Shared Photo: Dewey Hobson Barnhill

+10 votes
142 views

I believe this is a high school graduation photo. Dewey married William Elmer Shields.

The story is that her mother bought those leather shoes for her graduation and her father was a bit angry they spent the money he sent home while fighting in WWI on fancy shoes.

I wanted to share this family photo of Dewey Barnhill with the community. Location: OK. Date: 1916.
Barnhill-643.jpg
Click here for the image details page.

WikiTree profile: Dewey Shields
in Photos by Janice Sutherland G2G6 Mach 7 (71.7k points)
edited by Janice Sutherland

3 Answers

+7 votes
What an amazing back-story regarding the fancy (expensive) shoes worn for Dewey's graduation photo.  I can see both sides of this matter, both from the perspective of wanting to celebrate an important occasion and have something wonderful to wear for special occasions--and also from the point of view of the father who's been sending money back home while far away from home, fighting in the Great War.

While this ought to be a time of joy and celebration, Dewey seems to be showing some mixed emotions here--a sparkle (deep down) of joy overlaid with layers and layers of solemness.  This mixture of moods shows both in her facial expression and the way both of her hands are down low by her sides, even though she is holding a scroll of paper tied with a bow.  She could have been holding this certificate / diploma up as one might hold a bouquet of flowers in happy times--yet that is not the case here, and there is a very somber tone.  

I've found most high school graduation photos during both WWI and WWII to be similarly somber in tone, as clearly these times were scary--even for young people going to high school and graduating.

Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful photo, and it's back-story, too! The shoes really are marvelous!
by Cynthia Larson G2G6 Pilot (178k points)
Thank you. I just read the note again today when downloading the photo. My 2nd cousin Myra Stafford wrote that on my page. Memories from her mother and grandmother
+6 votes
What a fantastic photo Janice, I absolutely love her shoes they are so elegant, so her dad got mad because she bought the amazing shoes, I imagine it was a wonderful day because of the fantastic shoes.

and the beautiful dress she is wearing.

 

Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo
by Susan Laursen G2G Astronaut (3.0m points)
+5 votes
Thank you Janice for sharing this Photo with us, Dewey is a very attractive young lady, in her beautiful dress and the fine leather shoes.
by Shaun Doust G2G6 Pilot (354k points)

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