RITTERHOUSE TINTYPES

These tintypes of four of the Ritterhouse boys are the earliest Ritterhouse photographs I own. These are four of great-great-grandfather William Rittershaus' five sons (from top to bottom): Fred (born 1874), Lew (born 1867), Charles (born 1866) and George (born 1863).

Tintypes were photos with the image on a metal surface that was blackened. They were cheap, durable and instant (available a few minutes after taking the photo). The process was patented in the U.S. in 1856 and, by the end of the Civil War, they were the most common type of photos. They remained the preferred type of photo until the end of the 19th century. They were usually taken outside at fairs, carnivals, etc. by itinerant photographers, because the equipment was easily set up and the photographs were instantly available.

Judging by the ages of the boys in the Ritterhouse tintypes, I think these photos were taken about 1880. By 1880, the oldest Ritterhouse boy, William, who was 21, was already living in Kansas, working on a farm in Hiawatha County. George would have been 17, Charles (my great-grandfather) would have been 14, Lew 13 and Fred 6. It may have been a year or two sooner, but it was surely around then. At this time, they were living in Tazewell County, Illinois. It was shortly after their father's death (in June 1876) and their mother's marriage to Joseph Vandorn (in late 1877).

So, do we learn anything from these pictures? All of the boys were surely dressed in their "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes. They are all wearing jackets with vests. None of them look too comfortable, with poor Lew looking particularly uncomfortable, with all of his jacket buttons buttoned and the jacket appearing to be a bit small. While the photos may have been taken by an itinerant photographer, they surely must have planned to have them taken and dressed accordingly. They are all very solemn, but taking photographs were a much bigger deal back then. They had to remain still and I'm sure wanted to appear as dignified as possible. To me, it's obvious they are brothers, sharing traits like the shape of their heads, similar mouths, noses, and hair. Is there a Ritterhouse feature that continues in the family today? What do you think?