I wonder why some posts look so good and others get garbled.
I blew up the photo you sent me so as to see just the faces. No matter
which is which, compare the white dress girl with the oldest photo of Sam
Clemens as a printer's apprentice. In that photo he is about the same age
as Clara would be in the wagon photo. Not only are the expressions the
same, the devilish sparkle on both sets of eyes is identical.
And, compare the girl in back with the photo of young, clean-shaven Sam
Clemens that graces the cover of Volume 2 of the latest version of the
Autobiography. Similar eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and jaw line.
I love old photographs.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Courtney
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 10:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara
Carl, thanks for sharing that in a way that all can see and Mallory, thanks=
for confirming that the photo was in the Onteora Park series. I agree with=
Mallory that Susy is clearly on the right and Clara on the left -- and tha=
t I could have made this clearer in the caption!=0A= =0A= As you have my
book, compare the pictures of the girls (somewhat younger) o= n page 47 and
their respective facial features seem clear. =0A= =0A= You asked how long
our exhibit on the daughters -- "In Their Father's Imag= e" -- will be up.
In fact it's through January 24, so there's lots of time = to see this
thoughtful and popular exhibit. The New York Times wrote it up:= =0A= =0A=
http://tinyurl.com/jppy9fd=0A= =0A= Knowing what happens to text on the
Forum when I post (whether in plain tex= t or not) this URL may be
impossible to read, even as a "tiny" URL. If it i= s, search "new york
times," "mark twain" and "in their father's image" and = you'll find the
story.=0A= =0A= Best,=0A= Steve=0A= =0A= =0A= Steve Courtney=0A= Special
Projects=0A= The Mark Twain House & Museum=0A=
351 Farmington Avenue=0A=
Hartford, Connecticut 06105=0A=
860-302-8969=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
________________________________________=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Mallory Howard [mall=
[log in to unmask]]=0A=
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 9:26 AM=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=0A= =0A= We have the original
photograph in an Onteora album in our collection. I ju= =3D=0A= st looked at
it and it is simply labeled "Miss Susie and Clara Clemens 1890= =3D=0A=
"=0A= with no obvious indication of what order was meant (it was written
vertical= =3D=0A= ly in the margin). Here is the image along with two close
ups of Susy and C= =3D=0A= lara.=3D20=0A= I have also attached an additional
image of Clara. I work with these images= =3D=0A= quite often and I believe
that Clara is the one in the white dress closest= =3D=0A= to the camera
while Susy is farther away.=3D20=0A= =0A= =0A= Mallory Howard=0A= Assistant
Curator=0A= The Mark Twain House & Museum=0A=
[log in to unmask]
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
-----Original Message-----=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kevin Mac Don=
=3D=0A= nell=0A=
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 9:05 AM=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=0A= =0A= You may not be wrong. I tried
magnifying that photo in Steve's book and I'm= =3D=0A= still not certain.
If I have time later today I'll compare it to other Cla= =3D=0A= ra and Susy
images from about that same time (some are on loan to the Hartf= =3D=0A= ord
exhibit, so I may not even have the ones on hand that I think I do). Th=
=3D=0A= e published location of that larger image would be helpful. If I
recall, it= =3D=0A= shows their faces close up and not the entire
wagon.=0A= =0A= Kevin=0A= @=0A= Mac Donnell Rare Books=0A=
9307 Glenlake Drive=0A=
Austin TX 78730=0A=
512-345-4139=0A=
Member: ABAA, ILAB=0A=
*************************=0A=
You may browse our books at:=0A=
www.macdonnellrarebooks.com=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
-----Original Message-----=0A=
From: Carl J. Chimi=0A=
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 5:08 AM=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=0A= =0A= In fairness, your book's
caption for the picture does not actually =3D3D sp= ec=3D=0A= ify which girl
is which. It only identifies them as Susy and Clara, =3D3D = in=3D=0A=
that order. But, given the composition of the photograph, it would =3D3D =
no=3D=0A= t be a farfetched inference to draw that Suzy is the foreground
girl =3D3D = on=3D=0A= the left, and Clara in the background on the right.
The other book =3D3D = th=3D=0A= at published that picture (the title of
which escapes me) does =3D3D identi= fy=3D=0A= them in that way, if I
recall correctly.=0A= =0A= And that's exactly what I suspect they ain't. It
bothered me from the =3D3= D =3D=0A= first time I saw the picture in the
other book.=0A= =0A= But I'm willing to admit I'm wrong. I'm more curious
as to how (short =3D3= D =3D=0A= of there being verifiable contemporaneous
written identifications of =3D3D = re=3D=0A= asonable provenance) any modern
person could authoritatively identify =3D3D= t=3D=0A= hose two girls as
Clara and Susy, and which is which.=0A= =0A= I guess it's these really,
really small insignificant mysteries that =3D3D = ma=3D=0A= ke scholars, eh?
=3D3DF0=3D3D9F=3D3D98=3D3D80=3D3D20=0A=
=0A=
Regards,=0A=
=0A=
Carl=0A=
=0A=
-----Original Message-----=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve =3D3D C=
ou=3D=0A= rtney=0A=
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 9:33 PM=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=0A= =0A= Carl, that's in the Mark
Twain House collection but I won't be there to =3D= 3D=3D=0A= che=3D3D3D ck
till next Wednesday -- I've labeled it as being one of the = =3D3D=0A=
1890 Onteora =3D3D3D Park pix, and must (I hope) have had some solid basis =
=3D=0A= =3D3D for doing that. Stay =3D3D3D tuned.=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D = From the wor=3D=0A= k Tracy =3D3D Brindle (MT House Chief
Curator), Mallory Howard (her p=3D3D3= D ar=3D=0A= tner in =3D3D=0A=
crime) and I did early this year in preparation for the "In His F=3D3D3D =
=3D3D =3D=0A= ather's Image" exhibition at the MT House that's running
currently -- an = =3D=0A= =3D3D ex=3D3D3D ploration of the three daughters
and their lives -- I'd say= alm=3D=0A= ost =3D3D certainl=3D3D3D y that
Clara is in the front, with the expression= you=3D=0A= =3D3D describe, and
Susy --=3D3D3D likewise -- is in the back.=3D3D3D0A= =3D3D3D =3D=0A=
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D Best,=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Steve=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0=
A=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D=0A= =3D3D3D Steve Courtney=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D
Special Projects=3D3D3D0A=3D3D= 3D The Mark =3D=0A= Twain House &
Museum=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
351 Farmington Avenue=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A= Hartford, Connecticut
06105=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A= 860-302-8969=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A= =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
________________________________________=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Carl J. Chimi =3D3D =
[c=3D=0A= chim=3D3D3D [log in to unmask]]=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 5:29 PM=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D You'=
re certa=3D=0A= inly =3D3D right, Barbara. I've seen many photos reproduced
in=3D3D3D0A=3D3= D3D re=3D=0A= verse, or =3D3D misidentified. I didn't have
this before me when I wrote t= he=3D=0A= =3D3D3D =3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D
original post, but the picture can be found = in Steve=3D=0A= Courtney's
=3D3D delightful=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D book "'The Loveliest H= ouse
Tha=3D=0A= t Ever Was'" on =3D3D page 119. I've also seen it=3D3D3D
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D = in one o=3D=0A= ther book I've read =3D3D within the last
decade, but I can't remember=3D3D= 3D0A=3D=0A= =3D3D3D which
book.=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D The girl I think= is Clara
ha=3D=0A= s a slightly mischievous look about =3D3D her that I=3D3D3D
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3= D associ=3D=0A= ate with young Clara's personality. The
=3D3D other girl has a sadness in= =3D3D=3D=0A= 3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D her eyes
that I associate with =3D3D Susie, especially = around=3D=0A= the time of
her Bry=3D3D3D n=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Mawr days; she =3D3D also bea= rs a
res=3D=0A= emblance to pictures of the young Sam=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D
Clemens.=3D3D3D= 0A=3D3D3D =3D=0A= =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Carl=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D -----Original =3D3D = Message-----=3D=0A=
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of =3D3D Barbara=
=3D=0A= =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Schmidt=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 4:55 PM=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D=0A=
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Photo of Susie and Clara=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Carl=
,=3D3D3D0A=3D=0A= =3D3D3D =3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D I do not have that photo
in front of me at = the mome=3D=0A= nt, but =3D3D from your=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D
description, I seem to recall it wa= s take=3D=0A= n at Quarry =3D3D Farm.
I think=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D sometimes part of the conf= usion =3D=0A= in photo
=3D3D identification comes when photos=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D are=
reprint=3D=0A= ed from =3D3D negatives/plates and are unintentionally
"reversed" or=3D3D3D= =3D3D=3D=0A= 3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D "flipped." Without
knowing who holds the original print = or n=3D=0A= egative of =3D3D
thi=3D3D3D s=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D photo, it may be difficult to= correct=3D=0A=
ly pin down the =3D3D person on the left or=3D3D3D =3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D right i=
n the fr=3D=0A= ame and then determine =3D3D if subsequent reprintings
are=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D = identi=3D=0A= fied correctly.=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D =3D3D
=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D Barb=3D3D3D0A=3D3D3D= =3D20=0A=
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