At my request, Chris sent the picture on the left as another example of typical dress for the mature woman in the 1930s. Chris writes: "Here is the picture I mentioned. My great grandmother, Sarah Jane Collett Whitworth is the one on the far right. The two aunties on the left look a little weird. Dan scanned the picture out of a family history book a distant cousin of Dad's put together a few years ago. I think the cousin must have tinkered with the picture somehow and given Emma, far left, and Annie, left of center their strange jaw lines. The sister next to Sarah Jane is Carrie. The picture was taken in Missouri in 1939. The sisters are all in their sixties with Emma in her seventies. There was one other sister who lived less than four weeks (their mother died at her birth), and there were also four brothers. All lived to ripe old ages."
Debbie makes the point that these dresses are undoubtedly their Sunday best. They wouldn't be photographed in anything less. KW
8 comments:
Betcha the two aunties couldn't resist the temptation to make some comment durring the photo exposure time. I sure wouldn't mess the that motley crew! Who knew the frumpy frocks could be such a tool for intimidation. -mvw
Yes, and they all looked very much the same in that era. In their youth they were taught to sit still and not smile when pictures were taken. Perhaps it's more than that, though, because they raised their young-uns with a no nonsense attitude. They were in charge and they knew it. Isn't it great that we have these old pictures.
Although stoic in the photo, I bet those nice ladies have some awesome meatloaf recipes! Or cookie recipes...done with cookie cutters and frosted with care.
It IS so great that we have these photos of our heritage. It could not have been easy to stand for a minute and a half without moving while staring into the sun.
So great that you could share, Aunt Chris! Did you have the opportunity to know your Great Grandmother?
Hallie,
Thank you for your nice words! No, I did not know my great grandmother, she died in 1945 while my dad was overseas to his great sorrow. She's a legend in our family--actually saint would probably be a better word. :-) She was the "plain" sister, tall and lean, and didn't marry until she was 28--late for those times. She (with her husband) came west in 1905 with four little children, having carefully made each child a new outfit for each day on the train so they would look their best.
After raising her four children (a fifth died of diptheria at age 2 in Orofino), she then helped Granny raise my dad and his brother and sister when their father was killed in Clearwater County's first fatal car accident. My dad was 15 months old, Betty Jane not quite three, and Uncle Bill who had turned four a week before. All three of these grandchildren talked constantly of her while I was growing up--each mention filled with love. She may have looked strict but was apparently just the opposite. They never had much money, but shared everything they had with three small children while their mother held down three jobs to support her family. Dad talks often of her bread, her "pear honey" (sounds like a pear version of apple butter), and her constant knitting.
The photo was taken during her one and only only vist back (after 34 years) to Missouri to see her sisters and brothers.
Wow! That is quite sad about your grandfather dying so young, but I bet the family did their best to make up for the loss in love and care.
These are great stories! I think our family came from Illinois or Iowa during the Homestead Act. Probably almost the same time. 1910-ish. Mom will correct all my inaccuracies. :) Why was your family coming out, Aunt Chris? Logging, mining, or farming???
Let us know if you'd ever like to do a guest blog! I can set you up as long as you have a g-mail account. That'd be really fun!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write, Chris. I'm sure I knew a lot of that info at one time but had forgotten. I hope you have written this down for your family and / or will print this entry and put it away for them. I just couldn't help but wonder if your character and talents don't make your dad think of his grandmother.
Hallie, thanks for the offer of guest blogging. I'll think about it. I don't have a g-mail account. One other thing about my grandfather--I was born on the 25th anniversary of his death. His name was Christopher Clay Cummings and of course that's where my name came from. My mom wanted to name me Mary Kathleen and call me Kathy--which would have made it pretty confusing between your mom and me. Dad's choice prevailed. My brother's name is John Clay Cummings. Again, Dad's choice. Mom's choice--Dan!!! Too funny.
Kathy, thanks for your comparison of me and Grandmother Whitworth. It would be nice to think I had some of her characteristics.
In the world of "might have been," my name is Ray. So if Chris had been Kathy, I would have been Ray. My dad wanted to name me after his good friend, Ray Craft, who was tragically killed when coming home from WWII. However, he didn't say so until I was six. Mother said, "Well, it's a little late now." I'm sure she would have gone along with "Ray" no matter what she preferred because she knew I would be my dad's only child. KW
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