1879 Oliver Esbon Butler Photo, Melrose, Middlesex County, Mass DAR

#1028

On reverse:  "Oliver Butler, "Little Ollie Boy" 11 months old" is handwritten in old period pencil. Photo type: CDV Carte de Visite Photograph, Victorian. Photographer: L.D. Shaw. Formerly Shaw and Chamberlain. (Lorenzo D. Shaw & Joseph M. Chamberlain, from 1877-79 worked at 51 Washington St. Boston, then Joseph Chamberlain moved to Revere MA) Printed date of 1879, 51 Washington Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts MA.  (known to be photographer, inventor and entrepreneur Lorenzo D. Shaw 1841-1912 who worked as a photographer in Boston area from 1876-1882. He then moved on to Coney island, and later became proprietor of the famous Glen Echo Amusement Park in the Washington DC, Maryland area)

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
We believe this photo to be Oliver Esbon Butler 1878–1923 born June 23, 1878 in Melrose, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and died there also in 1923 at age 46. His parents were Esbon Edmund Butler 1846–1939 and Maria Louise Stoddard Butler 1848–1928, both of of Appleton, Knox County, Maine. His siblings were: Ernest Stoddard Butler 1873–1939, Ida Mable Butler 1874–1912, Henry Warren Butler 1882–1951, George W Butler born 1883, and Kenneth Lloyd Butler Sr 1886–1978. His wife was Emily Alma Twitchell Butler 1879–1973 of Melrose, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the daughter of Maynard Twitchell 1828–1900 and Mary A Dyer Twitchell 1841–1890. Their son was Oliver Esbon Butler Jr 1912–1991, died in Melrose MA.

This is a "hidden mother" studio photo. Oliver's mother is draped behind holding him up for the long 30 second or more exposure in the photographer's studio, quite a feat! This family photo is slightly trimmed on edges, usually to fit into the tight Victorian paper photo album sleeves. It does not affect the actual image in any way.

In the Victorian era, boys wore frocks with pleated skirts, or tunics and blouses over pleated skirts, until the age of three or five. Often you will also see a tartan sash. A portrait of the Prince of Wales in a Scottish kilt in 1849 gave rise to this vogue for boys. 

A beautiful early photo of Ollie, wearing a sash to keep him upright with his mother helping under wraps also. This photo was found in Brimfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts. A wonderful Oliver family piece. This is an important DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution and SAR Sons of the American Revolutionary War family.

Size: 2.5 x 4 inches
      Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)