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Photo Detective Challenge: 1910s Scouting
I am a big fan of Maureen Taylor (aka Photo Detective) and her blog. I came across a photo the other day that I thought would be perfect for those interested in a little photo detective challenge. It has to deal with the Boy Scouts of America that are celebrating 100 years this year.
The photo is from the BSA site, is titled Defending Liberty, and is categorized as being taken in the 1910s. Here is a link to the photo.
There are plenty of clues in the photo that hopefully we can figure out where this photo was taken and a narrower time of when it was taken.
Please comment on this blog (or on your own) with what you find.
Good luck!
Comments(8)
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by thinkgenealogy, Mark Tucker. Mark Tucker said: Photo Detective Challenge: 1910s Scouting at http://bit.ly/a6PCbU Who will get bragging rights? #genealogy [...]
Pingback by Tweets that mention Photo Detective Challenge: 1910s Scouting | ThinkGenealogy -- Topsy.com — 10 Aug 2010 @ 9:47 am
Hello!
I noticed your blog entry show up in my Twitter #genealogy feed and can’t resist a good challenge!
At first look I would have guessed this is a 1910s photo as well – but when searching for that particular Minuteman image and the savings stamps associated with it, the only references I am finding are from a 1941 (and subsequent years) WWII savings stamp program.
See this postal museum presentation for several slides beginning at page 32. The beginning of the presentation shows WWI era stamp programs, but those appear to have used Founding Fathers as the images.
http://bit.ly/9RJKcy
Also look about 3/4 of the way down this page for some more info – including a statement that in “May, 1941 the America on Guard series appeared…”
http://chsclassof1963.webs.com/piecesofchshistory.htm
To throw a wrench into things, searching for the “Richard H. Pugh Realtor” company behind them offers a NY Times Obit for a man of that name in 1935.
If the obit references the owner of the company it is in Philadelphia.
Of course, the company could easily have continued into the 1940s – the obit mentions his wife, a son and 2 daughters.
Obit here: http://drop.io/zswaqkv7641
Looking at the 1940s photos at the Boy Scout site it appears that the uniform looked the same up into the 1950s.
Also, the boy on the left shows a Troop number “22″ on his sleeve – that may just be the first two numbers, but there is a troop 22 in the area slightly Northwest of Philadelphia:
http://cheltenhamtroop22.home.comcast.net/~cheltenhamtroop22/
Map of Cheltenham: http://bit.ly/bsbAu4
Fun stuff!
Comment by JJT — 10 Aug 2010 @ 10:34 am
1910′s? Really?
I’m guessing somewhere around 1941 in New London, CT.
I must be WAAY off.
Comment by Jennifer — 10 Aug 2010 @ 10:50 am
The photo is taken in front of the Grande Building, 325 State Street
New London, CT.
Comment by EddieB — 10 Aug 2010 @ 5:07 pm
Sorry, I really blew that, its the Garde Building, 325 State Street
New London, CT
Comment by EddieB — 10 Aug 2010 @ 5:09 pm
What makes you so sure that this building is in New London, CT? Just wondering.
Comment by Mark Tucker — 11 Aug 2010 @ 8:48 am
[...] I posted a photo containing Boy Scouts with a challenge to learn as much about the photo as [...]
Pingback by Scout Photo Detective Challenge – Clues | ThinkGenealogy — 11 Aug 2010 @ 8:50 am
Here’s a Google street view of the 325 State Street address EddieB listed – does looks like a match: http://bit.ly/bFYGML
Also, found a CT death index listing for Richard H. Pugh in New London – business: Real Estate.
Name: Richard H Pugh
Father’s Surname: Pugh
Death Date: 8 Dec 1989
Death Place: New London, New London, Connecticut
Age: 89 Years
Birth Place: New York
Birth Date: 6 Jan 1900
Marital Status: Married
Spouse: Kathr
State File #: 27299
Occupation: REAL EST & INS
Industry: RICHARD PUGH AGCY
Education: College
Residence : New London, New London, Connecticut
Address: 993 Pequot Av 063202825
Gender: Male
Race: White
So much for my red-herring Philadelphia find!
Comment by JJT — 12 Aug 2010 @ 8:24 am