Author Topic: MECUM - ambrotype - Springfield - Massachusetts  (Read 680 times)

Offline davidqueneherve

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MECUM - ambrotype - Springfield - Massachusetts
« on: Saturday 18 November 17 20:00 GMT (UK) »
Hi,

Do you know if ambrotypes were still taken around 1885 in America ?

I saw one for sale on Ebay. According to a note, it's a picture of Frank A. MECUM, member of Knights of Pythias, father of Howard G. MECUM and grandfather of Willard MECUM, Stringfield MA. I don't know if I can add the link here. https://www.ebay.fr/itm/AMBROTYPE-PHOTO-FRANCK-A-MECUM-KNIGHTS-of-PYTHIAS-SPRINGFIELD-ILLINOIS-LOGE/201879522264?hash=item2f00f50bd8:g:UnMAAOSw3utY4zlF Remove it if it's against the rules.

I wonder if the identification is correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias

I find the grave of Howard GEER MECUM (1892-1971) in Springfield.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45445241/Howard-Geer-Mecum

He is indeed the father of a Willard MECUM.

In 1891, Frank A. MECUM married Alice L. GEER, daughter of Willard GEER.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N444-YKL

In the 1910 census, they are listed with their son Howard, 17 years old, at Willard GEER's.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRJK-Z7B?i=12&cc=1727033

Frank A. MECUM was born circa 1860 (he is a son of Joseph MECUM and his wife Julia. They got married in 1854 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4MG-H14 the family in the 1880 census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDY-NK9)

I am a bit surprise. I was more expecting a man born around 1840's because I thought that photographs stopped taking ambrotypes circa 1870. Yet, I am no specialist in the subject at all.

I am not related neither to the MECUMS, nor to the seller.









Online *Sandra*

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Re: MECUM - ambrotype - Springfield - Massachusetts
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 18 November 17 20:33 GMT (UK) »

Dating Ambrotype Photographs

http://www.phototree.com/id_amb.htm

Sandra
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Offline davidqueneherve

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Re: MECUM - ambrotype - Springfield - Massachusetts
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 18 November 17 20:45 GMT (UK) »
Thank you. Very interesting.

"The ambrotype was only in popular production for about ten years. So, if this is part of your genealogy puzzle, you can be sure it was produced between 1855 and about 1865."

Then I would say it's more a picture of Joseph MECUM, born circa 1831, than a photograph of his son.
I think that the man on the photograph is in his late twenties or early thirthies. Do you agree ? Those beards made people look older than they were.