This photograph was in a wooden frame, tucked away in my grandparents storage closet for many years before I found it. It is a wedding photograph of my great grandparents (Angelo and Angela), on my mother's side of the family. The photograph was taken in Los Angeles sometime between 1910 and 1912 after they had arrived on the West Coast after landing first at Ellis Island in New York, from their homeland, Italy.

There are many clues that can be deciphered upon close examination of the image, from the type of background (painted, fabric, furnishings) to the quality of the camera and lens used to make the photograph. Those clues can give a deeper understanding of the situation in which the image was made. The sharpness of this photograph, as well as the quality of the furnishings and painted backdrop show that the image was made by a professional studio, with high quality lenses and equipment and attention to aesthetic considerations.

This actual photograph is the only one that exists, and it is over 100 years old! I have taken time to repair and restore the original frame and to carefully clean the surface of the photo so that it may continue to be kept in great condition.

Your assignment is:

Make a photo or scan of the oldest printed family photograph that you can find, that you will be able to include with your written submission.  

Create a page including the photo and find out as much information about the print as you are able to.

Students often do this in Word or another program and then upload the finished pdf page. Pdf and jpg files work most reliably.  

iPhone photos (.heic) files will not be viewable.

Write a one page (300-500 word) description and/or story about your photo, including how you found it, what you know about it, who (if anyone) is in the photo and what year the photo is from. If there is a story to why you don't have access to a printed photograph, that is a topic you can also write about, with the same requirements.

Do your best to find out about the origin of the picture, but it is understandable if details can sometimes be hard to find. See what you can find and find out!

"I need this be done in 12 minutes"