I purchased this photo many years ago from an eBay seller in New York state. I've always found it fascinating.
Click on image to see it larger.
The wealthy woman knitting while her three precocious children sit still long enough to be photographed. And who are the two women in the back? Relatives or employees? I have no information as to any of their identities other than the pencil scrawls on the front.
As to the photographer, well, this gets a little interesting. Unlike most photographers who went in for stylish typefaces for their identity this photographer's name, C. S. Piersaull, is barely readable. In no way is he drawing attention to himself or his work. Fortunately President Roosevelt recognized his value.
Over 300 of Mr. Piersaull's photos reside in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. The following from their site:
Who Was Charles Slyvester Piersaull?I also found a book called Hyde Park on the Hudson by Margaret Logan Marquez that contains the page shown below. Click on the title link above to go to the book where you'll see several photos taken by Mr. Piersaull.
Little is known about Charles Sylvester Piersaull. He was born in 1853 and was married to Josephine Susan Aldrich. The local registry lists his occupation as "Fishmonger" and the sign on his house says "FISH MARKET," but he did more than just sell fish. Piersaull served as the local pharmacist, bicycle repairman, and photographer. As a photographer, Charles Piersaull made his mark by leaving a rich visual record of Hyde Park's past. He took hundreds of photographs of the people, buildings, and culture of Hyde Park at the turn of the 20th century. At the time of his death in 1921, Piersaull's pictures were not taken seriously, but when they resurfaced over 20 years later, President Roosevelt immediately saw their value in understanding Hyde Park's history. The photographs were acquired by the FDR Library in 1943. (SOURCE: FDR Library)
Click on image to see it larger.
Too often I find either nothing or very little about a photographer from so long ago. This is a rare find to see both the photographer and his wife.
Either the weeks are getting shorter or Sepia Saturday is starting earlier.
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