Awhile back my husband and I found a small box that my father had sent to me in the year before he died. It had been overlooked because it was dwarfed by the larger items he had sent, which included a large oak bookcase for my daughter when she eventually has room to put it. We moved stuff around in storage and, lo and behold, there was this box.
In the box was this gorgeous photo in a frame. At first, I had no idea who it was, but then my husband, said, “What are you talking about? She looks like you and your family.” So I looked again and realized it had to be my great-grandmother Clara. To be sure, I compared it with a photo of Clara and her husband Charles when they were young, perhaps their wedding portrait, and it was the same woman.
Then I found something to go with the apparent graduation portrait of Clara. A book given to her by a classmate, Alice J. Wilson. Alice might have been the daughter of Manuel Wilson and Helen Freeman of Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan. I am guessing the girls went to high school together.
The book in question is this:
This book of essays with poetry was published before the girls were born, in the 1850s (they were born in 1884), and was extremely popular when it came out. The author was the father of the Oliver Wendell Holmes who became a Supreme Court Justice. The father was a doctor, a poet, and a writer.
The book was popular probably because it used humor and variety. Still, it seems heavy reading for young people by today’s standards.
The Family Kalamazoo 
What a beautiful photo! And finding the book is so exciting, too! I love that kind of thing! 😀
It was such an exciting find. And since the photo came in a frame, of course I put it on the kitchen hutch shelf immediately so I can see it all the time ;)! And the book was a window into her world.
I’m thankful you discovered who she was! I love the photo, everything about it–her dress (those sleeves), hair, background, diploma, flowers, watch pin. I think the chain thingy is called a lavalier. And that little book is so dear. (Bet it has that wonderful musty aroma about it.)
Joy, yes, your description is perfect. Every detail is so beautiful. And yet I suspect that this moment was the fanciest most “intended” portrait in her life. It’s possible the flowers and diploma were even props. Not that she wouldn’t have gotten a diploma, but maybe just not that one. I hope it was her watch! And her hair is so wonderful. Imagine her excitement at being able to wear this hairstyle and dress!
Wonderful find. Thank You for sharing.
Thanks, Jose! I got your email and fixed it. Siri or me? Who knows!
I love the outfits they wore back then. So elegant.
She looks gorgeous in this outfit. But I think this was probably the most elegant moment in her life. She was a farmers daughter and then became a farmer’s wife for most of her life.
That’s a beautiful photograph—and I can see the resemblance to you in her eyes. What a great find! I think I might have read part of that book at some time.
So interesting that you’ve read part of that book! I do regret a bit that when I attended grad school all of these old books were off the curriculum and, for the most part, forgotten. I read novels from that period, and of course Thoreau and Emerson (and Coleridge), but that was about it for essays.
I don’t remember when or why I read it (or parts of it)—probably for school. As I recall, it was rather amusing.
I guess that’s why people liked it!
Hi Luanne ~ I have been having trouble with wordpress and leaving comments etc, this could be a duplicate for the first said comments were closed on this post. What I had written was I could feel your excitement in discovering this photo (and what a frame) What a beautiful picture of Clara ~ you found true treasure! Very appropriate that the book was filled with poetry (wink wink) So happy for you 🙂
I didn’t get the other comment, but I got this one! Yes, it was so exciting! Like uncovering treasure when I least expected it! Thanks, Sharon!
What a gorgeous woman and such a treasure to find! Thank you for sharing – so glad you have the photo in such an elegant frame!!
She does look great in that photo! We found the photo already in that frame! Such a surprise treasure!
Clara was a very beautiful woman! The Autocrat doesn’t exactly sound like scintillating reading.
She sure was. Hahaha, I know. The whole idea of the book is so antithetical to today’s reading, but we probably aren’t being fair to it.
True, but any book that starts out with numerals on the first page is not for me!
Philistine! (haa, sorry, I’m reading too many old British mysteries)
Well, I do have my Philistinean moments, I shall confess.
LOL! Don’t we all!
😁
What great fun to find this stuff!! Congratulations!!