Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Title |
Villa Family |
Description |
Fred Villa (1904-1964), Mary Villa Bonilla (1902-1982), Edward Villa, Florentino Villa, Viviana (Torres) Villa - wife of of Clemente, married May 12, 1885, Lazaro Villa (1896-1963), Clemente Villa (1854-1937), Delfino Villa, Elizabeth (Simon) Villa (1897-1982) - wife of Pete, married December 27, 1915, Placedo (Pete) Villa. |
Catalog Number |
2008.001.012 |
Date |
July 1917 |
Subjects |
Family members |
Caption |
Villa Family |
Researcher Notes |
Fred Villa (1904-1964) Mary Bonilla Villa (1902-1982) Edward Villa (1900-1982) Florentino Villa (1898-1976) Viviana (Torres) Villa (1863-1930) - wife of Clemente, married May 12, 1885 Lazaro Villa (1896-1963) Clemente Villa (1854-1937) Delfino Villa (1893-1975) Elizabeth (Simon) Villa (1897-1982) - Wife of Pete, married December 27, 1915 Placedo (Pete) Villa (1890-1991). Note: The children are lined up in order of birth - so there was some thought as to how this photo was posed with parents in front and children in back. Viviana Torres was the daughter of our Vivian Torres who was shot and killed by the Grigsby's on the SM Ranch This photo definitely appears to be some type of special occasion because they are more dressed up than one would expect of a normal every day photo. Assuming month/year of July 1917 is correct - No one had birthdays in July. Clemente and Viviana were married in May - so not an anniversary (and 1917 wouldn't have been a significant year - i.e. like 30th or 35th anniversary. Clemente was born in May and Viviana in April (per 1900 census which may or may not be correct). So if it is July 1917 it may just be that the whole family was together and they had an opportunity for a photo - and dressed up. If it was May you might think they were celebrating parents anniversary or Clemente's birthday (although neither was a significant year). I checked newspapers for July 1917 and didn't find anything - but newspapers were really sketchy in those days of anything going on in Santa Margarita. Fred Villa in photo would be about age 13 (if photo taken in1917). He is somewhat dressed up. He is wearing the typical knickers and jacket that boys wore in 1917 - but this looks like a nice suit or he cleans up well. At first I thought that Edward and Florentino were wearing some kind of uniforms - thus were in service in World War I. But I can't find anything that indicates they were drafted - and neither had to sign up for draft until September 12, 1918. Additionally the 1930 census doesn't show that either of them were veterans. As far as I can tell Delfino was the only one who was drafted - and that was in August 1918. Then I looked up when boys went from wearing knickers to long pants - and found that prior to 1920 they wore them through high school age. So it's possible they are just also wearing knickers like their little brother. (I googled and randomly found several photos of high school classes in 1917 where older boys were wearing knickers). Of everyone in the photo Viviana is really dressed up. Looks like she took a lot of effort to have on a fancy outfit. But maybe that was just her regular "Sunday go to meeting dress" - I can't imagine that they have much more than a couple of sets of clothes and a "Sunday go to meeting" dress/suit. Clemente has in a nicer suit with bow tie, vest, jacket and pants - but this is how men typically dressed in those days mostly always wearing a suit - it could also be his "Sunday go to meeting suit". Lazaro between Viviana and Clemente also has on a bow tie and Delfino has on a suit. Pete on the end would be the least "dressed up" without a jacket or bow tie. In 1917 Pete was already married and had wife Dora - she is not indicated as being in the photo. So either she wasn't there or possibly she is the one taking the photo. All I can say is this was some type of special family occasion where all the children were there, they dressed in their best, carefully arranged the parents and children in order of birth, and they took a photo and it is a really great family photo. Pam Parsons, Researcher |