On Tour of the Great Sphinx and Pyramids : Giza Plateau, Egypt : 1890's
Original Photograph : Collection of Claude M. Shawbell III

The photographic image is 6.75 x 9.0 inches mounted and on a 7.5 x 10.0 inch 'Paris Card'. This large card was popular in the 1890's, so I have an idea of the approximate time frame, but would like to pin it down. I've had the photo in my collection for over forty years, and it's one of my favorites. Egypt has always fascinated me from a young age and I've always wondered who these people were on this great adventure over 100 years ago. So, tme to immerse myself again into the ancient land of the Pharroh's and bring you along. I have decades of research experience in genealogy and with the vast amount of information available on the Internet to help us we should get close to finding out about this couple. It is an exciting challenge, because every journey into the past begins with a mystery, then amazes you with discovery, and rewards you with inspiration and reflection. Historical Note: The Great Sphinx of Giza is the largest monolith statue in the world, standing 73.5 metres (241 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) wide, and 20.22 m (66.34 ft) high.[1] It is the oldest known monumental sculpture, and is commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom in the reign of the Pharaoh Khafra (c. 2558–2532 BC), whose tomb is the Great Pyramid. Although there is the belief that the Sphinx was built during the reign of pararoh Khufra it has been spectulated that its age may very well be older and the task of finding out how old it actually is began in 1980 A.D. The earliest excavation of the Sphinx was down to the paws by Pharaoh Thutmosis IV, 8th King of the 18th Dynasty (1401 - 1391 B.C.). After Thutmosis' excavation he erected 'The Dream Stela' which was placed between the paws of The Sphinx. The shifting sands of 3 millennia eventually covered over Thutmosis IV evacuation and no one knew what the rest of the Sphinx looked like below the neck until the mid to late 1860's A.D. when it was uncovered down to the paws again. Major evacuations began between 1925-1936 A.D., and today it is completely excavated, including the Sphinx and Khafra Valley Temples. Between 1847 and 1929, dozens of guidebooks were published for those who would travel to Egypt, which drew and increasing number of European and American travelers, and at the Sphinx and Giza pyramids professional photographer's enjoyed a lucrative business, as well as the egyptian guides. There was always work to be had as small expeditions had been digging around the Giza Plateau since the early 1800's. The Photographer: On the day my photograph was taken, the photographer could have been using one of these magnificant cameras. You can see that the retentive quality of his photograph taken over one hundred years ago is testimony to his expertise and equipment. Most photographer's of the time signed their prints, but unfortunately his photograph is not signed, which is very unsual in those early days of photography. I hope with a little luck I may get a clue or two. The Photograph : Examination &Preparation Loupe Glass I took the photograph out of its frame, scanned and photoshopped a same size copy I could manipulate for clarity, but that did not provide better close up views because the image would become pixelated at higher magnification. I used a couple of my close up magnifing glasses vewing the original and took notes. Left: Printer's Magnifier (Loupe) which is used by professional printer's and photographer's and excellent for viewing detail. Right: Double Lens Magnifier. Double Lens Glasses I was able to see much detail the faces, fashions and accessories of both subjects. I had an idea to to see if I could take a photograph with my digital camera set on top of the eye piece of the Loupe Glass. This worked with some satisfaction so you can view of the details in the section: The Photograph: Comparison & Details. Throughout the process I am constantly studying the original photograph for any details I have missed. I'm also comparing it with antique cabinet cards in my personal collection and with photo's I've found online taken from 1880 to 1900. In my initial exam I wondered about the mounting stock the photographer was using. The primary mounting stock for photographs in the 1880-90's was of bristol board composite. The board on my photo is worn heavily and flaking at the rounded corners with age so I can see mulit-layers of it, yet it remains stiff over 100 years later, so it must have been high quality at the time. Paper has been made in Egypt for over 5,000 years. He likely purchased all his supplies in Cairo, and I wouldn't doubt that his home/studio was there too. The Photograph: Observations & Comments A lot of interesting things are going on in the photograph which adds to its uniqueness. The Sphynx and the Pyramid of Khufu along with just the tip of the Khufu Mortuary Temple in the background on the timeless Giza Plateau was photographed in the mid afternoon as indicated by the shadows. The photograph was probably not his only one of the day. He could possibly be set up there with permission and a fee and paying 'baksheesh' (tips) to the head guide, or for simplicity they have a great business agreement together, whereas the guide bringing the photographer his customers! The trip escorts ran a very good business in those days and still do today. Their Egyptian Guide is neat, well dressed and professional looking. The Guide probably charged a set fee for his tour, including camel transportation but the expected 'baksheesh' is still customarily paid to him and his men. Note: This is an age old custom in Egypt and still exists today, and is a must for all traveler's to Egypt to understand. John Stoddard wrote about this custom in the 1890's. 'It was common for riots to break out with unemployed men scrambling over each over to beg or offer services for baksheesh from the wealthy tourists arriving'. Looking at the scene: This photo has some amazing things happening in it. The photograph is such a unique shot, I don't think it was planned to have all these elements in it. In the far backgrund, bringing a subtle element of mood are two egyptian's and their camel nonchalantly relaxing. The person sitting is dressed in black and could be a woman because the head looks covered and more women dressed in black. The other one, in white and stretched out laying down looks like a man. The Egyptian man striking a pose under the ear of the Sphinx brings a theme of theater to the scene. (I've seen the same pose in other photos and wonder if it's the same man. If it is then he's making some baksheesh to provide the interesting background for the photographer). The camel handler (an employee of the head guide) is holding the woman's parasol while the photo is taken, and interestingly he is holding the man's camel, not her's! (Maybe the man's camel was getting finicky). There's the strange man gazing at the photographer from the lower left hand of the photograph. Perhaps he was not a part of the group but a bystander or beggar (hordes of men were always nearby hoping for hire or handout). The photographer made creative use of him by not cropping him out of the print and greatly added a mysterious intimacy to this scene frozen in time. There's three camels. The tourist's camel's are smaller than the egyptian head guide's. The head guide's assitant may have walked with the tourist's camel's (again, they're finicky) from the village which is only a short distance away (only a mile or less ). The village borders the Giza Pyramids and it's modern name is Nazlet El Samman. The Photograph: Research & Comments The group is posed near old mud foundation ruins above the excavation going on below the Sphinx. Photographs dated 1867 show the excavated paws, Thutmosis' 'Dream Stela' and part of the Sphinx's lion rump. This photo shows quite a lot of excavation has been completed since 1867 since more of the Sphinx's lion body is exposed. I mentioned I searched the entire photograph for a photographer's signature and there isn't one, which is odd for a photograph like this. I spent an hour or so clicking through websites/images. Here is an excellent website with information on many early well known photographer's of the Giza Plateau and Egypt from 1857 through the 1890's. So.....perhaps my photograph must be 'One of a Kind'. Before 1867 Before 1867 After 1867 After 1867 Since it is only a short camel ride from the village of Nazlet El Samman which borders the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, our subjects certainly don't look like they've been riding a camel all day. Both look over dressed for the occasion, but that was normal for tourists in those days on an exciting safari day at Giza. Their fashions will help in determining a time frame. My intitial research started knowing somewhat of a time frame and knowing that not everyone would or could travel to Egypt in those days. Wealthy Tourists, Archeologists, Egyptologists, Jouralists and Authors would be people who would frequent Giza, but archeologist's and most egyptologist didn't quite dress quite like the male subject in my photograph, so my intitial search was for early author's of Egyptian antiquity. It would be a real long shot anyway to find a like match and I went through dozens before I found a photograph of a man that looked very similar to the male subject in my photograph. I needed to put an age, height, build and facial description to him in a time frame of the photo to be sure that it is possibly this man....is it?

The Photograph: Identities &Comments

Is this the man in my photograph, John Lawson Stoddard, on yet ,another visit to Egypt? John Lawson Stoddard visited Egypt several times. He wrote of his visits in his book chapter: Constantinople-Jerusalem-Egypt ©1897 (There you see a Page Menu, go to page 97 for Egypt). As I read his informative journal on Egypt it was as if you were right there with him and he gave me more clues. It's no wonder his lectures, writings and poems of his world travels were very popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century. I get a clue here: He writes that his first visit to Egypt was 'a score ago' so that would be in 1877 and adds that it was 'during the rule of Isma'il Pasha'. The man who greatly modernized Egypt and Sudan from 1863 to 1879 when he was then forced out by the British. (Another reason, perhaps, that many Egyptian Antiqities are in the British Museum). Now we need to find out more information to ponder in determining if it is, indeed, John Lawson Stoddard and his wife, Ida M. O'Donnell Stoddard in my photograph. A Google search luckily turned up the Stoddard Family Website and I was able to find out genealogical and document information on him and his wife as well. Great clues! We're making headway, but let's find out more about our 'possible' subjects.

Genealogical information on John Lawson Stoddard & Ida M. O'Donnell Stoddard from the
Stoddard Family Website.

I also did some detective work on ancestry.com and the results provided more information

John Lawson Stoddard : Passport issue dated 15 Nov 1916: I am sure he had earlier ones (2011: I recently found six passport renewals: 1895,1901,1907,1915 and 1924) as 1877 was his first trip to Egypt when he was about 27 years old. Born: Brookline, MA on April 24, 1850. Occupation: Author, Age 66, Stature: 5ft 8in, Forehead: High, Eyes: Blue, Nose: Straight, Mouth: Medium, Chin: Round, Hair: Gray, Complexion: Fair, Face: Oblong. John states that he last left the United States 23 June 1913 and has been living in Meran, Austria and that he bears Passport 49773 issued by the United States State Dept. on 5 Feb 1915. Reason for Passport: Visiting Italy (after war) for Sale of Property, Germany (after war) for Health and Switzerland for Health. From Stoddard Family Website: John Lawson Stoddard: In 1871 he graduated from Williams College, then two years of theology at Yale Divinity School. After that he taught Latin and French at Boston Latin School. He began traveling around the world in 1874, and published Red-Letter Days Abroad in 1884. He turned his experiences into a series of popular lectures delivered throughout North America. These lectures were periodically published in book form as John L. Stoddard's Lectures and eventually numbered ten volumes and five supplements (1897-1898).[3] The books include numerous illustrations derived from the immense catalog of photographs taken by Stoddard, and cover every subject, from art and architecture, to archeology and natural history. The books were immensely popular in their day and many copies still survive. Later in life, Stoddard also published poetry, as well as books on religious subjects. [CMS Note]: Brief info I found on the U.S.Census: John Lawson Stoddard which no doubt the Stoddard Family has, but I wanted to include it here. 1850 : Massachuetts: Town of Brookline: Enum: 10 Sept 1850: Lewis T. Stoddard age 42 Occup. Broker, Sarah H. age 31 Wife. Children: Lewis H. 16, George 14, Mary G. 12, Edward 5, John 2/12 (2mo.). Others: Mary Clifford 34, Servant, Elizabeth Lothrop 62, Charlotte S. Lothrop 20. [CMS Note]: Elizabeth is prob Sarah's Mother, Charlotte a sister) 1860 : Massachuetts: Town of Brookline: Enum: 11 June 1860: Lewis T. Stoddard age 53 Occup. Broker, Sarah H. age 40 Wife. Children: Lewis H.(not listed). George 23, Mary G. 20, Edward L. 15, John L. 10. Others: Maria McCartey 23 Servant, Ann Coudry 19 Servant. (Elizabeth Lothrop and Charlotte S. Lothrop are not listed.) 1870 : Massachuetts: Berkshire Co.: Williams Town: Enum: 16 June 1870 J. L. Stoddard age 20 Attending College First listed is Mary Hatcher a Dorm Servant. Long list of young men and women suggesting a school. Several names crossed out because they are Duplicate Listings. John's name has line through it as a duplicate listing. 1890 U.S. Census- Unavailable. [Burned Washington, D.C.] 1900 U.S. Census: Massachuetts: Middlesex Co.: Newton: 128 Highland St.: Enum: 7 June 1900 John L. Stoddard 50, b. Apr. 1850 MA. Married 22 years. Occup: Stoddard Lecturer. Mary H. 42 b. Aug. 1857 ME. Married 22 years. Housewife. Children: Theodore L. 16 b. June 1893 MA. Son. Others: Francis E. Kendrick 67 b. June 1832 CT. Single. Cousin to wife. Kate Gately 23 b Apr 1876 IRE. Servant. Immigrated: 1897. Three years in USA.

Ida M. O'Donnell Stoddard : Passport isuse dated 15 Nov 1916: Born: Morristown, OH on February 4, 1859. Permanent residence: Boston, MA. Left United States 23 Jun 1912 and temporarily sojourning at Meran, Austria. Occupation: None. Age 57, Stature: 5ft 3in, Forehead: High, Eyes: Brown, Nose: Straight, Mouth: Small, Chin: Round, Hair: Gray, Complexion: Medium blond. Face: Oval. States she is accompanied by Husband living with Husband in Meran, Austria. Identifying Documents is Husbands Passport 49773 issued by the United States State Dept. on 5 Feb 1915. Reason for Passport: Visiting Italy (after war) for Sale of Property, Germany (after war) for Health, Switzerland for Health and Austria - Hungary Residence(?).

Theodore Lothrop Stoddard : Passport issue dated 7 March 1923 : Son of John and Ida, Born: Brookline, MA. on 29 Jun 1883. His physical decription is on the passport as well as his many country visits in Europe and Egypt. He was a journalist for the Saturday Evening Post. This passport indicates he lived in France from 1911 to 1912 (He had also presented a passport in his possession dated 21 June 1910 (#33399). Notice his father, John living in Meran, Austria 1912 and still living in Meran, Austria in 1923. Note: Lothrop Stoddard's 'New World of Islam' ©1921 Charles Scribner's Sons. I reccomend at least reading the Preface of his book, remebering it was written 80 years ago!

The Photograph: Comparison & Details

John Lawson Stoddard Cabinet Card Photo Wikipedia Date Unknown

Enlarged area of my Photo Approx. Date 1895

The man on the camel has a build similar to John Stoddard's. He seems to have the same facial atributes too. I am not sure of the time difference between the two photographs, but both seem to be a man in his late 30's or early 40's.

A.) Eyes Light (could be blue). Nose: Sharp. Face: Oblong. Chin: Round. It's easy to see the mustasches are similar, but the real clincher is to compare the ear's of the signed photo of John L. Stoddard to photo A. They look very much the same! Very few peope have the same style ears! Luckily the light source to make this comparison is also the same. B.) The gentleman has a double breasted suit coat that is uniquely tailored. Both photo subjects have this coat on! That's not coincidence. I have scoured the internet to find one like it's style, but so far no luck. Both photo subjects are wearing removable white collars. These were very popular in the 1890's and 1900's and came in interchangable sets for every occassion. John Stoddard is wearing a formal attachment collar in his portrait photograph and an informal one in photo A. C.)Notice subject in Photo A has his spectacles hanging from a lapel hook on his coat. I can not see ear pieces so hey must be 'bridge spectacles' of the Pince-Nez style. They are not in the portrait photo of John L. Stoddard. Maybe by the subjects choice or he had them in his pocket. D.)He's holding a tobacco pipe in his right hand while also holding onto the saddle horn. Close magnifing glass view shows his left hand has a wedding band and a pinky ring. In this view is a good close up of his 4-hole coat buttons, lapel design and his shirt collar style of the day. E.) He is wearing white ankle length shoes/boots and of eyelet and hook lace configuration. Notice the sole and heel wear are minimal, evidence he has not worn them long and may have bought them when he arrived in Cario.

C

A

B

D

The lady's features resemble the older woman in Ida's passport photo. She probably has more padding on top of her saddle and combined with her full dress is riding much higher than her male companion. Ida's height listed as 5ft 3in. and John's as 5ft 7in which looks about right in my photo.

A.)The lady has a round face, dark eyes and hair. High forehead. Medium mouth, round chin and medium nose. May be in her mid to late 30's. Her hat has a knitted' or 'crochet' look with fake berry frond accent B.)She has on full length white gloves to the elbows, and I can see a wrinkle in the left glove ring finger that may be her wedding ring. C - D.)The lady is wearing a beautifully embroidered full white dress with lace designs with matching 'mutton leg' short sleeve shoulder/arm bustled brocaded jacket with lots of buttons, a brouch is attached at the top and may be a large stone in the bezel. Underneath a white blouse with neck collar that is brocaded as well with matching scarf hanging down. A unique ensemble to wear and she looks quite comfortable in the late day (see shadows). She has on high top black shoes, and is carrying a parasol (which the assistant guide is holding for her while the photo is taken).

A

B

C

D

The Egyptian Head Guide looks to be a larger man than the average height of 5ft 7in. for egyptian men. He is dressed well, a reflection of his successful guide business. He looks like he has has a small thin mustasche too. The well worn, broken in leather footwear of a everyday working native Egyptian guide.

A

B

Like his boss, the egyptian assistant guide is dressed quite well. He holding the lady's parasol for the photograph while holding onto the the gentleman's camel. Perhaps it was acting up and needed to be stilled for the photo.

The Camels

I decided a little research on the camels would help determine an approximate height for the individuals. The egyptian guide uses African camels, also called drometaries, have one hump, and are the common camels of Egypt. Asian camels are mostly two humped. African camels are typically about 7 feet high ground to top of humpThe extra height of a saddle would depend on the padding of the saddle and blanket(s). This website: Camel Saddles of Egypt is more than just about saddles, and includes camel types and all the gear they need to be ridden. The head guide's camel is larger than the other two, perhaps they are younger females.

THE GREAT SPHINX of GIZA

TO THE SPHINX by John Lawson Stoddard O sleepless Sphinx! Thy sadly patient eyes, Forever gazing o'er the shifting sands, Have watched Earth's countless dynasties arise, Stalk forth like spectres waving gory hands, Then fade away with scarce a lasting trace To mark the secret of their dwelling place: O sleepless Sphinx! O changeless Sphinx! The very dawn of Time Beheld thee sculptured from the living rock! Still wears thy face its primal look sublime, Surviving all the hoary ages' shock: Still royal art thou in thy proud repose, As when the sun on tuneful Memnon rose, O changeless Sphinx! O voiceless Sphinx! Thy solemn lips are dumb; Time's awful secrets lie within thy breast;

Age follows age; revering pilgrims come From every clime to urge the same request,-- That thou wilt speak! Poor creatures of a day, In calm disdain thou seest them die away: O voiceless Sphinx! Majestic Sphinx! Thou crouchest by a sea Whose fawn-hued wavelets clasp thy buried feet: Whose desert-surface, petrified like thee, Gleams white with sails of many an Arab fleet: Whose tawny billows, surging with the storm, Break on thy flanks, and overleap thy form; Majestic Sphinx! Eternal Sphinx! The Pyramids are thine; Their giant summits guard thee night and day, On thee they look when stars in splendor shine, Or while around their crests the sunbeams play: Thine own coevals, who with thee remain Colossal Genii of the boundless plain! Eternal Sphinx!

Well folks, I've presented you the evidence and now it's time for you to decide.
Are the people in my old photograph John Lawson Stoddard and Ida M. O'Donnell Stoddard?
Comment via Email



© 2010 Claude M. Shawbell III