Nerdiest To-Do List Ever

1. Ship some spit to 23 and Me for an ancestral genetic work-up. I've become a fan of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s TV show "Finding Your Roots" and his part good old genealogical footwork, part scientific approach. By the way, that's my mom in the photo. And she would probably like me to say that this was after I was born.

2. Take a free class from a prestigious university at Coursera. I signed up for Basic Behavioral Neurology from Penn State. I'm excited. Doesn't start until July. I'm already prepping people to call me Dr. come August.

3. Build this DIY Third Hand. I'll never do it.

WWI Photographs

From WWI Set

I recently acquired a set of 45 WWI images from an estate sale right around the corner from my house. They are actual photographs, but seem to be some kind of souvenir set, although any wrapper or box is long gone. They're small – 2.75 x 1.625 – almost like a cigarette card, but these have no printing or writing on them except for the handwritten descriptions on the front. They're pretty interesting, so I thought I'd scan in and post a few every now and again. If anyone has any info on these sets, please comment and let me know. By the way, "Boche" is slang for a German soldier.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

There are tons of Carte de Visites around, and most are nice portraits but not that interesting. Flip them around though, and sometimes the backs are pretty great – beautiful printing and typography and sometimes a bit of historical info. Click the image to see an enlargement and also a couple more.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a little girl photographed by Sweeny, Jackson, Mississippi wearing a pretty cool daffodil costume. If you click the photograph and go to the album, there's also a shot of the board it's mounted on that has a beautifully embossed figure on it. Couldn't find out much info on Sweeny, so I'll have to do a little more digging.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a portrait taken by "Beadle's Studio, Jackson, Miss." Richard Henry Beadle was a prominent African-American photographer in Jackson starting in 1900. This source says he apprenticed with Elisaeus von Seutter, although another source says von Seutter died in 1900. The Smith Robertson Museum (Sorry, looks like their web site is undergoing some turmoil.) has some of his photo collection and studio equipment on display. From the Museum:

In 1906, he set up a studio in a tent near Roach and Capitol streets in Jackson. Later he moved his studio to North Farish Street where he operated for 54 years. In 1968 Beadle was cited for outstanding leadership by the National Council for Negro Women. In 1977 his work was cited by the heritage committee of Jackson's Bicentennial Committee and in 1980 he was honored with an exhibit of his works by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The exhibit includes vintage cameras, studio equipment and a collection of photos from the Beadle collection.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's another little mystery for this week – a photo montage of pilot, plane and crop dusting action shot. It's stamped "Bryan's Studio, Clarksdale, Miss." on the reverse. Handwritten on the front is "To the World's best. Jack Robinson." I did some research trying to find this famous crop duster or stunt pilot who signs autographs. What I did find is the more famous Jack Robinson, photographer, who grew up in Clarksdale. Check out this signature – it's kinda similar. And he looks a little like the pilot. Maybe the pilot is his father, Jack Robinson, Sr.?

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here's a Julia Margaret Cameron-esque 8x10 portrait by an unknown photographer.

Vintage Photograph Tuesday

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a photograph that I've always doubted the authenticity of. The model appears to be wearing an Egyptian style wig and "snakes" of some sort. I think her necklace is made out of lace bobbins. It would seem to be within the genre of art/nude carte de visite. Given the style of the paper mount, with its hard corners and two simple gold lines, that dates it to about 1860-1868. On the back is written: W. Ward Photographer, Richmond, Virginia, Also Army of Northern Virginia, In The Field, which would seem to date this more specifically during the Civil War. Here's my problem, for being almost 150 years old, the paper mount is in immaculate shape. Also, the paper the image is printed on feels a little thick for this era and is shiny almost like a satin or pearl RC paper. I believe it's an old image, but somehow a modern print married to an old backing? Any thoughts out there?

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is a Wallace Nutting print from 1915 taken at Paul Revere's home in Massachusetts. Nutting largely photographed pastoral country scenes, but also period interiors such as this one. All are hand colored photographic prints, but mass produced. Each print has a studio number written on the back – this is #3580 which seems to be a variation of this one from the Wallace Nutting Library site. It seems to be a fairly extensive site of his work if you're patient enough for it to load. From the site:

Wallace Nutting started taking pictures in 1899 while on long bicycle rides in the countryside. In 1904 he opened the Wallace Nutting Art Prints Studio on East 23rd Street in New York. After a year he moved his business to a farm in Southbury, CT. He called this place "Nuttinghame". In 1912 he moved the photography studio to Framingham, MA. A home he called, "Nuttingholme". In the peak of his business he employed about two-hundred colorist. Only a few of whom were authorized to title and sign his photographs. In fact, Wallace Nutting signed very few of the pictures he sold. Because of the sheer number sold, ten millions by his own account, It would have been difficult in light of ill health and his interest in publishing and furniture making for him to sign them all. This accounts for the various signature styles that can be found. Collectors have learned to recognize an authorized signature as well as Wallace Nutting's own. Signature styles can date a picture and the combination of other elements can authenticate a signature.

Seems that mine was not signed by Nutting himself.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here are a couple novelty or souvenir photos with a bull theme.

From Vintage Photographs

This one is a tintype. On the back is handwritten in pencil, "Who would of thought it?" Fun Souvenir Photo Flickr Group here.

By the way, for all you sellers of photographs, if you really must write a price on the back of an image, please, please don't use a pen.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is page 1 of a photo album showing a young group of boys on a climbing trip in South Korea. In addition to the photos, there are great drawings in white ink throughout the album. Click the image to see in more detail. Dr. Sheeyong Lee was kind, patient and thorough in translating the writing in the entire album for me. In addition to the straight translation there is also some supportive information.

Moving clockwise starting from the drawing in the lower left corner.

1. KWAN-ARK-SAN, A mountain located in Seoul, South Korea. SAN means mountain. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain. May 3, 1943 (at the age of) 18.

2. From the Northern side (of the Han river), the crystal water trickles down and goes around the beautiful rocks. Up to the sky, snow white clouds form the flowers of Lotus.* Under the heaven, forests are shadowed with the color of fresh green. From the forests, I can listen to the songs of small birds. A bright day in April*, at WOO-EE-DONG.*

*the flowers of Lotus (YON-HWA) – An idiom from Buddhism, symbol of purity, noble and clean mind.
*April (sha-wol) – The author uses the lunar calendar April even though it is May. It seems he emphasizes the romantic and joyful mood by using April which symbolizes the season of spring.
*WOO-EE-DONG – A town in Seoul (?) Characters translate to cow-ear-village.

3. 1947.6.15 On the top of MAN-JANG-BONG. In memory of conquering DO-BONG-SAN MAN-JANG-BONG

4. A continuous rain! To climb ?? mountain which boasts her rich in green leaves and beauty. The weather was not good today. A woodman gave us a tip to find a pathway which was covered with thick green bush. In the picture: Mr. Jung and friend Lee watching dark clouds in gloomy sky. After seeing KUM-RAE-GOOL (KUM-RAE cavern).

5. Autumn! – the season of CHEON-GO-MA-BEE* Autumn! – the breeze of pine trees. Facing the wind, I embrace the golden KWAN-ARK mountain. I climb on horse rock behind ?? which stands very curiously. As seeing all around, I feel dizzy and confused as if there is a cliff near me and a heaven above me. Far away, I can see cloud-covered NAM-HAN mountain. Friend SEO took a snap shot.

*CHEON-GO-MA-BEE – Sky is high, horses are gaining weight. Originally, these words derived from an old Chinese legend. Whenever autumn came, the Northern people (the Hun?) had to prepare to overcome the harsh winter. So they fed their horses during spring and summer and invaded the Chinese border (the Great Wall) in autumn which shows clear sky. Therefore the Chinese always had to enforce their defense when autumn came. To the Northener, autumn was the time to invade to get food and riches. To the Chinese, it was time to alert. In Korea, this idiom is used to describe the beauty of the season. Autumn is the season of nobly high sky, season of abundance, season of philosophy, season of poets, and season of men.

7. The early summer: the green leaves seem like silk texture, irises show their flowers beautifully. On May 3, a happy and joyful day, a lark is singing, willow are hanging by the creek near KWA-CHEON. Going around KWAN-ARK mountain and seeing ??. It is a happy day wandering all around the mountain.

8. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This photograph is a modern contact print from the original 8x10 celluloid negative taken by Harry Hiatt (Hiatt Photographic Services) at the Jackson, Mississippi Zoo. It shows Monkey Island which was built by the WPA before WWII. At the time of the photograph, it was decked out as a tiny army base. If you click the photo you can see more detail. Monkey Island is still around, but the monkeys have been gone for quite a while. Here's a cool postcard. I think it's time to pay Monkey Island a visit.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

Apparently, this one cotton plant was so productive it warranted taking it to Natchez, Mississippi to be photographed by Norman. Best I can transcribe, this is handwritten on the reverse:

Grown on Property of Campbell & Slocumb near Gilbert, Franklin Parish La. Planted May 5th 1917, no rain until July 20th – variety "Money Maker." Land worked by tenants Ezekiel Moore – 27 bolls on one limb. Has 149 bolls – lots of blooms and unbloomed squares. One of the large lower limbs were torn off by an accident during cultivation, and no bolls were counted p??? – J.S. Campbell.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

I've had this idea for a while to catalogue my antique photo collection. So I'm kicking off Vintage Photograph Mondays. Makes it not so daunting and gives me something to look forward to on Monday mornings. This one is stamped on the back, "Photographed by H. Tarr, Broadway at 53rd St. N.Y., Kindly Give Credit." My guess is it's someone playing dress-up – 1920s-ish judging by the outfit, paper and the font on the back.