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What Does the Book in Her Hand Mean?
In the Dutch province of Zeeland there is a society for the preservation of traditional costumes. The secretary of that society identified the traditional costume as the traditional costume of Cadzand, a small town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. In 2007 Cadzand had about 800 inhabitants. I believe this information may be useful to you.
I was thrilled with this information. The thought of a costume native to a small town–and owning a family photograph of that costume–was beyond anything I ever expected.
Compare it with the photograph of the woman. Different table, but the screen and the carpet are the same. The chair might be the same. Now we have clothing that looks more fashionable for the period.
Craziest connection between the two photos: the book held by a woman above and by the woman below! The same book? What is the meaning of holding the book? Is this a stylistic tic of the photographer or does it have Victorian meaning, something like the language of flowers?
Do you think these photos were taken at the same time? Part of a family group? Could the woman below be the mother of the three above?
The telephone was introduced at The Hague on July 1, 1883, and at Utrecht in February 1883. There used to be local telephone directories, but I have not (yet) found any on the internet. National telephone directories were published as from 1901. The collection of national telephone directories from 1901 till 1950 are being digitalised by the dutch national library, but unfortunately this process has found delays. Only the national directory of 1915 is available on the internet, and shows that the photographer in 1915 in Utrecht had the same three digit number as mentioned on the photograph, but that his number in The Hague already had four digits.
That leaves quite a range of time that the photo could have been taken. It definitely is pre-WWI; that is one thing I know. But are the styles 1890s or after 1900? It seems to me that the skirts are becoming "slim," so maybe closer to 1910?
New developments. I contacted a local history circle in Zeeland (without being a member) to have the photo put up at their website for identification. I got the reply that they contacted a museum in Nieuwvliet, devoted to the regional costume of Cadzand. The museum replied that the scan of the photo is not detailed enough and requested the original photo. . . .
I also contacted the museum on communication (devoted to the telephone) in The Hague about telephone directories. The librarian informed me that the archive of the municipality of The Hague has a collection of old telephone directories of The Hague. This morning I visited the archive and consulted their collection of "Adresboeken" for The Hague and Scheveningen.
C.J.L. Vermeulen was listed for the first time in the Adresboek, 47th edition, year 1898-1899, but without telephone number.
In the books 1899-1900, 1900-1901, 1901-1902, en 1902-1903 he is mentioned with telephone number 774 (as on the photo).
In the book 52the edition 1903-1904 the telephone number is 1873.
On the basis of the information the photo must originate from 1899-1902, with a possible extension to 1898-1903).
Isn't that something?! Now we know that the photograph had to have been taken between 1898 and 1903, most likely between 1899 and 1902. Hubert's sleuthing is beyond compare!
For me, there is no comparison between the two photographs in interest. The woman in the bonnet has a compelling expression and handles the book as if she cares about books. The young woman holding the book doesn't seem to care at all about it. She does look uncomfortable–as if she would rather change into her everyday clothes! I'd guess it was her sister, standing, who wanted them to wear matching fashionable dresses.
My gratitude to Hubert Theuns is boundless. I could not have imagined such a detailed answer to the questions of the lady in the unusual outfit.
Hubert is a real gift! (Like my Ralph.) I am always so touched by how helpful total strangers will be on a search for someone else's family. The phonebook research really is incredible.
I am sure the book was a prop supplied by the photographer in his studio. My guess is that it is used to make a person look thoughtful and/or intelligent.
Exactly like your Ralph, Amy! I am so touched as well. What wonderful people. And Hubert is such a talented researcher.
You are probably right about the prop, but the reason I wonder if there is a connection is because they were both in our family collection. Do you think she could be their mother or is that too farfetched?
Is anything too farfetched? 🙂 I see a resemblance between the woman in the photo alone and the woman to the left in the photo of three. It certainly would make sense that they all sat at the same time and somehow were related.
on March 4, 2015 at 8:21 am | Reply Sammy D.
I love this – it's like a mystery without gore. Every clue leads to more questions and more discoveries. The connections between 'the old country' and 'the new world' are palpable.
My great-Uncle George was a professional (family) photographer – someday I'll write about him but your research is daunting!!
Mystery without gore–that's hilarious, Sammy. I would love to read about your Great Uncle George!!! I got your email, BTW, and will write you back as soon as possible. Thank yo so much!
WJ, lots of sleuthing going on over here!!!
I have a photo of my grandfather made at a studio from around the same time period, only in Knoxville, Tennessee. A FaceBook friend also has photos of her family, made in the same studio, using the same props! And of course, why wouldn't they use the same props? It just never occurred to me.
It's so funny to see the same studio with the same props with different people! Of course it makes sense, but it still is amusing.
Yes, the kindness of strangers astounds me. Hubert is so good at research, too!
What a fascinating story! Can't wait to hear more developments.
Tiphanee, me too!!! Thanks for stopping by!
What an intriguing mystery! It strikes me that the 3 people in the photo with the more modern clothes look much more natural than the woman in the old-fashioned dress. The woman doesn't have a single hair out of place and her facial expression seems very fixed.
Yes, she almost looks like a model . . . .
I don't know which is more fabulous, the photograph or the cyber-collaboration! Great story!!