Photo of the Day – February 4, 2015

The caption written on this photo leaves little question as to who it is. My grandfather Charles Lowry was a very well photographed infant. When I think of all the photos of my son that I’ve taken with my iPhone and then just forgotten, it’s quite special to find all of these printed images that my great grandmother cared to take and develop. This one is quite out of focus, but I’ll give my great grandmother a pass since taking photographs of infants outdoors in 1925 wasn’t easy.

Source:

Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), photograph, taken at unknown location in 1925; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Infant in light colored outfit sitting in the grass. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – February 3, 2015

This cute little kid crawling in the grass is probably my grandfather Charles Lowry, or Junior as he was called at the time. Based on his age and how bundled up he appears here, I’m guessing this photo was taken in the spring of 1925. Grandpa was born in November 1924, so perhaps this was the first time he was outside to play? How fun it must of been for his parents to be able to photograph that experience!?

Source:
Probably Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), photograph, taken at unknown location in mid 1920s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Infant in light colored outfit, wearing winter cap, crawling in the grass. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – February 1, 2015

Wearing what appears to be a tan rain coat or over coat, my grandfather Chuck Lowry looks to be quite happy in this photo. Based on similar photos in this series, this was taken when he was still in high school, around 1941.

Source:
Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), photograph, taken at unknown location in early 1940s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Young man wearing overcoat sitting on steps. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 31, 2015

Source:
Helen Lowry Murphy (1906-1991), photograph, taken at unknown location in early 1920s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Posed portrait of a young woman in a dark top and short hair. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 30, 2015

This little one is most likely a Lowry child, but exactly who is not clear. It certainly resembles my grandfather at this age, but I can’t be certain. Regardless, it looks like a fun afternoon is planned digging and carrying dirt around.

Source:
Unknown Lowry child, photograph, taken at unknown location in early 1920s; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Young child in light colored shirt, pants and cap carrying a bucket and shovel. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 29, 2015

My sister Caroline had to be only a few weeks old when this photo was taken in June 1983. I believe this was my Witt grandparents’ living room at 330 Fairgreen Avenue in Youngstown. My mom is holding me while my cousin Jacob Sofranko holds Caroline. John Sofranko is to the left of my mom and their mother (and my godmother) Julie Sofranko is on the right.
Source:
John Sofranko, Joseph Lowry, Rebecca Witt Lowry, Jacob Sofranko, Caroline Lowry, Julie Sofranko, photograph, taken on Fairgreen Avenue, in about 1983; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Rebecca Lowry, [address for private use], Poland, Ohio. Two mothers surrounded by four children. Provenance is Rebecca Lowry to Joseph Lowry.

Photo of the Day – January 28, 2015

The family consensus is that we have no idea where this photo was taken. I do think it was taken sometime around 1991 as my sister Colleen was born in 1988 and appears to be about 3 years old. Wearing her watermelon shirt, she’s pretty content hanging out with my dad.
Source:
Patrick Lowry and daughter Colleen Lowry, photograph, taken at unknown location, in about 1991; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Patrick Lowry, [address for private use], Poland, Ohio. Daughter sitting on father’s lap at table. Provenance is Patrick Lowry to Joseph Lowry.

Photo of the Day – January 27, 2015

The room was just a bit dark for this photo to properly expose, but it’s a great candid, probably taken a few seconds prior to a serious attempt at a family photo. I look at this image and think, “This was when the Lowry family was still so small!” But then I realize there are six people in this photo and that’s really a large family by today’s standards. In this image are my grandparents Jean and Chuck Lowry, and their oldest four children, my godfather Chuck Lowry, my dad Pat Lowry, my aunt Mary McCaffrey and my aunt Chris Vath. My aunt Mary is the peanut in this photo and she was born in January 1955, so I place this photo sometime that summer.

Source:
Charles Lowry (date of birth withheld), Patrick Lowry (date of birth withheld), Mary Lowry McCaffrey (date of birth withheld), Jean Groucutt Lowry (1924-1987), Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), Christine Lowry Vath (date of birth withheld), photograph, taken in Youngstown, Ohio in 1955; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Family of six, including parents, two boys and two girls sitting on couch. Provenance is Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 26, 2015

My grandparents Chuck and Jean Lowry loved to go to on vacation, and often travelled with their friends Bob and Marion McDermott. This particular vacation to sunny Miami looks just splendid, with gram in her shades drinking a beer and the McDermotts enjoying a refreshing Scotch and soda. My grandfather is the man behind the camera, blowing through 35mm film like a leaf in the wind. Gram looks up, wondering where he is going as he gets up from his chair. Bob is having a serious moment, still complaining about the waiter at dinner last night who didn’t bring the meals on time. Marion is sharing a laugh with my gram, maybe about the waiter or maybe about Bob still being frustrated with the waiter. *Click.* Photo taken.
Or at least that’s how I imagine this scene occured. I know these four had a great time whereever they went, so I have no problem inventing fun for them. They would have done it anyway.

Source:
Jean Groucutt Lowry (1924-1987), Robert McDermott, Marion McDermott, photograph, taken in Miami, Florida around 1966; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Three individuals sitting on lounge chairs presumably near a pool. Provenance is Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.

Photo of the Day – January 24, 2015

This is a fun photo of my grandfather as an infant sitting on a blanket looking curiously at the kitten next to him. As he was born in November 1924, I believe this photo was taken in late winter/early spring 1925 based on the snowsuit-like outfit he’s wearing. If he was any older, he could double as Ralphie’s brother in ‘A Christmas Story.’

Source:
Charles James Lowry (1924-2007), photograph, taken at unknown location in 1925; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2013 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Mary McCaffrey, [address for private use], Canton, Ohio. Infant sitting on blanket with dark colored cat. Provenance is Mary Pepperney Lowry to Charles Lowry to Mary McCaffrey.