This beautiful image was in with photos of the Helbling and Springsteen family. Looking at other images we have, I think this may be Mary Theresa (Knipshield) Helbling, with one of her children. Facial features are similar, and note the size of her hands in both pictures- very large. She may even be wearing the same earrings! (Some enhancement in Photoshop may be required for further investigation.)
Daguerreotypes were widely available from the early 1840s to the late 1850s. Ambrotypes first came into use in the US in the early 1850s and lasted until the 1860s, when tintypes became more popular and cost effective.
Mary Theresa Knipshield’s first child was born in 1837, her last in 1862.
Follow along with my posts on the Helbling Family Home and School this week to see another image of Mary that is positively identified. What do you think?
