Old photo albums are beautiful in their own right but, when full of photos, they become a true treasure. Most of the time, there are only a few photos and the albums aren't in that great of condition. And, often times, the photos are not marked in any way that makes it easy to identify the faces looking back at me. I acquired several this past Summer and it's taken me awhile to go through them all.
Here's the latest album that I've been researching. It's truly a gem. I recently returned a very full antique photo album to someone who found me here, so I'm hopeful to find a direct descendent to send this one to.
Just look at this gorgeous red velvet photo album!
It's old but in very good condition considering it's probably close to 130 years old.
After researching for months, I believe the album belonged to Marshall and Mattie (Smiley) Draper. There is a photo of a young man that is marked on the back. This was the clue I needed to find the family connections in the big book of family history.
'W. S. Draper Jr. to Uncle Marshall and Aunt Mattie'.
W. S. Draper Jr. went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville and was a prominent attorney and Judge in Dyersburg, TN. His obituary reads that he was appointed by Governor Henry Horton to the Dyer County Probate Court.
I have not worked out how everyone is connected in the book but there are three remembrance cards included, as well. Willie Bruce was a young 12 years old when he passed.
The back of this photo has 'Mrs. E. A. Draper' written on the back. I would assume this is Elizabeth Ann (Powell) Draper. Her husband was Samuel Lafayette Draper.
The young girl is not identified.
This beautiful couple are identified on the back of their photo as Marshall Draper.
The woman in the picture is probably his first wife Mattie (clues from earlier in the book point her being the owner of the album.
Mattie and her sister-in-law Annie Parks were seen about town together, according to local news stories.
Mattie passed away in 1897 at 40 years of age and Marshall went on to marry Miss Sim Phipps in 1900 and give him three children.
Here's Annie Parks of Newbern, as identified on the back of the photo.
I'm still researching her and the parks family but this photo was taken in a studio located in Paducah, KY. The other photos on the page were taken in Nashville, Paducah, and St. Louis.
And now for the rest of the photos in the album. The last one is a tin type in excellent condition. There are a lot packed into a single book with plenty of faces to identify.
If any of these faces look familiar or you think you may be a direct descendent, please reach out. I'd very much like to return this treasure where it belongs - with family.
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