Search for content in message boards

Pennsylvania Confirmation

Pennsylvania Confirmation

Posted: 24 Jul 2015 8:50PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Imm
I'm having some difficulty getting a date for this picture. The studio is Butler Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The picture opens up for it to stand alone. This photo came to me thru items from the Schramm/Imm side of my family. In all the research I've done to date, the only female I know of that was confirmed in Pennsylvania was Anna Marie Imm. Her family came from Germany in 1873 and settled for a short time in Pennsylvania. She was confirmed in 1878 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. I think the picture looks newer than 1878, but I'm by far a pro on dating photos. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Attachments:

Re: Pennsylvania Confirmation

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 3:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Yes, that dress is definitely early 20th century - probably the 1920s, or maybe a little earlier or later.

Also, the location doesn't make much sense - Shamokin is too far from Philly. If she was confirmed in Shamokin, there's no way she would have had the photo done in a Philly studio. Today, it's like a 3 hour drive and that's with modern cars and roads, in the 19th century it would have taken most of the day to get there.

Have you tried dating the studio with directory records? You have the studio name and address - I often find you can narrow down the time period by finding directory records of when that studio was at that address.

Re: Pennsylvania Confirmation

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 3:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 30 Jul 2015 4:03PM GMT
Here you go, I found a directory listing for a photographer Robert Butler at 4517 Frankford Ave in Philly - 1924: http://interactive.ancestry.com/2469/2726577?pid=159975062&a...

In 1921-1923, there was a different photographer at that address (and before that it was a Jewelry store) so Butler Studios at that location only came into existence around 1924, so the photo must have been taken in or after that year.

I looked through some of the later years - Robert Butler was still there in 1925. The directory records for Philly then jump to 1930 and unfortunate the scans were poorly done so it's hard to make out but there is a photography studio at the same address and it looks like it's in the B's - so probably Butler Studio. The fact that he was now calling it Butler Studio instead of just going by Robert Butler might be an indication that the photo was taken closer to 1930. The next directory is 1935 but unfortunately it's incomplete and doesn't include photographers (the business directory ends at L so it doesn't reach P for photographers). So it's probably safe to say Robert Butler/Butler Studio was operating from 1924 until at least 1930.

Re: Pennsylvania Confirmation

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 7:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you so much for your help!! I will do some more digging with that info and see what I can find. Again, thank you!!

Charles
per page

Find a board about a specific topic