UPDATE: This photograph has been identified as to the clothing and location it is from. See the update at the bottom of the post!!
This one is no doubt my favorite of the unidentifed photos in the archival storage box.
Look at her outfit. She looks like a pilgrim, doesn’t she? Or maybe Emily Dickinson with a pilgrim bonnet on?
Look at the book in her hand. What is it? A Bible? A hymnal? A prayer book? Surely there is significance to the text.
This is one of my few photos from Utrecht. Did I have family there?
Well, Alice Paak, my great-grandmother, was from Lexmond, which is south of Utrecht, so you could say that that branch of the family comes from the vicinity of Utrecht.
I can’t figure out the relationship. Also, Alice and her siblings were blue-eyed blondes.
Here is the back of the photo in case it offers any clues:
UPDATE: Reader Hubert Theuns has commented below with the following information which adds a lot of information to this photograph.
The photographer, Cornelis Johannes Lodewicus Vermeulen, was born in Utrecht 18.11.1861 and died in Hilversum 05.01.1936. Photographs from the period 1886-1915 can be found athttps://rkd.nl/nl/explore/portraits#query=cjl+vermeulen&start=0&filters%5Bcollectienaam%5D%5B%5D=RKD%20%28Collectie%20Iconografisch%20Bureau%29
In the Dutch province of Zeeland there is a society for the preservation of traditional costumes. The secretary of that society identified the traditional costume as the traditional costume of Cadzand, a small town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. In 2007 Cadzand had about 800 inhabitants. I believe this information may be useful to you.
FASINATING information. I had never heard of Cadzand, but now I will do my research. It doesn’t look too terribly far from Goes–and both towns are in Zeeland.
The Family Kalamazoo 
A few thoughts. The photo looks so old, yet the back has telephone numbers on it. So I had to look up when the telephone was invented—1870s. So I guess that could be. Also, maybe it was taken in Den Haag, not Utrecht—they seemed to list both locations. Would that make more sense for your family?
Amy, that is such a smart, observant thought, but of course you would have that!! Alas, no connection with The Hague that I know of. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for that location as new information comes up, though. From what you said about the time period I looked at the photo with new eyes for a sec and now I am wondering at what point it became customary to have a subject pose with something important to them. I have other photos that do that and they are more 1890s. So I wonder if photos like that were even taken in the 1870s and 1880s. The photo is in such great shape to be from before the 1890s, but what do I know?
I don’t think it’s from the 1870s; I just assumed businesses didn’t have telephones until the 1920s or maybe 1910. But once I saw that they were invented long before that, I figured that by the 1880s it would not be surprising for a business to have a phone number. So I think the photo is no earlier than 1880, but probably in the 1890s or 1900s by the clothes.
Read Hubert’s comments below, Amy. SO fascinating.
Fascinating! Wow.
I know!
My first thoughts on seeing this photo:
1. She looks like she was thinking of something pleasant.
2. Was she a member of a religious community that required women to wear bonnets, collars and dark colored clothing?
3. Were there any such churches/communities in that area?
EmilyAnn, blogging is an amazing experience. Not only do I get so much help in ways to research from my fellow bloggers like yourself, but sometimes somebody who has “inside” information stops by. See Hubert’s comments below. It’s pretty exciting information!
I suspect that this lady belonged to a religious sect that required women to wear sober and modest clothing. Or maybe she’s dressed as a Dutch widow might have been in the days of the 3-digit telephone number.
Sidenote: “Utrecht” — there are people in Kalamazoo with that surname, their families perhaps hailing from that town.
This lady is dark-haired and dark-eyed, as you say. Her face doesn’t look so very old. There’s a screen behind her — a place where one might change clothing?
WJ, all good observations! See Hubert’s comments below. Such wonderful information he’s shared. I’m thinking she might be an in-law because of her dark coloring and also because of the town she is from. Not terribly far from Goes, but still, I don’t find Cadzand on my tree.
I like that she doesn’t look ‘grim’ or ‘stern’ there is a slight upturn to her mouth, which to me indicates a sense of humor. Smiles back at her and you, too, Luanne!
Robin, I think she’s looks like a nice lady, too! Read Hubert’s comments below. He shares some incredible information!
My first thought echoed that of EmilyAnn’s; there is a somber religious feel to the photo. The subject’s collar and especially her hat make me think something along the lines of Quaker or a related sect.
She does have a friendly face – as if she’s encouraging you to continue in your research! 🙂
Laura, I love that idea about research. I was thinking about how if she only knew when she had her photo taken that it would be on the internet where literally millions of people COULD see if it this blog actually had lots of viewers ;). See Hubert’s comments below: answers to my questions!!!!
Laura, Yes she has an encouraging look as if she wants to share what is in her book with you!
The photographer, Cornelis Johannes Lodewicus Vermeulen, was born in Utrecht 18.11.1861 and died in Hilversum 05.01.1936. Photographs from the period 1886-1915 can be found at https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/portraits#query=cjl+vermeulen&start=0&filters%5Bcollectienaam%5D%5B%5D=RKD%20%28Collectie%20Iconografisch%20Bureau%29
More wonderful information from you! I love looking at these photos by Vermeulen. One thing that struck me is how much more modern the people look than the woman in my photograph. I would guess that the photograph was one of his earlier ones. But the later ones are interesting, too, and I love the one of the woman in the big hat.
In the Dutch province of Zeeland there is a society for the preservation of traditional costumes. The secretary of that society identified the traditional costume as the traditional costume of Cadzand, a small town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. In 2007 Cadzand had about 800 inhabitants. I believe this information may be useful to you.
Hubert, what absolutely stunning information. Reading this, I am thrilled at having my question about this photo answered. Just the fact that certain towns had their own traditional clothing is news to me. I had no idea. What a wonderful piece of knowledge. And then to know this woman’s origins! Absolutely fabulous. Thank you so very much, Hubert!
Congrats to you on getting your question expertly answered!
The telephone was introduced at The Hague on July 1, 1883, and at Utrecht in February 1883. There used to be local telephone directories, but I have not (yet) found any on the internet. National telephone directories were published as from 1901. The collection of national telephone directories from 1901 till 1950 are being digitalised by the dutch national library, but unfortunately this process has found delays. Only the national directory of 1915 is available on the internet, and shows that the photographer in 1915 in Utrecht had the same three digit number as mentioned on the photograph, but that his number in The Hague already had four digits.
What a cool photo! I’m glad you got some reader help, hopefully their tips lead you to some more info. 🙂
Hubert posted even more information about the photograph! He’s been able to narrow it down to a very few years!
That is excellent!
New developments. I contacted a local history circle in Zeeland (without being a member) to have the photo put up at their website for identification. I got the reply that they contacted a museum in Nieuwvliet, devoted to the regional costume of Cadzand. The museum replied that the scan of the photo is not detailed enough and requested the original photo. Please mail me a high-resolution scan (hubert.theuns@gmail.com).
I also contacted the museum on communication (devoted to the telephone) in The Hague about telephone directories. The librarian informed me that the archive of the municipality of The Hague has a collection of old telephone directories of The Hague. This morning I visited the archive and consulted their collection of “Adresboeken” for The Hague and Scheveningen.
C.J.L. Vermeulen was listed for the first time in the Adresboek, 47th edition, year 1898-1899, but without telephone number.
In the books 1899-1900, 1900-1901, 1901-1902, en 1902-1903 he is mentioned with telephone number 774 (as on the photo).
In the book 52the edition 1903-1904 the telephone number is 1873.
On the basis of the information the photo must originate from 1899-1902, with a possible extension to 1898-1903).
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Truly remarkable information and research results, Hubert. I have emailed you the photograph, as well as another photo for you to take a look at. Thank you so much for your work on this!
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