Catharine Darling Pancake and Children 1826-1892
2010
In this early 1850s portrait we see a young Catharine Darling Pancake and her two oldest children, Ophelia and Stewart. This photograph was a gift to us from Mary Emma, who is the great granddaughter of Catharine. The photograph measures about 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches and is very fragile. It has many characteristics of the time in which it was taken such as the crackle and the tinted cheeks. Many clues help us to place this photograph in time such as Catharine’s hair, her hat, her collar and her dress sleeves. The gingham dress worn by Ophelia is characteristic of the times when gingham was prized and little dresses such as this one were made by hand. The photograph is dark with age. It has been lightened in order to see the faces of Catharine, Ophelia and Stewart.
The migration of Catharine Darling Pancake
Virginia to Ohio to Illinois to Utah to California