Charles and Margaret Pickens
Every antique collector knows the unique thrill of holding a late 19th century cabinet card in their hands. The heavy cardstock, the formal poses, and the grand studio backdrops all hint at a deeply personal milestone. Yet, so often, the names of the subjects have been lost to time. But every once in a while, history leaves us a breadcrumb trail. That is exactly what happened with a Victorian portrait from Louisville, Ohio. Thanks to a faint pencil inscription on the reverse side, a mystery that spanned generations has finally been solved. The back of the photograph bears the careful, questioning script of a later family historian trying to piece together their lineage: "This picture might be Grandpa Pickens' mother & father or it might even be Grandpa Pickens?" Armed with that single surname and the photographer’s imprint on the front, L. Zeiger of Louisville, O., the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. The youthful couple looking out from ...