Today's Shades' Old Photograph - Little Lord Fauntleroy X 3

Three beautiful brothers, two of whom are dressed in Little Lord Fauntleroy suits. Little Lord Fauntleroy was a book written by Francis Hodgson Burnett. The suits described and illustrated in her book proved extremely popular with doting mothers and hated by the young men who wore them. The suit was a black velvet jacket and breeches, sometime worn with an elaborate lace collar and fancy blouse, as seen here. The hair was worn in long ringlets. The main period that the suits were popular was 1886-1899, but the suits were worn into the 1920s.

EDWARD T. BILLINGS:

Edward T. Billings' photographic studios were located at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, in Racine. Wisconsin. He was born April 12, 1852, the son of Bradish D. and Eliza (Harry) Billings, natives of New York State and Cornwall. England, respectively.

Edward was eight years old when he came with his parents to Racine county where he lived on a farm. When he completed public school he studied photography. He established his gallery in 1872, andit was considered one of the finest galleries in the State.

On the 20th of March, 1877, he married Mary Easson, the daughter of Captain Larry and Alice (Green) Easson. They were the parents of two children, Harry and Edna.

Sources:

Stamper, Anita A. Clothing Through American History: The Civil War Through the Gilded Age, 1861-1899. Greenwood : 2010.

Photograph:

Three Siblings. Cabinet Card. Billings, Edward T. Original Cabinet Card privately held by the footnoteMaven, Preston, Washington. 2007