Center stage, my grandmother and grandfather, Robert and Emma Meinzen, sit surrounded by their daughters. From left to right are, oldest to youngest, Audrey, Geraldine, "Baby Girl" (of previous posts on this blog), and Polly. I don't know what the occasion was but I think it was rare for all of the sisters (and their families - because the families always came, too) to be in the same place at the same time. They all look very relaxed and I think my grandfather has a particularly satisfied expression on his face. My mom, on the left, seems to be the most casually dressed of the sisters. Polly, on the right - I don't know about that dress! - but she's probably the most dressed up. Grampa's wearing a suit, Gramma's wearing a more casual dress.I think the photo was taken in the early to mid-1950s. It was taken in the home where I spent my childhood. It's strange to look at it through the distance of years to see what my mind barely remembers. It's easy to remember the stair rail on the right - it was my job to dust it. But the print hanging on the left I last remember in my mother's bedroom. The little framed piece on the right was one of a series of 4, hanging in steps up the wall beside the stairs. The little tv - it was probably our first. Sometime between when this photo was taken and when we sold the house my dad had built boxes to cover the tops of the windows. It seems strange to see the windows without them.
I look at the sisters and parents and try to see the family resemblance but mostly I can't. As the sisters grew older the likenesses seemed more obvious, probably because they approached the age my grandparents were as I remember them. The sisters all seemed to look like the Meinzen side of the family as they grew older.
The photo on the right is a scan of the original. I couldn't get rid of the yellow cast, so I turned it black and white which, I think, looks much better. I guess there are a few details you miss, such as the red lipstick. All of the people in this photo have been subjects of recent posts (too numerous to highlight here) either as children or adults.
If you're interested in looking at photographs through the distance of years, head over to Sepia Saturday and see what other participants are sharing.
Messed up the first post - meant to say nice picture of your grandparents and the daughters - real treasure!
ReplyDeleteI agree Nancy the photo looks wonderful when done in black and White, of Course I tend to think all photos are better in black and white, Great picture! :)
ReplyDeletethats me above MS. Anonymous... Sorry Forgot to type my name..
ReplyDelete(havent had my coffee yet )
Nancy, I think you do such a good job on the SS posts. I don't have a lot of old pictures, but I do spend a lot of time on Ancestry.Com and expect to find some more. Guess you have snow in your state too.
ReplyDeleteQMM
What an amazing difference between the black and white and the original. I, too, prefer the black and white.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought to convert a color photo like that to black and white, but it really does look better. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing I thought was "Hey, two of them aren't wearing glasses. What gives?" If nothing else, the glasses make them look like a family.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad when photos loose their original color. I just bought an album last week that is filled with photos from the 1950s that have all turned an ugly pink. A travel album a woman put together and all the photos look exactly the same. I didn't buy it for the photos but for the ephemera stuck inside of old brochures.
I love the memories you shared that were prompted by the glimpses of the surroundings in your interesting photograph. It makes me think wistfully of my own childhood home. I wish I had more pictures of it, and of the ordinary things in it. Those things can bring back as many memories as do the people. Maybe, that's why I really enjoy taking photos of the objects around me.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, and fascinating to see the difference with color vx. black and white. The B&W is so much more crisp, but I agree it is good to see the red lipstick, and to know the color of the clothes. I think I shall scan and convert some of my old yellowed color pics and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo and a great contrast between the two treatments of the same image. Interesting that the B&W looks more modern than the faded colour in contrast to the usual rule that monochrome always dates a scene.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the black and white.
ReplyDeleteBut either way, a wonderful old photo.
It is interesting to look at the sisters. . . your mom looked so like her father! But between the four of them, I'm not sure I would have pegged them as sisters. My mother is one of four "girls" and we have pics that look much like yours, but my mom and her sisters look very much alike.
ReplyDeleteOh yes the black and white looks so vibrant, and isn't fun looking back at family....and happy times...and your Dad is surrounded by women!...and still he smiles! Thanks for sharing them with us!..oh yes and your Mom's dress, the pattern looks interesting to me!
ReplyDeleteThis brought back memories of our home in PA which I will never see again, the wooden staircase, brought it all back. Ours bent around to the first landing till it reached the second floor and dusting those rails was my chore too. I wondered about the photo, must have been some sort of occaision to pose and gather. Your mom and aunts are similar in facial structure, but even their dress shows them distinctive.
ReplyDeletefuuny, i also remember a certain staircase, at my maternal grandparents.... very vividly, as i fell down and landed in the kitchen. i don't remember the kitchen that day, but apparently, i had lost consciousness, and some blood too... but i remember the staircases and how fast they jumped to my face. i was like 4 or 5 years old back then...
ReplyDelete:D~
HUGZ
A Great Photo Nancy & A Great Bit Of Reworking.
ReplyDeletea Strong & Fine Group.