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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1998-02 > 0888647810


From: Diane Hettrick <>
Subject: Sordid details and sour pusses
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 22:36:50 -0800


Hi Folks,

Until I saw Shirley's post, I had forgotten the photographer who copied
family pictures for me years ago. Old pictures were his hobby and he
was a joy to deal with because every time I took in a picture, he told
me something I didn't know. For example, Gggrandma Nancy (St.Clair)
Owens had gout and bad teeth. How did he know? She is seated with one
foot on a low stool. (Her knee hurt). Her mouth is clenched shut and if
you have looked at many of these pictures (as he had) you notice that
her cheeks are slighly indented. The beautiful room where the 5
daughters of Maria (de Rutter) Townsend had their picture taken was a
painted backdrop at a fair. If you look closely at the edge of the
oriental carpet, you can see that it is resting on grass.

Diane Hettrick
Washington State


From: Mimtu <>

One of my children once asked me if any of our ancestors had teeth.
Certainly couldn't prove it by me. But I wonder if that is the reason
they were successful in making the "death portraits" at the turn of the
century. It is very difficult to differentiate the dearly- departed from
the immobilized not-yet-departed. And now, because of their patient
posing, distant cousins who met though a technology they could not have
dreamed of, send their images around the world.
What a fun time to be alive! Shirley

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