Forgotten Faces Friday: Mystery Photo #2

The 1910s Chicago Studio Portrait

Every face in a vintage photograph has a name, a story, and a place in our history--even it has been forgotten. 

Welcome to Forgotten Faces Friday where we are dedicated to solving the mysteries hiding in our family archives. 

 The Historical Clues

• The Location: The printed text on the back of the photo notes 831 South State St., Chicago, Ill. During the early 20th century, small budget friendly photography studios were set up in busy areas where working-class families, visitors, and commuters could get inexpensive "while-you-wait" photos.
• The Photo Mailer: The top of the sleeve includes printed instructions: "Don't seal this envelope. Stick flap to pictures only." This confirms the couple had their portrait taken in the city and immediately used a specialized souvenir mailing sleeve to protect the prints while sending them to family members out of town.
• The Style and Attire: The woman's long, tailored Edwardian "walking suit" and the couple's distinct styling narrow down the estimated creation timeline to the early 1910s (roughly 1910–1914).

The Faded Handwriting & Potential Family Links

The very faded handwriting offers few direct clues, but a closer look reveals a potential path forward:

• The Address: Old paper tape covers up the name of the person this photo package was originally addressed to in Dallas.
• The Letters: Looking closely beneath the tape, I believe I can make out a "Mr." or "Mrs." followed by part of a capital letter "A", and a capital "R" on the line below it.
• The Holman Connection: My mother-in-law's parents were Arthur Holman and Rosetta Stephens Pulley Holman. Given the fragmented letters "A" and "R" matching Arthur and Rosetta, and the mailing destination of Dallas, it is highly possible this anonymous couple belongs to the extended Holman family branch.
• Further writing: Looking at the writing in the bottom left (see photo below), it is possible it notes [Blue Eyes] and beneath it [Dark/Black Hair] just above the bottom paper tape.
  

Can You Help Solve the Mystery?

Look closely at the features of the young couple in the original portrait:

• Do you recognize a striking family resemblance to the Holman family or any related branches?
• Do you have records of family members living in or traveling through Chicago or Dallas in the early 1910s?

If you have a theory, recognize a face, or can decipher any of the surrounding faded blue script on the back, please leave a comment below!

Forgotten Faces Friday: Mystery Photo #1

The 1940s Car Bumper Portrait

Every face in a vintage photograph has a name, a story, and a place in our history--even it has been forgotten. 

Welcome to Forgotten Faces Friday, a new weekly photo identification series dedicated to solving the genealogy mysteries hiding in our family archives. Today, I am sharing a vintage family photograph that looks incredibly familiar, yet remains completely anonymous as we work to identify these ancestors.

Family sitting on the grill of a 1939/1940 Ford DeLuxe   

With no names, locations, or dates written on the back of this photograph, we have to rely entirely on the visual clues left behind to piece together its history. Here is what the photo itself tells us about when this moment took place:

The Historical Clues

• The Vehicle: Based on its pointed vertical grille and teardrop headlights, the car appears to be a 1939 or 1940 Ford DeLuxe. While not conclusive, this identification may help narrow the date of the photograph.
• The Clothing: 
• The woman is wearing a structured skirt suit possibly with padded shoulders, a classic WWII-era "Victory Suit."
• The man's conservative suit and tie were typical fashions of the period.
• The boy's overalls, and the girl's simple dress and shoes also fit the era. 
• The Hair: The woman has her hair styled in a rolled updo, a popular 1940s "victory roll" variation.
• The Estimated Era: Early-to-mid 1940s (roughly 1940–1946).

Can You Help Solve the Mystery?

Look closely at the features of the couple and the two young children:

• Do you recognize a striking family resemblance to your branch of the family?
• Do you remember hearing stories about an ancestor who owned a late model 30s or 40s Ford?

If you have a theory or recognize a face, please leave a comment below!

Forgotten Faces Friday: Mystery Photo #3

The "Merry Widow" Hat

Every face in a vintage photograph has a name, a story, and a place in our history--even it has been forgotten. 

With no names, locations, or dates written on this photograph, we have to rely entirely on the visual clues left behind and a simple three-word inscription on the reverse side to piece together its history. 

The Historical Clues

• The Giant "Merry Widow" Hat: The woman on the right is wearing an incredibly wide-brimmed, structured hat perched high on a voluminous hairstyle. This specific style became a global fashion obsession between 1908 and 1911 after the debut of The Merry Widow operetta.
• The Hairstyles: Both women have their hair styled in soft, padded "Gibson Girl" pompadours rolled over internal frames to support the massive weight of the era's millinery.
• The Collars & Blouses: The woman on the left is wearing a dark open-front jacket over a stark white, high-collared shirtwaist blouse—a classic daytime look for a modern, stylish woman of the turn of the century.
• The Estimated Era: Late Edwardian era, roughly 1908–1912.

The Clue on the Back: "Mother and a friend"

The reverse side of the photo card features simple handwriting that reads: "Mother & a friend."

• The Direct Line: Because it says "Mother," this photo was saved and labeled by a direct child of one of these two women.
• The Handwriting Identification: If the handwriting on "Mother & a friend" matches writing on other labeled documents or photographs, that connection could reveal exactly whose mother is sitting in this portrait—and finally place her in the right branch of the family story. 

Can You Help Solve the Mystery?

Look closely at the features of these two stylish women:

• Do you recognize a striking family resemblance to your branch of the family?
• Do you recognize the handwriting style from old family letters or scrapbooks?
• Based on the 1908–1912 timeline, which of our direct grandmothers or great-grandmothers would have been a young woman in her 20s or 30s during this era?

If you have a theory or recognize a face, please leave a comment below!