Boy or Girl?

If you found this photo in an old family album and found no markings to indicate who it was, what would you assume about it? Was this a boy? Or was it a girl?

Whos is this a portrait of?

<-- CLICK THE ARROW TO REVEAL THE ANSWER

This is a photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945). It was taken about 1884.

If you've seen any old family photos, you probably already knew that baby boys were dressed in "dresses" or gowns, as I prefer to call them in this case, up until modern times. Gowns were designed for functionality. Obviously, the design makes it easier to clean, change diapers and potty train, but there are other reasons. In pre-industrial times, before fabric and clothing were mass produced, a nice outfit wasn't as easy to come across. Clothing was hand made, mended when needed, and passed down to younger children. Gowns were versatile, neutral, comfortable, and appropriate for both boys and girls.

Even knowing all this, when I first saw this photo, I was sure it was a portrait of a girl. The shoes, socks, hat, ruffled collar, and even the haircut looked very feminine to me. It's just another example of how different our perspective is today, from what it was just 138 years ago when this photo was taken.

In the three photos shown below, one was my great-grandfather, William H. Dickinson, who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1899. The other two were his sisters. Can you guess which one is him? If you're able to tell, please explain your insight and reasoning in the comments!

Stay tuned for more genealogy tips and fun finds! Don't miss the Genealogy Dashboard for tons of free resources!

#genealogy #familyhistory #portraits #photography