A Sweet 1900s Family

Left to right: Lizze (11), Matthew (43), John (5), Annie (13),

James (7), Marion (37), baby Young, Mary Anne (14), and

Briget Angela (9).

It is October 5, 1913. The Young family of Waterford House located in Waterford, Munster, Ireland are at a local photographer's studio. Since it is Octobor, it seems they would be there to take a Christmas or family photo for extended family and friends. During that time, photography was still fairly new and expensive, so it was a rare and treasured gift to recieve or have a photo taken. That's why most do not smile and are dressed in their best, or "church clothes".
     The patriarch of the mainly all-women family, Matthew Young, sits in a hard-backed cushioned, wood chair. He wears black or brown boots and a dark three-piece suit (perhaps black or brown), with a white dress shirt underneath and a bow tie. He is a Fishmonger by trade. It would seem he makes a pretty good income, as his family is able to afford all those pretty dresses for the young ladies and a nice three-piece suit for himself.
     His two middle daughters, Lizzie and Annie stand on either side of him; Lizzie on his right and Annie on his left. They and their younger sister, Briget Angela, wear their best white lace dresses with high collars and wrist-length sleeves. Their black Mary Jane's, with the low heel and rounded toe, make for a nice contrast between the white dresses and socks. Their long wavy hair has been pulled back and tied with matching ribbons of a dark color (now known as pig tails). The oldest sister, Mary Anne, stands next to her mother Marion and behind Briget Angela, a hand on her shoulder, as the younger girl sits in a chair with her hands folded in her lap and ankles crossed like a true young lady. Mary Anne is also dressed in her best mid-sleeve dress of a dark color with pointed collar and buttons. We can assume she wears the same socks and shoes as her sisters.
    The two boys, James and John stand in the front. John, the second-youngest stands between his father's legs, smiling. He wears dark boots and light shorts with a light high-collared long-sleeved shirt (now known as a turtleneck). His older brother, James stands before Annie wearing the same shirt as his brother but darker colored shorts and boots. He's grinning with his hand in his back pocket. The baby of the family, (who we don't have a name for), looks around one year of age and sits on a stool, held up by her mother. She wears dark colored boots; perhaps black or brown, and a lighter colored coat or dress. (Although I think it's the former). The children's mother, Marion, wears a floor-length dress of presumably black with a high collar and wrist-length sleeves. Her shoes are also black.
    They stand on an intricately patterned Persian rug with potted plants behind Lizze and Briget Angela. Long heavy drapes trimmed with babbles frame the wallpapered-background.

Originally posted on Flickr.com by "National Library of Ireland on The Commons". Title of the photo is "October 5, 1913". The ages, names, Matthlew's trade "Fishmonger", and where they live is all fact. Waterloo House has since been torn down.