THE SELSOR-SKAGGS FAMILY MYSTERY PHOTOS

ach of these photos are on a 45-degree angle, and six of the eight have a pinhole at the top. We don't know if they were stuck on a bulletin board (if any such existed then), or just to a wall, or mounted in some other fashion that explains the existence of a pinhole.  Capi thinks that the pinhole suggests that whoever owned these pictures, felt closer to those individuals and wanted them "posted" where they could be seen.  Robert wonders whether the camera was mounted on an angle or were "normal" photos then cropped after the fact?  Do you know why the photos would be on a 45-degree angle, or how the photographers took them?  Help!!  We have never seen any other photos quite like these.  

#06 is our "Mattie".  While it's certainly true any nickname can be uniquely bestowed within a given family, in general Mattie is a nickname for "Martha".  To date we have been unsuccessful in matching up this Mattie with anyone named Martha in our family, either blood or in-law.  Capi discovered that the distinctive ornate loops of the handwriting (below) match that of our great-grandaunt Alice Arsulia (Brown) Williams - note the impressive curvilinear capital letter "M"!  

On the back of #08, now faded to the point of near invisibility, is a first name that appears to begin with the letter "O" and a last name that appears to begin with the letter "J".  Those initials don't match anyone we know of in our genealogy and, unlike the reverses of some of our tintypes, which are readable by the glint reflected under light, the matte cardboard backing of this photo isn't talking!  

Alice Arsulia Brown and - not without some dissent - possibly sisters Angie M. Brown and Avva Vallona Brown appear from left in #09.  We like to call them our "Three A"s.  

By the name and location of the photographer, #11 was taken in 1893-94.  

Of the card stock, Robert notes the following matches: #05, #06, #10 & #12 match, and #08 & #09 match.  The ridged edges on #11 are wider than the first group, and the photo itself looks significantly older than the seven others.  Of the white matted photos, only #07 does not have ridged edges.