Collection: 00205 - Mildred K. Jahde Photograph Collection
Folder: 0001
Item: 00003
Title: Homesteaders, 20 miles from Stanley (N.D.)
Date: 7/1912
Creator: Keeling, Mae Emma
Inscription/Marks: [front of card in pencil] 00205-00003. [front of card-typewritten] The home of some homesteaders. Summer 1912. Mildred K. Jahde. June 1963. [back of postcard in red ink] Taken by Mrs. John Keith About 1912 near the Missouri River 20 miles from Stanley, No. Dak. [Mildred K. Jahde letter regarding 000205-00003] 00205-0003 Finley, No. Dak. Who has a camera? My mother was interested in taking pictures and had purchased for herself a camera which took pictures the size of a postcard and used glass plates, which she developed herself. The equipment filled a sized suit case but she took it along on our trip to see the grand parents on the Missouri River near the Bad lands. Many of the folks there had had little opportunity to had pictures taken of their children. One Sunday it was made known that Mother would take her camera to church. It was located thirty or more miles from a settlement. She ordered supplies from Sears and they arrived in time. Every one turned out for miles around. There was about 200 present. Many left home before day light. Some walked and some road [sic] horseback. One sixteen year old boy brought a bike in the back of the buggy to pose near, so the Eastern relatives would see how modern the west was getting to be. Mother took the entire package of plates, putting them back in the package and developed them at the place we were staying. Many a night she worked after every one was in bed. One of my uncles was not married at the time and he loved to take mother to the homes of all the good looking young girls. He had a team of very good looking horses and a buggy which went dashing over the new unimproved roads. Kicking up the dust. In these homes they always picked the best furniture as back ground. If nothing could be found, a buffalo robe was tossed over the side of a wagon and the family posed out doors. This made a lovely background for the children of groups sitting down. As the weather was dry, many farmers hauled water for 5 or 6 miles. Mother used all the water in Grandmother's rain barrel. The rain water made the best pictures as the alkali had the tendency to make the pictures foggy. As we neared the bottom of the barrel I can remember the wigglers and bugs which had to be strained out be for [sic] it was used. At last she gave up and decided to finish the rest of the pictures when we got back home. Late in the fall she was still filling orders for copies of so and so's children or baby. She more than paid for the trip, which had been 200 by train and everyone did not get that chance. Mildred K. Jahde. June 1963.
Summary: Homestead family outside of their sod house. The mother stands photo left of the door washing clothes on a washboard in a wash tub. The father stands photo right of the door with a hand-turned grain mill and flour mill. The oldest boy is sitting on top of the sod house roof in work shirt, overalls, newsboy cap and bare feet. Just in front of the support for water tank. A chimney is to photo right of him. In the foreground photo right are a toddler and baby. In the foreground in front of the wife is a hen with chicks. The sod house has a ladder for access to the roof and glass windows photo right behind the father. In the far background clothes are hanging on a line drying, held by clothespins.
Red ID: PH_I_149017 Image ID: 98915 Image Notes: 00205-00003
