Sunday Strays - A handsome fellow.

 Another photograph from my own Stray Photograph collection. This time it's a 'tintype' or more properly, a ferrotype. 

These were popular from the late 1850s, in some places right up until the mid 20th century. I've shown at least one before, taken in England at the seaside. Ferrotypes were quick to process, could be offered quite cheaply and made nice souvenirs. 

I wonder what prompted this photograph, who this young man was and what was the occasion? He is dressed in his best. It is inevitable that we guess - perhaps it was for his mother as he was going far away to work, or for his sweetheart. 

And I wonder who the photographer was. A careful person, I think. This one is nicely done. And coloured too.

We see its rough cut edges but when this photo was new it was likely in a paper or board frame or card so those were hidden. And the paper protector may have had the photographer's name, or even the sitter's. Long lost. 

This is is 2 1/2 inches by 4 inches - most ferrotypes are small. And this is a unique image; no negative. And reversed which might be of importance if you are one who, for example, compares ears in photographs! 

I have been asked before what the backs look like, so you can see here - just shiny black, with a bit of what likely was glue on edges. If you do have some of these, be careful not to get fingerprints on the front or back. Sometimes you will see those from past handling. 

If you are wondering about those odd metal photos in your own family collections, Colin Harding wrote a helpful blog article on recognizing ferrotypes for The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, UK. This includes a lovely video that shows a photographer creating a ferrotype. I think you will find it very interesting! 

"How To Spot A Ferrotype, Also Known As A Tintype (1855–1940S)" with video by Mark Osterman from George Eastman House. https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/find-out-when-a-photo-was-taken-identify-ferrotype-tintype/

Sunday Strays - FREETHY, GRIFFITHS

Another stray postcard from my collection - this time a North Vancouver scenic card, set from Nanaimo to Koksilah, BC. 

Written to "Ada" in May 1913 by "your loving husband, Richard" and addressed to "Mrs Griffiths, c/o Mrs Ferneyhough, Koksilah Hotel".

Koksilah was a station on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E&N) Railway about 40 miles from Victoria, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Mrs. Ferneyhough (Minnie) was the postmistress, and, according to the 1910 census and directory, her husband William ran the hotel. 

Richard and Ada (Freethy) were married in Duncan on Vancouver Island in 1912. 

Love the xxx xxx s.  And the flourish in his handwriting.

Sunday Strays - another from my collection

Today I'm posting one of my unknowns - a stray ferrotype image (tintype) of three women, possibly related; no names, no place given. The image is on its own; there's no paper folder or envelope for it.

The image is clear although dark. It shows three women;  the two in front are younger, I think, so the woman standing could be a mother or aunt. They are very well dressed - so many ruffles! And so much work went into their dresses.

I believe they may be at an event, as the backdrop looks temporary. I thought originally that the chair the two are sitting on was on grass but perhaps it's a rug.  If you have any ideas, please do comment! Thanks!

Same image. A little lightened. 

Sunday Strays - Nellie Turton & sister Ida

Today's Sunday Strays - Nellie and Ida Turton - sisters. Lived in Iowa and South Dakota, USA?

Love this postcard! And what a great card for Ada to choose to send her sister Nellie - likely for her birthday - an independent woman driving along making her own way in 1908. I would very much like to hear more about their lives. 

Wishing you many happy returns of the day. Your sister Ida M. T. 

Addressed to: Miss Nellie Turton, Linden, Dallas Co. Iowa. Postmarked 25 Nov., 1908, Woodsocket, S.D. (South Dakota, USA).

A Family Portrait - Sunday Strays

I've just called this stray photograph "A Family Portrait". No names, no information at all with it.

This could have been a special occasion or perhaps a Sunday - all are tidied up and the little girl is outfitted nicely. Love her hair bows and her pinafore. (Never liked bows in my own hair.)

This could have been taken by an itinerant photographer. The backdrop seems to be hung on the corner of a room?

I post these as there's always a chance that someone someday will recognize one of those photographed. Or even that the backdrop will be recognized from another photograph.

Sunday Strays - DIXON, Sintaluta, Saskatchewan; BURDON, Corvallis, Oregon, 1910 - Day 11 - 21 Day Family Connections Experiment

Today is Day 11 of my 21 Day Family Connections Experiment.

These Sunday Strays are from my postcard collection - and not (as far as I know) related to my families. 

Names & places:  DIXON, Sintaluta, Saskatchewan, Canada; BURDON, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

Two handsome fellows, one is the sender, I think. There is faint writing beside the photo, but I think it may have been transferred from another card or document, perhaps while stored in someone's album.  I was interested to see the cut edge of another photograph on this postcard; perhaps there is another very similar postcard in another collection? 

Sent to Miss Mary Dixon, Sintaluta, Saskatchewan, Canada. Postmarked Mar 6, 1910, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.

The message reads: Dear Mary  

I am getting along all right. Hoping you are all well. Write soon to

J J [?] c/o Mr Tom Burdon Corvallis Oregon RFD Rout 4

Mary Dixon may have been the daughter of William and Minnie Dixon. If so, it appears she was born in 1893 in Canada and later married Otto Carl Jansen.

I see a Thomas G Burdon (born in Canada, 1890) listed in the 1910 US census as living in Oregon with his mother, Susana, and a sister, Minnie.

If you know these people, please contact me.

While this postcard is not associated with my own families, it is in  my 'Stray collections'.  And every collector needs to have a plan and a conversation with their heirs about the disposition of these, if necessary.

So far, my plan is to have the Strays donated to the Vancouver Postcard Club. By scanning them and putting the details I have on the web, I hope to share them with appropriate families long before we need to worry about this. But this may spark a family discussion! 

For more about the 21 Day Family Connections Experiment, see my first Experiment article here.

Sunday Strays - CWAC member in uniform

This post is late because I wanted to show my mother as a beautiful baby yesterday - for Mother's Day. 

Here is another stray from my collections. This time it's a member of the Canadian Women's Army Corps., World War II. (And yes, my mother was a CWAC and proud of it!)

I wonder if someone can identify this woman?  She does look very smart in her uniform.


I did check the Library and Archives Canada catalogue and I don't see her in any of the photographs scanned and online. And according to the catalogue, LAC holds no postcards relating to the Canadian Women's Army Corps.

On the back it reads: Pictured on the front of this post card is one of the thousands of patriotic Canadian girls in the Canadian Women's Army Corps. Recruits are urgently needed. 

It's possible that the "Oleg" on the back is a clue. Then there is an "es" and prices for the card.  CanadianSoldiers.com shows this same card, identifying it as from 1945.