Family Group - Date unknown

[Kin-getter]

Anyone good at dating photos?

This photo is of a father and the 12 surviving offspring of 16. Taken in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. I had to take a digi photo of the original in order to get a copy - you'll see the flash mark. Also, one face is disfigured - that was damage to the photo.

Thanks,

James.

 

[don]

Hi James,

Going by the three women at the back of the grouping I would suggest a date line of somewhere between 1897 and 1910. The hair style that two of them have is known as a Loose Pompadour and was in fashion between 1897 and up until the first world war. The wearing of a high neckline to the blouses would also indicate this time line but if I were to pick a closer time span than 1897-1910 I would feel more inclined to think that this photograph was taken between 1900 and 1905 as high necklines were on the decline towards 1910.

don.

 

[Kin-getter]

Don, many thanks. I've no idea at all about fashions.

The oldest person in the photo - William Reid MASSIE (born on 26 Dec 1855).
He's centre of pic, sitting on (our) right of the man with 'damaged' face.

The youngest - Janet Mitchell MASSIE (born in 1892).
Is the lass bottom left of pic.

Do those dates help/hinder you?

James.

 

[don]

Hi James,

Thanks for the dates as they do help. As a general rule females would wear their hair down as the girl on the left does until they had reached 19/20 and then they started to wear it up as the young woman does on the right. So with this in mind I would hazard a guess and say that Janet would have been about 16 years of age when this was taken possibly 17 at a push which would then make it about 1908 when this was taken. Carrying on from that it would then put William in his early fifties which would also appear to be about right..........Hope it helps.

don.

 

[Kin-getter]

Thanks again Don.

Part of the importance for me of dating this photo is to find out (maybe) what the reason was for the pic. There appears to be no anniversary unless it was to do with the death of William Reid's wife - Elizabeth Mitchell IRONSIDE (daughter of Janet MITCHELL) born about 1856. She died in 1898. So if the pic was done in 1908 that I guess could have been the reason but somehow I'm doubtful.

Anyhow, you've certainly narrowed things down for which I'm most appreciative.

James.