And I guess it begins again…how many children did this woman have? In fact, how many generations of people walking the earth today are related to the seventeen children in this family? Think of the stories to be told.
And of course, there's another person responsible for these seventeen…the father.
I think you'll now see where his genetics were stronger in some of the children and how all the DNA got mixed together to create these fascinating people.
And for those who thought this might never end, I give you the family.
Click on image to see it larger.
How many other children died? Was it a happy family? What were their secrets? Their joys? Their sorrows? And since Mike has kindly dealt with some food possibilities…what was dinner like at their table? A moment caught in time that none of them could have ever imagined would someday be viewed all over the world by strangers who would one day be fascinated by them.
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They sure don't LOOK happy....
ReplyDeleteThough mother set the menu every week, it was Mary Katherine who did all the the cooking. Her secret dream was to become a librarian one day.
ReplyDeleteGeorge was regular. Breakfast at 7, dinner at 12:30, and supper at 7:00. Fish on Friday, roast chicken every Sunday dinner, and maybe a couple of hams or rib roasts on the special days.
This was one of those special days. After thirty years together, Mary and George had a lot to be be thankful for. If only this photographer would hurry up and finish. The food was getting cold.
Yes, yes, perfect!
DeleteNice finish, Mike!
DeleteDo I win a prize? I guessed 18 at the start... was I the closest, was I the closest, was I the closest????
DeleteNice deconstructed series. With your expertise, can you guess the approx. year the photo was taken?
I'm not really sure. I'd say very late 1890s to maybe 1912, somewhere in there. The clothing reminds me of what my grandfather wore as a boy and the adult's clothing reminds me of a family portrait of my great-grandparents.
DeleteAnd sorry, no prize. Just the knowledge that you were the only person to guess so indeed you came the closest.
DeleteAh, then that is indeed prize enough, given the title of this piece.
DeleteThe oldest of these children was likely in his early thirties by the time the last was born (assuming about 2 years between children). Chances are they would rarely have all sat together at the same table since the oldest 6 or 8 would have been gone when the youngest were born.
ReplyDeleteI assume (and it's too bad if) you don't have more information about this family. No name on the back, no location? It's such a fabulous photo it seems like it should be with descendants of some member of this family.
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Nope, no information on it. It was purchased in Oregon several years ago…I think. That of course doesn't mean they lived in Oregon. So they'll always be a mystery.
DeleteI like this observation about the no. at the table and agree with the THANKS. It was a very enjoyable series for me!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it! I like taking group photos and breaking them up so we see the parts instead of the whole.
DeleteEver wonder about the evil stepmother stereotype in literature? Before the first third of the 20th century, death in childbirth was a not uncommon fate for young women. After a decent interval, it was considered a father's duty to go out and get a new mother for his children. Of course, the new mother usually added a few extra kids to the family.
ReplyDeleteThe seventeen may be siblings, but it's a mistake to assume that this woman bore them all. She may have, but it's just as likely, if not more so, that she was the second, third or even fourth mother these kids knew.
Possibly true.
DeleteMy own maternal grandmother lost her mother at age 3 and indeed ended up with the evil stepmother.
Gosh that was fun!
ReplyDeleteI was never quite sure who would be the youngest and I'm pleased that my guess was correct. But your clever twist for number 17 was a wonderful surprise! Your slow deconstruction really inspired some thought about how each sibling might relate to the others and after the first two I decided that food was the one common theme in any family.
I would date this bunch by the girls' hair bows, and place them in the big bow fashion era of 1900-1910. And though WJY is right, we can't know for sure that this isn't a group of step-siblings, I think the boys all share the nose and face shape as the father. And likewise the daughters, especially the oldest, look like mom.
I went hunting through the newspaper archives yesterday, so check your inbox.