You Win Some, and You Lose Some!

 

I was so excited to learn that there was a photograph collection of my great-great-great-grandfather's family (Timothy Randall Family) in the Bentley Historic Library. I immediately requested copies of the images. (See my January 20th Blog for more about my passion for photos and this collection). I waited and waited and waited, but they didn't come. My request, it turns out, fell through the cracks. After I followed up, they showed up almost immediately They arrived and they are AMAZING!! What a wonderful robust collection of photos of the family! The description of the collection (Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County photograph collection Call # 93349 Bp.3 2 and File Collection TN136017) did not list all of the contents so it was a pleasant surprise to see the wide collection of photos. A lot of the photos were of my great-great-great-grandmother (Elizabeth Randall’s) siblings and their children. (There were nearly 20 with fronts and backs in both Tiff and Jpeg.) They are great to have, but they don’t help to fill in any gaps in my wall. I did pick up a new one of my great-grandfather, Charles Walter Tubbs, I didn’t have before, though!

Frances Eliza Randall
The Bentley Library Copy
Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County
photograph collection Call # 93349 Bp.3 2 and
File Collection TN136017

My copy, identified as
Rebecca Sophronia Walter

There was another one, though, that was new to me photo of a person that looked familiar. The back identified her as Frances Eliza Randall, the daughter of Timothy Randall and the wife of Samuel Obed Tubbs.

But wait, she looked familiar and that is not the photos I have for Frances Eliza! I went out into the hall where I have my family tree of photos….and there it was. There was a photo on the wall that was very similar to this one, but I had it on the wall for Rebecca Sophronia Walter, who is actually the mother-in-law of Frances Eliza. 

Darn! Now I have a mystery. Who is right? The Bentley Library or me.

Jim asked me how I thought I knew this photo was Rebecca Sophronia. Great question, I first needed to figure out where I had found the photo. It turns out that one of my Tubbs cousins was the source of the photo. I reached out to my 4th cousin, Nancy (we share great-great-great grandparents George Tubbs and Rebecca Sophronia Walter). 

Nancy told me that her mother had this photo on her family tree wall as our 3rd great grandmother, Rebecca. Given that Rebecca died in 1855, I had to re-evaluate the photo. (Look to my previous blog on the "Case of the Cased Image" for more about how to identify and date photographs). I looked to my trusted source,Family Photo Detective by Maureen A. Taylor.

·   I should have probably picked up on the fact that it would have been highly unlikely to have a photo of her given that she died in 1855.

·   Also, after looking at the dress style (small collar, sleeves gathered at the wrist) and hair style (center part with hair behind in a net), this is most definitely taken in the 1860’s, most likely 1865-1868.

·   I should have also noticed that the woman in the photo is around 30 years old.

Rebecca was alive from 1807 to 1855. Her daughter-in-law Frances Eliza Randall was alive from 1837-1924.

 

Here are two other photos identified as Frances Eliza Randall from my collection (one is a beautiful glass photo or ambrotype). It’s not an exact match, but there is definitely a strong resemblance to the photo found at the Bentley Library.

 

 

So now, I have decided that I have another great photo of my great-great grandmother Frances Eliza Randall and unfortunately, now, no photos of her mother-in-law and my 3rd great grandmother, Rebecca Sophronia Walter. One less photo on my wall.

Well, I guess, you win some and lose some. But at least I’ve had fun in the process!

PS. The story of this blog took place in April, but I needed permission from the Bentley Historical Library before I could post the photos. Anyone is welcome to share the photos secured from them, but PLEASE cite their location so that others can access the originals if desired. Thank you!