Melissa Stinson Reed
Born: October 12, 1855 in Dalton, OH Died: August 26, 1920 in Chicago, IL I was digging through an antique store bin, looking for photos to add to the collection. As I kept looking, I came across a photo of a lovely young lady and I knew her story needed to be told. Meet Melissa Stinson Reed. Captured in a portrait from June 1877, Melissa stands as an example of late Victorian style. But who was this woman wearing an elaborate lace cravat? Thanks to historical records and a wonderfully preserved card, we can piece together her story. When Melissa stepped into Ryder’s Studio on Superior Street in Cleveland, Ohio, she was a young woman celebrating a major milestone. Exactly one year prior, on June 20, 1876, she had married a medical graduate named Dr. Robert Harvey Reed. To mark this milestone, Melissa chose the premier photographer of the era. Born Melissa Ann Stinson in Wayne County, Ohio, she grew up in the community of Dalton. Her early life was marked by the hu...