In Dec 2018, I visited cousin Tim Jordan. During that visit he showed me a large number of plastic storage containers containing numerous items of our grandparents, Herbert and Elizabeth Jordan. As we shuffled through, I picked up this portrait photo of an older woman holding a baby. I thought since it was in Herbert Arthur Jordan’s collection of items, that the baby was probably him. The woman though was not his young mother, Margaret Jordan, only 20 at the time of the birth. My thought though was the older woman might be his grandmother Elizabeth Priscilla Jordan or his g-grandmother Elizabeth Steward. Given my interest,Tim gave the photo to me. Sometime after returning home, I spent many hours trying to decipher it.

Herbert Arthur Jordan was born in Chicago on July 24, 1898. At the time he was named Herbert O. Jordan. His father was James Oscar Jordan and Herbert’s middle initial was probably Oscar like his father.

By 1898, both of Margaret’s parents were deceased. That left either Herbert’s Grandmother Elizabeth Priscilla Jordan, age 50, or G-Grandmother Elizabeth Holloway Steward, about age 68-73. They both lived in Chicago and in the same neighborhood as James Oscar and Margaret Jordan. To me, the woman in the photo appears to me to be older than 50, and could easily be in the 68-73 age range. And while I can’t prove it as we have no definitive photos of either, I believe it is highly likely the woman is Elizabeth Steward nee Holloway, Herbert’s g-grandmother.

Unfortunately, there is no writing on the back of the photo. But the photographer J.K. Stevens and location the McVickers Theatre, Chicago was embossed on the frame. The McVickers Theatre Building was located on Madison between State and Dearborn. A web photo indicates it had many entrances. A search of Chicago Photographers indicates J.K. Stevens was at Room 55, McVickers Theatre building from 1886-1900. This time range fits with Herbert’s birth. Herbert’s sister, Frances Florence Jordan was born Jul 3, 1900 and also fits within this time range. So while it could be one or the other, I reasoned that since this portrait photo was within Herbert Jordan’s memorabilia it is more likely him than sister Florence. At the time of the photo, they all lived at 1453 Fillmore, Chicago, about 3 miles away from the McVickers Theater.

The outfit on the young child is quite elaborate and appears to be a single piece, though it is possible the lower part is a white blanket. It is possible that the occasion might have been a Christening day. The back of the photo has a series of numbers which appear to be the costs for 8 prints. Though it is also possible it was the 1st grandchild and great-grandchild in Chicago and a portrait was in order. In either case, copies were needed to send to the relatives back home in Poplar and in Chicago.

If you would like to add information about this photo, please contact Dave Jordan, a Grandson of Herbert Arthur Jordan. The Picture Reference Number is: 18980925a1.