Photographs, circa late 1870s-1925

Containers:

Box 4

Extent:

69 items

Scope and content:

Formats include one tintype, several cartes-de-visite, and many small early 20th century gelatin silver prints in various sizes.

Most of the photographs are of family members and friends - men, women, and children; most are without captions and unidentified. The earliest portrait appears to be from the 1870s, and the latest from the 1920s. A series of photographs, some with captions, were taken in a copper mining area in central Chile, in the hamlets of Caletones and Sewell, home to American families. There are also a few scenes taken in Puerto Rico. Other photographs are of unknown locations.

One photograph of interest is of three French children taken in a studio setting by photographer Joseph A. Collin in 1919; the original glass plate negative is in the American Red Cross image collection in the Library of Congress, digital file number LC-DIG-anrc-18496. There are hundreds of similar photographs of orphaned children in the collection. On the back of the photograph in the Isabelle Williamson collection is the Red Cross Bureau of Photography stamp, and the address of the woman who adopted at least one of the children, who were probably orphaned. The origin of this print of the image is unknown, but Lee H. Williamson was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 55th Engineers, Company A, Expeditionary Forces from 1918-1919. A Mary Peyton, figured in the family letters, was also serving during the war as a nurse in a field hospital.

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