{"id":14627,"date":"2013-10-17T06:29:33","date_gmt":"2013-10-17T11:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/?p=14627"},"modified":"2019-11-26T06:38:07","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T11:38:07","slug":"why-so-serious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2013\/10\/17\/why-so-serious\/","title":{"rendered":"Why So Serious?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"stern-looks-det\"<\/a>John Capewell<\/strong> (the man in the middle) has taken photos similar to this before where he’s managed to include himself in a picture of his immediate family, but I’m not sure why everyone is wearing such a sour expression. It’s particularly unusual for John’s wife Ella<\/strong> on the right. She is usually all smiles in these negatives. Here she reminds me of Agnes Moorehead<\/strong> in the beginning of Citizen Kane.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"stern-looks\"<\/a>Here is the entire 7″ x 5″ glass negative. From left to right is John, Jr, John B. Capewell, Ella and Henry O. I don’t know who the girl in the back is. She shows up in a number of these negative, and I assume she was a cousin.<\/p>\n

\"Henry_O\"<\/a>This is Henry, John and Ella’s younger son. He hung onto these glass negatives for years until his passing. They then went to his wife, and then my father, and now I have them.<\/p>\n

\"DSCN1568-neg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

About The Capewell Glass Negative Collection<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Capewell Glass Negative<\/strong> Collection<\/strong><\/a> is a series of about 200 5-inch by 7-inch glass negatives shot early in the 20th Century by John Batt Capewell<\/strong> (1878-1951) of Westville, New Jersey.<\/strong> John passed the negatives down to his son Henry who left them in his wife\u2019s possession upon his passing. Henry\u2019s widow didn\u2019t know what to do with them and didn\u2019t particularly want them so she offered them to my Dad who couldn\u2019t turn down anything. Ultimately I wound up with them and thought I would one day have photographic prints struck from them. That didn\u2019t happen, but I came up with the digital workaround of placing the negatives on a lightbox and rephotographing them with a digital camera. The \u201cprocessing\u201d<\/em> was then done on a computer with image editing software. They came out better than I thought they would so I thought I would show them off to the world on this site. Many of these pictures have not been seen in a century, and I\u2019m proud to be presenting them today.<\/p>\n

At first, I did not know who the people were in the photographs. I have a box of ephemera that accompanied the negatives and snagged a few clues from that as far as the Capewell name. I did some research on the internet and had a few false starts and wrong turns, but the readers of these posts have provided a remarkable amount of research and detail. I\u2019m amazed at what people have turned up sifting through public records and such!<\/p>\n

Last Week: Family in an Overgrown Yard<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

John Capewell (the man in the middle) has taken photos similar to this before where he’s managed to include himself in a picture of his immediate family, but I’m not sure why everyone is wearing such a sour expression. It’s … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1104],"tags":[158,1573,1652,1445,125,1974,2834,1095,1106,122,3676,480,336,121],"class_list":["post-14627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-capewell-glass-negative-collection","tag-analog","tag-antique-photograph","tag-corn","tag-early-20th-century","tag-family","tag-farm","tag-frowns","tag-glass-negative","tag-john-b-capewell","tag-new-jersey","tag-the-capewell-glass-negative-collection","tag-usa","tag-vintage","tag-westville"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1ed1x-3NV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5758,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2011\/12\/29\/capewell-glass-negative-collection-snowy-self-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":0},"title":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection – Snowy Self-Portraits","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"December 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are a couple more negatives from The Capewell Glass Negative Collection which were shot about a 100 years ago. We're continuing with our winter theme, and this time, I've chosen a couple of self-portraits of the photographer, John B Capewell, in the snow. Pictured above is the full 5\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Curious Clutter"","block_context":{"text":"Curious Clutter","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/curious-clutter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/snowy-self-portrait-2-detail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/snowy-self-portrait-2-detail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/snowy-self-portrait-2-detail.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/snowy-self-portrait-2-detail.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10430,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/11\/15\/two-parents-two-boys-and-a-dog\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":1},"title":"Two Parents, Two Boys and a Dog","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"November 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's a picture of Ella, John, Sr, John, Jr and Henry O. Capewell along with the family dog. Notice John B Capewell's hands. He's holding a spool of string in one hand and giving the string a tug with the other. The string is attached to the camera's shutter release\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Capewell Glass Negative Collection"","block_context":{"text":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/the-capewell-glass-negative-collection\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSCN1430-neg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSCN1430-neg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSCN1430-neg.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/DSCN1430-neg.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6340,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/01\/26\/capewell-glass-negative-collection-baby-lodgepole-chair\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":2},"title":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection – Baby in a Lodgepole Chair","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"January 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This one is for Bill Bryan who admired the lodgepole chair in last week's photograph of the Capewell Boys. John B Capewell, the photographer, must have really liked this chair since it is featured in a number of these glass negatives. I'm not sure who the child is. It's not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Capewell Glass Negative Collection"","block_context":{"text":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/the-capewell-glass-negative-collection\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/negative-baby-chair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/negative-baby-chair.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/negative-baby-chair.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8402,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/06\/14\/porch\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":3},"title":"On the Back Porch","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"June 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Seated on the back porch of what I guess is the Capewell residence in Westville, NJ is the photographer John Capewell, John, Jr. and I'm guessing it's Ella Capewell on the right.\u00c2\u00a0 She moved as the photographic plate was being exposed and is a blur of motion. I'm afraid I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Capewell Glass Negative Collection"","block_context":{"text":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/the-capewell-glass-negative-collection\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/On-the-back-porch-detail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/On-the-back-porch-detail.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/On-the-back-porch-detail.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5679,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2011\/12\/22\/capewell-glass-negative-collection-swift-trial-severe-punishment-frosty-snowman\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":4},"title":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection – The Swift Trial and Severe Punishment of Frosty the Snowman","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"December 22, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I continue posting a collection of glass negatives from 100 or so years ago. There's about 200 5\" x 7\" glass negatives, and from what I've been able to determine so far, they were shot by John B. Capewell who lived in Westville, New Jersey. Click HERE to see\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Curious Clutter"","block_context":{"text":"Curious Clutter","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/curious-clutter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Frosty, The Boys & a Dog - detail","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/7033\/6552107105_0dc1d9d303_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/7033\/6552107105_0dc1d9d303_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/live.staticflickr.com\/7033\/6552107105_0dc1d9d303_z.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6670,"url":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/2012\/02\/16\/young-girl-timer-capewell-glass-negative-collection\/","url_meta":{"origin":14627,"position":5},"title":"Young Girl and Old Timer – The Capewell Glass Negative Collection","author":"Joe_Williams","date":"February 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's another of John B. Capewell's glass negatives that he shot about 100 years ago. I don't have any information as to the identity of this pair, but the girl appears in a number of the 200 glass negatives in my possession. Capewell and his family lived on Broadway in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Capewell Glass Negative Collection"","block_context":{"text":"The Capewell Glass Negative Collection","link":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/category\/the-capewell-glass-negative-collection\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/oldtimer-neg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/oldtimer-neg.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/oldtimer-neg.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14627\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willceau.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}