1. "Where'd They Get The Pictures?"
Posted by Kat on Dec-9th-03 at 12:19 AM

In The Sourcebook, pg. 17 there is an  artist's sketch of this picture of Abby.
The notation under it says:
"MRS. BORDEN, THE MURDERED WOMAN.
[From the last picture taken of her, fifteen years ago, at the age of fifty-two.]"

This was published Saturday, August 6th, 1892.

We know Lizzie was unsure of Abby's true age and in her Inquest testimony claimed she thought Abby was 67.
Adding 15 years to 1892, we get 67.

Q. What was your stepmother's age?
A. I don't know. I asked her sister Saturday, and she said sixty-four. I told them sixty-seven; I did not know. I told as nearly as I knew. I did not know there was so much difference between she and father.
(Inquest-Lizzie-52)

I'm wondering
1. Who gave the newspapers this photo?  Maybe it was Abby's extended family, which means that maybe the Borden side had no photo of her!
If they did, maybe they did have a newer picture?
2. How did Lizzie's misconception as to Abby's age get into print days before her testimony?
Were the Surviving Borden's cooperating with the press?  And giving out photos, like Andrews, as well?  I just never thought so...

Has anyone ever noticed that there seem to be two versions of this photograph? This version, which Kat has used, is seen less often. The more-seen  photo of Abby seems to be retouched (darkened) around the eyes to give her more of a frown. The famous one of Lizzie and her favorite pansy brooch is the same way, with all sorts of shading that isn't in the original. This latter one is almost never seen, but can be seen (along with the above-mentioned picture of Abby) in the NY Times Magazine article on the centennial of the murders, back in 1992.
Has the FRHS ever had all of the original portraits of the Borden family on display? It would be interesting  to note any differences between the originals and subsequent reproductions.

The photograph above is such a harsh and angry version of Lizzie.  It evokes little sympathy from the observer.  At the time, there was no technique for placing actual photographs into newspapers, so it is unlikely that this particular photograph was ever widely seen.  However, looking at it over the lapse of a century, it does not put Lizzie in a very positive light.  She looks mean.

(Message last edited Dec-9th-03  3:28 PM.)

The thing is, the picture is of Abby.  But it says she is 52 in the picture.  If they are right as to when it was taken, then Abby was 50.  It looks odd also in that it seems Part of a picture.  Like, where's the rest of it?  Didn't they take bigger portraits back then?  Even the pose seems odd.  It almost looks like a remarkable drawing!
Another odd thing is to think this is our view of Abby at 50 and we really don't know what she looked like 15 years later, when she died!
I will take a bit of time and photograph the Sourcebook picture and then I will look out for the second rendition of this one if you like.

(Message last edited Dec-9th-03  4:48 PM.)

(Message last edited Dec-9th-03  6:43 PM.)

(Message last edited Dec-9th-03  6:48 PM.)

I always thought that picture of Abby was more recent then 15 years before her death. But then photography was not as simple as it is now and was more then likely qite a bit more expensive, so that could explain why her last pic in life was 15 years sooner.

BTW on page 19 of the Sourcebook there is a sketch of Lizzie about halfway down the right column with the caption identifying her as "Lizzie J. Borden."


(Message last edited Dec-9th-03  8:20 PM.)

this younger picture you say age 37? it looks like a 14 year old.
The eyes are nothing like the older picture of Abbey.  Very
confusing!

Oh my gosh, Kat, I feel like a dope.  I looked at that photo and I knew it did not look "right" and just assumed I was looking at Lizzie.  I feel like a dope for that mistake!

And it reminds me, once again, never to ASSUME, because when one ASSUMES, you make an ass of u and me (thanks to Felix Unger for that wisdom). 

Oh my gosh, Kat, I feel like a dope.  I looked at that photo and I knew it did not look "right" and just assumed I was looking at Lizzie.  I feel like a dope for that mistake!

And it reminds me, once again, never to ASSUME, because when one ASSUMES, you make an ass of u and me (thanks to Felix Unger for that wisdom). 

Oh I understood what happened!
I started to look at her as if she was Lizzie and it was very odd, I'll tell you!.
Now there's duplicate posts so some kind of hiccup, sorry.

I think the seated photo in full dress was called Abby's "Wedding Picture" but I'm not positive, nj.  That's why I gave it that date.  Abby was born in 1828 and married Andrew in 1865, 54 days after Lincoln was assassinated, making her 37.5
Do you think in the intervening 27 years wore on her badly up until that next photo?
I was wondering if she had become very heavy she might not want her picture taken.  How did the papers get that photo?  Porter claims Abby was 67 as well as Lizzie's claim.

You're right, Kat, it does look like that picture of Abby is cropped, almost like a high school photo or something.  Does the FRHS have a copy of the original?  Possible that the picture is bigger with more open space around Abby.  Or, do you think it may have been part of a group photo where she was cut out of it?

I do like the clearer photo of Abby, easier to see her features.

Yes I too thought *Group photo*!
Maybe if she is the Mrs. Andrew Borden who was in charge of membership of the YMCA (was it the year earlier?), then she might have done other work like that and be part of a group picture.

Notice the sketch artist gave Abby an EARRING?

(Message last edited Dec-10th-03  12:38 AM.)

I thought that seated picture of Abby was a calling card photo...but I can't remember where I got THAT idea!

Well, then, you've heard of the *Wedding* photo.  Do you know what that is or have you seen it?

Theres a wedding photo of Andrew and Abby?  Now that would be interesting to see! 

I think the 2 pictures of Abby standing and Abby seated are the *Wedding* pictures.  I never heard of the 2 of them, Andrew and Abby, in a wedding photo.
In the information as to what the girls were to give the Whiteheads and Fishs of Abby's belongings, there is included *Abby's wedding picture*.

Ah, I see what you mean, I thought maybe there was an actual wedding day photo of the two. 

I might be able to make you one, if you like.
I doubt at Abby's age she got to wear white.

I think you've seen this one Susan.  Elvis marries Andrew/Abby:

The line drawing portrait of Abby may have been made from a tracing of a photograph. You can compare the ratio of measurements.
Pantograph?