couple with their children? I didn’t think so. Why would the boy be sitting in the front row like that instead of in the back with the other kids? And doesn’t he look a little different from at least the woman in the front and the kids in the back?
I am awful at ages too! I struggled back and forth thinking about whether the woman and the man to the right were mother and son…or wife and husband…or were they a group of siblings. I’ve got nothing! So frustrating 😦
The mutton chop sleeves make me think it might be a little earlier than that, but I couldn’t say when. Have you looked at “Dressed for the Photographer” for clues? It’s an amazing resource. Good luck!
I have not, but that’s a good idea. I agree about the sleeves. I am seeing that in the photos of my family more in the 1890s, I think. Thank you so much!
I also immediately noticed the mutton chop sleeves. They seem like one of the most distinctive features in the photo. The neckware that the guys are wearing is somewhat distinctive and might also be useful for dating the photo.
They are very distinctive! My great grandmother wore that type of sleeve for her wedding around 1896 or 7. I wonder how much extra time should be allowed when we look at old photos for people wearing out of style clothes?! Just saw My Favorite Wife again (one of my favorites) where Irene Dunne is looked at askance for wearing a 7 years out of date hemline. She goes in the restroom and rips off the bottom of the dress. But don’t people wear clothes a long time?
I’d try to find a historian who might be able to date the clothes or hairstyles (at least to the right decade). Perhaps contact local history museum or college prof? Such intriguing research and q’s you pose with your family project. I realize this is how we humanize our ancestors. I can’t possibly take on such a task for my family, but I am doing so vicariously through you!
I feel as if I grew up in a fog not knowing anything about my ancestors. It’s so fascinating to learn the things they went through. When I was little and coming into consciousness, I thought that the way things were were as they had always been. Not so!!!
That is so true. I think specifically of two great-aunts we used to dress up to visit with Mom. Of course I thought of them as ‘forever’ elderly ladies, and only recently have begun to wonder what their lives were like.
Now you have me wondering!
I wish I were better at interpreting photos but I’m not. I’m terrible at guessing ages. My first thought though was that the woman in the center looks too young to be the mother of the boy at left. But I have the same struggle you do with determining age so don’t listen to me. 😉 Good luck!
I know. I feel as if she is too young, too. And the two older ones don’t appear to be a couple. I wonder if they are all siblings. Yikes!
Totally possible! My great grandfather’s siblings have a 17 year span from top to bottom. My Quebec lines often have a 16-22 year span between kiddos.
Yes, I’ve seen that in some branches, too!
The two girls have pigeon front blouses. The girl in front has a slightly more asymmetrical front. And look at the size of the sleeve caps. I would say between 1900-1910. I also think the children are all siblings.
Deborah, thank you for that information! You are good with the clothing! What is it about the sleeve caps? Oh, you do, too? 5 siblings? If so, that ought to help in figuring out some possibilities!
This is not one of my areas of expertise so I don’t really have any guesses. I’m still learning, and appreciate all the ideas people have shared with you. Tracing people or finding out who people were in a photo can be a very frustrating journey. The answer never comes quickly enough but when it does, it’s such a thrill! Best of luck to you.
You and me both. But our fellow bloggers are so great at offering suggestions and ideas. They never let me down!!
I think the mutton chop sleeves on the woman place this about 1890…
My ggrandmother wore those around 1896 or 97 for her wedding, so I was thinking the 90s, but others think later. I wonder when the shoulders became more form-fitting?!
I think they are siblings – they all have the same noses!
Nancy, good catch! I think so, too. Yay, another vote for a sibling group! Thank you!
Excellent posting. So many questions to answer but I see you have your best people on it so perhaps you’ll solve the mystery. My thinking is 1890’s because of the clothing.
I did a search on Yahoo Images, “women’s dresses 1880s”, 1890s and 1900s. 1890 fashion fits the picture better than 1880 or 1900.
I looked at men’s ties but didn’t see any distinct style for a period.
Interesting mystery. Thanks
Jose, that’s what I thought too. Some others here think later, but can’t be too late. Also, I got your email! GREAT info!!! Thank your son for me. I’ll write later. I’ve been a little under the weather.
This is an excellent photo, Luanne. So clear after 100 years! I agree with the reader who said you can also date a photo based on hair styles. I’m thinking especially about the men. Mid-later 19th century men were more hirsute–think beards an handlebar moustaches. Also sideburns. This is clearly after that period.
EmilyAnn, that is a great idea to look at the men. We tend to look at the women, thinking the clothing is easier to date. That said, I thought to myself: I haven’t seen a ton of hair on my other photos that are older. So I went back and looked. They do tend to have oversized mustaches from the 1800s.But these are boys in this photo, other than the older one in the front row–and we don’t even know his age. The more I think about this the more confused I get.
Then Jose sent me info from his son that was stunning. He mentioned that the boy in back has his hair shaved, which probably means an illness and that the girl/woman in the front center is wearing a dress far too large (would you agree with that?), which could mean illness (or something else). So much more to think about!
I wouldn’t say for sure that clothes looking too large are a sign of illness. There were no standard sizes and clothing was yet to be mass manufactured so that area is wide open for interpretation. What I mean is that the clothing which appears too large may have been second hand and not custom made for the woman in the picture. Families passed clothing and other everyday items to less well off relatives.
As far as the boy’s head being shaved it could mean he had head lice, another problem of the day.
If you’re starting to feel confused put this all aside and talk a walk or have a cup of tea. Something connected with the here and now. Answers will come when you least expect it and so will creative hunches.
Yes! What struck me as odd is the poor fit of the ladies dress. It looks to big for her. In the 1900’s women were still pretty tight and corsetted.
If these are siblings, she could be wearing “mom’s best dress” hand-me-down. I would have to guess ca. 1902-5 overall, though. Not unusual to be “ou of style”!
Exactly! that has been one of the biggest problems for me with figuring out dates for photos by using fashion. My relatives would have used their clothing as long as they could–either for themselves or as hand-me-downs. Thanks so much for stopping by!