This is a portrait of Grace and Adrian Vanderkloot, children of Adrianus and Martha Vanderkloot. In the photograph, Grace appears to be about three years old, and Adrian, commonly referred to by his nickname Ade, appears to be about eight. Ade has on a striped sailor suit, and Grace has a white pinafore over her dress. Adrian was born on June 22, 1889, and Grace was born on August 7, 1894, both in Chicago.

If my estimates of ages are correct, the year of the portrait is 1897. Usually, there was a special occasion for a formal portrait, such as a birthday or anniversary. The clothes appear to be early summer, closer to Adrian’s June 22nd birthday than Grace’s August 7th birthday. In addition, Adrian appears to be positioned more prominently. It was also Adrianus and Martha’s 15th anniversary on December 26, 1887. However, the clothes on the children appear too summery for December. To date, I have not found photos of Adrianus or Martha that could be their 15th anniversary.

Dick Denker, Jeanne Jordan, and Harry Schodrof identified the photograph as Grace and Ade. The brown splotches on the background were on the original photograph.

Dave Jordan took this photograph at Dick Denker's 1988 Vanderkloot Reunion in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from a photograph brought by Robert Vanderkloot of Michigan. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a grandson of James and Grace Filipek. The Picture Reference Number is DJB26.