I first posted this photo years ago, wondering who the girl could be. Then I found a photo of her with Alice Leeuwenhoek, which gave a bit of context regarding her age. However, now I can finally post the name of this beautiful girl. Her name is Ruth Case and she was born around 1906. She lived in Ross Township in Kalamazoo County, according to the 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 censuses. In 1940 she was still single, living with her parents, her brother, and most likely her sister-in-law and niece.
The Case home was apparently a farm in Augusta, Michigan, which is Ross Township, owned by Ruth’s father, Charles Case. Their property was just a bit north of W. E. Upjohn property (sections 28 and 27), which you can see on the map (C. M. Case in sections 16 and 22). The Upjohn estate was called Brook Lodge and eventually became a retreat for the Upjohn Company (pharma). I have photos that Alice took at Brook Lodge, including some with my grandfather.
These photos could have been taken in Augusta or in Kalamazoo.
If you have any further information about Ruth or her family, please let me know and I will update this post again.
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Over two years ago I published this post, asking for the identity of a girl in a photo I discovered. I have another clue now, which I will post at the end.
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The photograph was created from a glass negative taken by Joseph DeKorn. All of his photographs were taken between approximately 1895 and 1918, and the majority were shot in Kalamazoo.
Although I don’t know who this lovely girl is, I have hopes that I can eventually discover her identity. The juxtaposition of the two houses might lead to a solution, for instance.
Any ideas on the time period of the dress, hair, and shoes (within that 1895-1918 range)?
I remember wearing tights that bagged at the knees like these stockings. Do you think they are cotton?
I’ll put Balch Street and Burdick Street in the tags for this post, just in case it was taken in the neighborhood where Joseph lived.
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OK, THE NEW CLUE.
I found another photo of the girl, taken probably at the same time, at the same place, but with the addition of an adult Alice Leeuwenhoek, but most likely before her marriage to Clarence Moerdyk. The above photo was made from a glass negative, but this one was an actual photograph I found in a different family collection.
Alice was born in 1897, so can we say that this photo is somewhere around 1917?
The Family Kalamazoo 
Looks like Alice moredyk in another time it looks like your mother at that age
Sent from my iPhone
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Pretty like Mom :).
Wow, I would have thought 1930s or later, given the short dress, hair style, shoes, etc. But as I’ve said often, I am not at all a fashion expert!
Hah! No, definitely earlier. I think Jill is right in what she says. Besides she majored in this stuff ;)!
No argument from me!
Lol!
Such a neat picture! Have you posted this on Vanished Kalamazoo page on Facebook? Might get some more leads. 🙂
Good idea! Thanks so much for the suggestion!
A beautiful girl. I hope you find out who she is.
Thanks so much, Andy. I hope so, too!
Children’s fashion changed a lot less than women’s costume during that period. The foliage in the garden makes it look like summer so it may be the girl’s play clothes. The 2 piece dress has a sailor collar. The shortness of the hem makes me think it’s after 1900, maybe 1915 or thereabouts. Or, if it is a dress for playing outside, it may be an old dress and too short for her to wear in public.
Just realized I never commented on your comment! I just added another photo as another clue!
Wonderful photo. Lets hope you can solve the mystery.
The skirts of adult women got a lot shorter between 1910 and 1920. In 1910 they went all the way down to the ankles. Skirts were always shorter for girls than for women, but the short length of the dress in this photo makes me think that it was towards the latter end of the time period.
Such good info for finding dates. Thanks, Sheryl”
Such a pretty girl! I hope you eventually find out who she is, Luanne.
She is so pretty. Thanks, Clare. I feel I’m getting closer!
Yay! 🙂
What a great find – having another image from the same time and place! Does the source of the photos offer any clue?
Unfortunately no. But it does help to determine the girl’s birth year and age. She clearly is young when seen next to Alice. Maybe 11 or so? So if it’s 1917 then the girl was born around 1906. My grandfather was born 1908 so I’m looking for his contemporary among family or neighbors.
Best of luck in your search!
Looks like I am a bit late to the party 🙂 Read through the thread ~ my thoughts – looks like the pictures are from the same day (same dress on, hair combed the same with band. Since you have the name of the other girl can you work off of her – sisters? younger? cousin? who lived in those homes – did they have daughters ? can you match birthdates to apex age you think she is … that sort of stuff – good luck Luanne
That is what I plan to do. Please tell me why these family tree type programs don’t allow us to call up info like an Excel sheet. For instance, birth dates between 1903 and 1910. So dumb! hahaha, Maybe we should invent one ;).
Great idea. I elect you do create one and I’ll use it – buy it – I love the idea but I wouldn’t know how to create that 🙂
I hope this brings results
Thanks, Derrick!
They are lovely photos Luanne and I hope you can solve the mystery of the girl’s identity.
I’m not a fashion expert by any stretch, but comparing their clothes with dresses worn by people in photos I have that I can date (and given that fashions didn’t change nearly as much in those days), I’d say between 1912-1920, and probably towards the end of that time. But my methodology is very imprecise!!!!
Thanks, Su! I will never forget that you are the one who told me there were “puttees” in a photo so I consider you sort of an expert!
She has not a lot of shoe “real-estate” and wonder if she felt secure by their ankle strap. Maybe there is a word to express what I’m trying to say – the shoe itself looks shallow.- dainty though.
LOL. I think I know what you mean. I remember that feeling.
I think your date of 1917 is probably very close. I have a photo of my 3x grandmother in a very similar outfit – including the hat. She was with friends picnicking. The photo is not dated, but it is after her marriage in 1914 and before her death in 1921.
I was surprised how old the photo apparently is. Without any additional contextual information, I would have guessed that the first photo was taken sometime between the 1930s and the 1950s. Similarly to you, I remember wearing baggy cotton tights.
Persistence paying off
Sure did! Thanks, Derrick.