On This Day for Mothers

“Mothers, I believe, intoxicate us. We idolize them and take them for granted. We hate them and blame them and exalt them more thoroughly than anyone else in our lives. We sift through the evidence of their love, reassure ourselves of their affection and its biological genesis. We can steal and lie and leave and they will love us.”—Megan Mayhew Bergman

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From left, my grandmother, Lillian Marie Fox; my great-grandmother, Rebecca Murdock Fox; and my great aunt, Rebecca Fox, posed for this tintype in about 1901. Ann Longmore-Etheridge Collection.
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This tintype’s sitters were a beautiful turn-of-the-century mother and daughter who appear to be African-American. Courtesy Jack and Beverley Wilgus Collection.
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An American mother sat outside with her children for this ambrotype taken on a clear day in about 1880. Ann Longmore-Etheridge Collection.
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An adoring, late-Victorian mother and delighted child were the subjects of this albumen print on cardboard. Photo Courtesy Price and Zimmer Collection.
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An unknown lady tenderly holds her baby in this circa-1875 carte de visite by Hills & Saunders, Oxford, England. Courtesy James Morley Collection.

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I wish all mothers a happy day of love and peace. For all you have done and will do, you are saluted.

Author: Ann Longmore-Etheridge

Writer, journalist, editor, historian.

4 thoughts on “On This Day for Mothers”

  1. I love the photos of your ancestresses! What a lovely Mother’s Day article! I also love the other antique photos, but I especially love the ones of your family members every time you are able to share them. I hope you are having a lovely Mother’s Day, you are a wonderful mother to your own kids and it was a pleasure to share one of the moments of your parental successes (supporting your son in his goal for an Master’s Degree) this past weekend. He has worked hard, but without yours (and your husband’s) support as loving parents that believe in education and helping your kids to become self-sufficient and kind adults.

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