Saturday, November 8, 2008

oh baby....

... my grandmother, Lois Dorothy Kellogg, was born 20 Jun 1899 so this photograph was probably taken in late 1900. Her father, Spencer Kellogg, Jr., was something of a dilettante, avoiding the family business as much as possible and exploring the arts and other interests.

He was part of a group of amateur and professional photographers in the Buffalo, New York area. There are therefore a large number of photographs of his only daughter throughout her childhood although none of them are dated, sigh! In the photo to the right she looks to be in her early teens, perhaps only 11 or 12 years old.


I never knew my great grandfather as he died three days before I was born but I think he was an interesting person although I am not sure I would have liked him. 

To complete this little pictorial eddy in the stream of life, I include a picture of him, identified as being taken in 1912, where I believe he was trying to appear serious and intense... perhaps he was serious and intense in reality ... and also a photograph of him as a young boy, perhaps 7 or 8 years old. 

This has been an interesting experience. I have never really looked at some of these photographs closely and now I see some family resemblances particularly between myself and my grandmother that I have never noticed before... 

8 comments:

Janet Iles said...

What a wonderful group of photos! I am especially fond of the ones showing them reading books.

Holly Timm said...

Thanks Janet... I liked that common thread of the books also!

TK said...

Spencer does look like a rather dour character, doesn't he, even in childhood.

Lisa / Smallest Leaf said...

What thoughtful poses! We so often ask our subjects to "smile for the camera". These types of images have such a deep beauty to them. Thanks for sharing.

Lisa
Carnival of Irish Heritage & Culture
Small-leaved Shamrock
A light that shines again
100 Years in America

Sheri Fenley said...

Great photos, unusual poses. I really like the first one.

Sheri Fenley

Lori Thornton said...

You've been tagged in the "8 Things About Me-Me."

Anonymous said...

What wonderful photos!

BTW, you've been tagged in the "8 Things About Me" meme :-)

Judith Richards Shubert said...

Beautiful group of photographs, Holly. There's nothing like following a person's life through photographs. You may not have liked your great-grandfather if you had met, but what a legacy. Aren't you glad he went his own way?