This week's photograph came from Joan Lawler of England. In her
family collection is this picture of an elderly woman that she
knows is one of her grandmothersMary Ann Spellman or Mary Ann
Grime. She hopes that by dating the woman's clothing and through
comparison to other family images, she can correctly identify
which grandmother she is looking at. This photograph focuses on
the head and shoulders of a woman wearing a hat with an
elaborate decoration that frames the face. The ostrich feathers
sticking out of ribbons and flowers date the hat to circa 1900.
Her suit has slightly puffed sleeves, the last vestige of the
full leg of mutton sleeves of the 1890s. This detail at the
shoulder seam reinforces the date. The woman chose to complete
that outfit by wearing a large ribbon tied like a bow at the
neck. Joan Lawler's two grandmothers share similar life dates.
Mary Ann Spellman was born in Dublin circa 1834 and died March
13, 1900, in Rhodes, Manchester, England. Mary Ann Grime was
born circa 1845 and died so