Ask AI: "Can You Identify This Type of Photograph and Date the Images?"

I'm training myself to ask questions about my genealogy and family history research of the available Artificial Intelligence tools.  This is hard to do for an experienced male aerospace engineer!  But it is instructive!

1)  Today, my prompt was:  "Can you identify this type of photograph and date the images?"

The uploaded image is encased photographs of Isaac Seaver and Lucretia Smith in a hinfed case, obtained from my aunt Geraldine (Seaver) Remley in 2007:

2_  The FREE ChatGPT-4o  response (and my "conversation":

This is an ambrotype photograph, a common photographic technique from the mid-19th century. Ambrotypes are created by placing a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive chemical inside a camera. After exposure, the glass plate holds the image, which appears as a negative but becomes visible as a positive when placed against a dark background.

Ambrotypes were particularly popular in the 1850s and 1860s. Given the formal attire and the style of the clothing in this image, it is likely that these photographs date to around that time, possibly between the 1850s and early 1860s. The elaborate, gilded frames are also characteristic of this period.

If you're researching family history, this may be a good indication of when your ancestors sat for these portraits, likely in the same time frame.

I asked: "I'm told this is a 'Union Case' photo - can you explain what a 'Union Case' is?"

ChatGPT-4o response:

A "Union Case" refers to the protective housing used to encase and preserve delicate photographic images like daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes. These cases were made from a mixture of shellac and wood fibers, creating a durable, thermoplastic material. Union cases were developed in the mid-1850s by Samuel Peck and Alphonse Giroux in response to the need for lightweight, sturdy, and affordable cases to hold photographic images.

Key Features of Union Cases:

1. Material: The thermoplastic material allowed for intricate designs to be molded into the case, which often featured floral, patriotic, or classical themes. This material was more durable than earlier wooden or leather cases.

2. Hinged Design: Most Union cases have a hinged design, allowing them to open and close like a small book. Inside, the image was often secured with a decorative brass frame and protected under glass.

3. Felt Padding: One side of the case usually had a layer of velvet or plush padding to cushion the photograph when the case was closed, helping prevent damage.

4. Popularity in the 1850s-1860s: Union cases became especially popular during the Civil War era, as soldiers and families sought to preserve and share portraits.

The "Union" name is believed to symbolize the unity of the case’s components—wood fibers and shellac—or as a patriotic reference to the United States during the Civil War period. These cases helped protect fragile images, which were often one-of-a-kind, and made it easy to carry or display them.

I asked: Why would a couple have this photo made?

ChatGPT-4o response:

A couple would have had a photograph like this made for several reasons, especially during the mid-19th century when photography was becoming more accessible and popular. Here are some key motivations:

1. Commemoration of Marriage or Milestone:

Couples often had their portraits taken to commemorate significant life events, such as their marriage, anniversaries, or the birth of a child. This ambrotype or Union case photo might have been created to celebrate their wedding or another important moment in their relationship.

2. Preserving Family Legacy:

Portraits were a way for families to preserve their likenesses and pass them down to future generations. Before photography, only the wealthy could afford painted portraits. Photography offered a relatively affordable way for middle-class families to capture a lasting image.

3. Sentimental Reasons:

For couples, especially during times of separation such as war (like the Civil War in the 1860s), having a portrait to give to a spouse or family member was an important keepsake. Photographs helped loved ones feel connected across distances.

4. Status and Fashion:

Having a professional photograph taken was also a way to display social status. The formal clothing and serious expressions reflect the style of the time and may have been intended to present the couple in a dignified and respectable manner.

5. Technological Novelty:

Photography in the mid-1800s was still relatively new and exciting. Couples may have commissioned portraits simply to take advantage of the new technology, seeing it as an opportunity to create a lasting image.

6. Memento for Future Generations:

The couple likely wanted to leave behind a visual representation of themselves for their descendants. Photographs like these were treasured family heirlooms, passed down through generations to keep family history alive.

Given the craftsmanship involved in Union cases, the couple might have also valued the beauty and significance of both the photograph and its case as a symbol of their relationship and their place in society.

Can you describe the clothing in the photos?  

ChatGPT-4o response:

In the photos, the clothing worn by the man and woman reflects mid-19th-century fashion.

Man’s Clothing:

• Jacket/Coat: The man is wearing a dark coat or frock coat, typical of formal men's fashion during this period. The coat has a fitted, tailored appearance, which was common in the 1840s and 1850s.
• Vest: Underneath the coat, a dark waistcoat or vest is visible, which was a staple of men's formal wear. Waistcoats were often worn with high collars and had decorative buttons.
• Shirt: He is wearing a white or light-colored dress shirt with a high collar, and possibly a cravat or necktie. Cravats were wide, often tied around the neck, adding to the formal and structured look.
• Beard: The man has a well-groomed beard and no mustache, which was a common style during the 1850s, giving him a dignified appearance.

Woman’s Clothing:

• Dress: The woman is wearing a plaid-patterned, high-necked dress with long sleeves, typical of women's fashion from the 1840s to the 1860s. The bodice appears tightly fitted with some decoration at the neckline, possibly lace or a brooch.
• Bodice: The bodice is structured and likely includes boning or stays to give it shape, a characteristic of dresses from this era. The waist is cinched, emphasizing the hourglass silhouette that was popular at the time.
• Sleeves: Her sleeves are long, and they may have fitted or slightly puffed shoulders, which was fashionable in the mid-19th century.
• Accessories: She appears to be wearing a necklace or collar, which adds a touch of refinement. The hair is parted in the middle and pulled back smoothly, typical of the understated hairstyles of the time.

The formal nature of the clothing, especially with the man's dark, tailored suit and the woman's fitted, high-necked dress, suggests that this is a photograph taken for a special occasion, possibly to commemorate an important event or milestone in their lives, such as a wedding anniversary or a formal portrait.

3)  It is obvious to me that ChatGPT has been pre-trained on photograph types and methods of displaying them.   

For almost every question, it takes ChatGPT (and the other tools) just seconds to formulate a response and list them on the website.  It takes me longer to read, copy and paste the responses into a document and blog post than it does for the AI tool to formulate the response!

I think ChatGPT-4o got the answers correct.  Isaac Seaver (1823-1901) enlisted in the Massachusetts Artillery in 1863 and was a soldier in the Civil War.  He married Lucretia Smith in 1851 and they had four children.  They are my 2nd great-grandparents.  

They probably had these photographs done by a commercial company before he went off to war.

4)   What other questions should I ask of the free AI tools I use?

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