- Myra and Lydia Yates
I love this picture of my two Great Aunts, especially the hat Myra is wearing. Myra was born 28 Sep 1888 in Oregon County, MO. She passed away in 1940. Her younger sister Lydia was born 19 Sep 1895 in Howell County, MO and passed away in 1976 in Shelton, WA. Lydia and her husband John were some of the first of our Yates family to move to Bordeaux, WA and were there before 1920. I suspect this photo was taken in Missouri. That’s some fancy hat Myra is wearing, isn’t it?
This is my submission to 5th Edition Smile For The Camera – A Carnival Of Images – Crowning Glory
I’m not sure what the occasion was that prompted the need for this photo to be taken. I believe that these girls and their other 5 sisters remained close after their mother died in 1901. Myra was the oldest girl, and the youngest Cerilda was just born a few days before her mother died.
@Brett Thank you for your “alighting bird” observation. I think that is the most apt term for that glorious thing perched on her head.
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Great photograph, Carol, thank you. This style of fancy ornate chair, often made of wicker, became very popular as an item of decorative studio furniture in the late 19th and early 20th Century, although I can’t imagine they were very comfortable. The hat is an excellent example of what I think of as the “alighting bird” style! I have one of my great-grandmother, taken in the mid-1890s, which will eventually make its way onto Photo-Sleuth. The dates that you have provided give a nice date range of c.1905-1907 for your fine family portrait – thanks again.
Regards, Brett
It certainly is a fancy hat! Do you know if the photo was taken for a particular occasion or just for this portrait?
Hi Carol,
I get so envious of folks with these great photographs. I had a step-aunt that thought the photos were ? no good ? when I was a kid and they were taken to the dump and burned.
Not only great hats but very pretty ladies!
Sure, it’s a fine hat…. But I want that chair!
That is a truly wonderful picture – and a marvelously fancy hat!
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