Ink & Ancestry

I've received a lot of questions about why young Victorian boys wore dresses so I thought I'd post an answer. To modern eyes, seeing a 19th century photo of a little boy in a frilly dress and long curls looks like a deliberate choice to hide his gender. But to the Victorians, it was completely ordinary, gender neutral, and most of all, practical. ​Until the early 20th century, all young children, both boys and girls, wore dresses from infancy until about age six or seven. There were several reasons for this. ​1. Potty Training ​Before the invention of zippers, elastic, or snaps, adult male clothing was complex. Men's trousers featured intricate rows of buttons, flaps, and braces (suspenders). ​For a toddler or young child, getting out of those clothes in a hurry was impossible without adult assistance. A dress or a simple tunic made diaper changes and toilet training easier. ​2. Room to Move ​Children grew just as fast in the 19th century as they do now, b...

Born: May 30, 1853 Died: 1942 Every old photograph tells a story, but some faces practically demand that you go digging through the archives. ​Recently, a late 19th century portrait caught my eye. Written on the back in faded cursive were just a few clues: John Zook, Manheim Twp, Lan Co. The photograph itself was captured at H. Frank Saylor’s Art Studio at No. 43 West King Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. ​Looking at the well dressed man in the portrait, I had to wonder: What happened to him? ​As it turns out, John G. Zook didn’t just witness history, he literally printed it. ​Born on May 30, 1853, in Manheim Township, John G. Zook started his professional life like many bright minds of the era: in the classroom. After graduating from Millersville Normal School in 1875, he spent six terms teaching local children. ​But Zook had a passion for the written word. In 1877, he took a leap of faith, left teaching, and launched a monthly literary publication called The Sunbea...

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...