1865 Letter from Bernard H. Dinkgrave to James Muse Dabbs

https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A84 This letter was also included in the Dabbs collection. it is a letter written by Bernard Dinkgrave from a hospital in Alexandria. If you want to read a transcript of the letter, just click on "Details". It is quite an amusing read and just a little naughty! "Bennie" would be assassinated a few years … Continue reading 1865 Letter from Bernard H. Dinkgrave to James Muse Dabbs →

Elenor Elvira Buffington – The Hidden Mother Photos

https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A453 This cute little girl was only a year old when her photo was taken circa 1872. If you look to the left of the photo, you can see she was being held by a woman, probably her mother. That was quite common when children were photographed. If you have ever tried to photograph a … Continue reading Elenor Elvira Buffington – The Hidden Mother Photos →

Memento Mori – The Victorian Post Mortem Photo

This one breaks my heart two different ways: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A462 The first, because this little girl is unidentified. The second, I suspect it is what is called a Memento Mori photo. They were very common in the Victorian era. Think about it. Photography was very expensive and you had to sit very still for one. It … Continue reading Memento Mori – The Victorian Post Mortem Photo →

Isaiah and Narcissa Garrett

These next two need no introduction. I have written thoroughly about them before. Isaiah Garrett: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A476 and Narcissa Grayson Garrett: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A475 They must have been close family friends, since I find no link between the Dabbs and the Garretts.

Christopher Hunt Dabbs

The first photo I would like to highlight is the patriarch of all the Dabbs family in Ouachita Parish. Dr. Christopher Hunt Dabbs: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A430 He came to Monroe during the 1830's and set out his shingle. He married Julia Washington Muse, a descendant of the Filhiol family, in 1845. They were the parents of several … Continue reading Christopher Hunt Dabbs →

Dabbs Photo Album

Over the last couple of weeks, my boss has been working hard to scan this particular collection of photos. Over the next few days I'll be highlighting a few of them, but if you want to see them all, go here: https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/search/Dabbs?page=1&type=edismax&cp=oplib-pho%3Acollection Some are unidentified. If you recognize any of them, let us know! The … Continue reading Dabbs Photo Album →