Perhaps this photograph of my mother, Audrey Meinzen Doyle; her sister, Geraldine Meinzen; and a friend, Ruth Seifert, was taken around graduation time in the spring of 1933. My mom would have been 18 in June of that year and Jeree would have been 15 or 16.Because I don't remember my mom as an affectionate person, it's fun to see her encircling arms around the other two young women.
In her later years, my mother went through her photographs and wrote names and dates on them in blue ball point pen. Sometimes she wrote on the borders, other times, like this, she wrote on the person. I don't know if I'd rather have photographs with people whose names I don't know or photographs with names written in blue ink! I guess, considering that we can scan, electronically edit/repair, and save the photographs, having the names is better than no names.
My mom spelled her sister's name "Jerry" instead "Jeree." Perhaps Aunt Jeree's name evolved over time from her birth name, Geraldine, to Jerry and finally to Jeree. I always knew her as "Aunt Jeree." I think her pose is very sweet.
Visit Sepia Saturday to view others' posts of old photographs.
Sort of nice having the names even if the photos are "damaged." Indeed we can just Photoshop them away. At least they're names and not the dreaded time and date stamp that appears to often these days on digital shots. In time nobody will care on what day or time the photo was taken, but they will wish someone had given the photo some names instead of the generic data. There won't be handwriting on photos.
ReplyDeleteThree happy young women. Somehow, I'm seeing beyond the biro.
ReplyDeleteI find your photo much more interesting withe the names on it that way, but I would probably have a different opinion if it were a photo of my family.
ReplyDeleteI think the names are rather good - lively handwriting!
ReplyDeleteI have many photos without names and its such a shame not knowing who they are. Great photo...Karen
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely photo, and named is always better than not-named. I have lots of the latter and am slowly identifying people. And its nice to see your Mum's handwriting too :-) Jo
ReplyDeleteI agree, the written names add a certain charm.
ReplyDeleteVery unique. I agree, though, her pose and smile are very charming.
ReplyDeleteThe more I do with old photos the less I mind handwriting, tape marks etc. It seems to show something about whoever cared enough to it. I have a cousin named Geraldine who is called Geri.
ReplyDeleteSome people, and organisations, will throw away damaged or defaced photos from the archives - I think that's a terrible waste. Sometimes treating the photograph as an artefact, and investigating its origins or provenance, and outlining a history, can prove just as - or even more - interesting as what's in the image.
ReplyDeleteIn your case, the aesthetics are arguable, but the value of both image and artefact are not.
Thank you for sharing.
In this particular case, I actually like the writing on the photo.
ReplyDeleteOnly yesterday I tried to write names and date onto a new snaphot that I had printed out my inkjet printer. The paper would not take pencil or ballpoint so I had to resort to crude permanent marker, which still smudged. Modern photos will not stand the test of time as well as vintage ones.
ReplyDeleteVery nice handwiting, and their names will not be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteYes, the "amend with names or leave untouched" debate is an interesting one. After a suitable period of time, the scrawled names become part of the charm of the image I suppose. Another fine Sepia post.
ReplyDeleteWhat's in a name? At least you can be in no doubt who they are. The risk with the digital images of today's photos is that uncaptioned images may lose their identity over the years.
ReplyDeleteThe name thing is important to me, as I am "Meri," not Mary. When I see Mary, I don't even connect it with me. I'm sure Jeree felt the same.
ReplyDeleteA lovely picture and I am glad the subjects are identified
ReplyDeleteI think Ruth might be my Grandpa's sister (My great Aunt) Do you have anymore information on this photo? I know they lived in Dayton County and then moved to chicago Illinois. My maiden name is Seifert.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jennifer. I don't have too much more information about this photo but I know that these girls lived in Mineral Ridge, Trumbull County, Ohio, which is where this photo was taken.
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