Photo Friday: Family Events Edition

Good morning! I'm feeling much better after the self-imposed R &R of yesterday's recuperative laziness. I thought today for Photo Friday I would share with you some group shots from family events in the Doris and Ray archives. Each of these is maybe the size of a paperback book cover and professionally photographed by "Russell Ray Studios". I was puzzled as to why someone would go to all the trouble of hiring a professional photographer for a small, family event like the one I'm about to show you, until I realized the woman in the angelfood cake comb party pictures, one of Doris's many sisters, is "Mrs. Russell Ray". That's free professional photography, son! It's crazy how the dots connect themselves sometimes.

At any rate, let's take a look at the snaps, shall we?

These are Doris's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex H. They were married in 1913, so I'm pretty sure this is their silver wedding anniversary party in 1963. There were invitations to this get together somewhere in the Doris and Ray archive, but I have gotten so bad about miscataloguing or at least poorly cataloguing things in that box that I am in truth a shame to the librarian profession. To assuage my guilt, look at the tiny Mrs. H's hat! Talk about a show stopper. Coupled with the white kid gloves, strand of pearls, and clip on earrings, this is definitely her best outfit for a big event in her life. Can you imagine getting married in 1913, and looking back on that date from fifty years distance? People hardly had cars in 1913, and here they are in 1963! It always amazes me to think of people  who were of an age to remember at the turn of the century, looking back on it from the midcentury with the kind of wonder astronauts must look back on Earth from the moon.

Here's a group shot from the event, with Doris fifth from the left and Ruth fourth from the left. I think the two women to their left may be additional sisters, but as said, I'm not up on the H family tree like I should be. What's interesting to me in this photo is the donning of hats on all ladies' present-- living in a practically hatless era, I wish I could find some kind of source book on what the etiquette was for wearing or not wearing hats as the occasion saw fit. Likewise for gloves, for that matter. Wouldn't you feel weird wearing a full on Easter bonnet for the duration of an evening's social event (assuming you're not me)? Two women in the photo are wearing the dreaded fox stoles that I've had ample opportunity to purchase and just can't bring myself to do so...DAD GUM it looks so vintage...and yet their little heads and feet bother me too badly to seal the deal. Ah, well.

The china cabinet, mirror, and table make me think that the event took place and this was taken at Doris and Ray's house...look at Doris's sweet little mom. "Ah! Candlesticks! Just what I wanted!"

Now, the next two photos came from another event, but were also taken by Russell Ray and also happened to be set at Doris and Ray's house. Look at the wall decoration of a harp in the background. This interior design detail was still there when I went to the estate sale that started all this Doris and Ray business for me...it's eerie to think about how little notice I took of the house at the time, and now I spend every Friday poring over photos for clues about what it was once like!

Things to point out about the above photo:

1. See Doris's folks in more casual attire on the couch?
2. That plaid, wide collared dress on the woman at far left is SO. GREAT.
3. See the girl to the Doris's mom's right, with Peter Pan haircut, strange white kitten heels, and crinoline showing? That same girl would turn out to be THE PRETTIEST collegiate deb and late sixties' bride you ever saw. I'll show you the pics from her wedding some Friday, for sure.
4. The girl sitting on the arm of the sofa to the right is my new style icon. The dress, the glasses, the thong sandals...what is not to love?
5. The kid at the far right (not Sonny, but looks a little like Sonny), is holding Doris and Ray's dog like a baby. Earnest expression +  terrier held as infant = the very best.

What did I tell you about the girl in the glasses? Here she is again, second from the left, and I'm still knocked out by her choice in spectacles. The lace dresses in this group shot, in general, are fabulous. See Ray's dangerously high waisted pants, and how much I want the brunette on the right's wide belted dress. I'm not sure who the older woman seated is, but I should be able to find out. If I ever get my act together!!

So, there you have it. Family get-togethers in formal portraiture! Did your grandparents ever have a silver anniversary party? Do you have any family photos of momentous enough occasions to have the photos professionally done? Which of the ladies' dresses in the above pictures do you like best? Tell, tell!

That's all for this week-- have to gather my gumption and hit a couple estate sales while the going is good! Have a great weekend, and I'll see you guys on Monday!