Reading Time: 3 min. 30 sec.
Some discoveries happen when you least expect them.
In the summer of 2023, I found a snapshot taken in 1986 of an old framed crayon portrait hanging on the wall of the old Beaman Homeplace. Someone had taken a picture standing in front of it. You could see the person's reflection and the flash of their camera in the glass. That grainy snapshot was the only photo I had of my great-great-grandpa, John A. Beaman, and Malinda Cranford together. I was grateful to have it, but a question lingered in my mind: Where was the original portrait?
In the 1990s, a fire broke out in the kitchen of the old Beaman Homeplace, spreading quickly and consuming the living room and the upstairs. Only two bedrooms and another small room remained. Had the portrait survived? Or was it lost forever?
Then, on December 19, 2024, I received a surprise that I will never forget. My uncle was cleaning out his attic when he came across something hidden in a cabinet. As soon as he described it to me, I knew—this was it. It was the original crayon portrait. When he brought it to me, I could hardly believe it!
For months, I had thought it was gone forever, lost to the fire. But there it was, waiting all this time to be found. My uncle told me that another genealogist in our family had given it to him a few years ago at a Shiloh reunion. And now, after all these years, it was finally being passed down to me.
 |
| The crayon portrait at long last! |
So, you may be wondering- what exactly is crayon enlargement? Well, I am here to tell you all about it! Crayon enlargements, also called crayon portraits or solar enlargements, are photographs that have been enhanced with crayon, chalk, charcoal, pastel, or graphite. Popular from the 1860s through the 1920s, they were created by enlarging a smaller photograph onto treated paper using a solar enlarger. This camera projected the image from a photo negative using sunlight. An angled mirror was used to follow the sun’s movement to direct light through the lens (Library of Congress).
However, this process had its flaws. The long exposure time often resulted in images that were too light, blurry, or out of focus, and any imperfections in the negative were magnified. To correct these issues, artists retouched each portrait by hand, using charcoal, crayon, or other mediums. Some were subtly enhanced, while others were so heavily overpainted that they resembled drawings more than photographs.
It’s fascinating to think about how much effort went into creating these portraits so families could display larger images of their loved ones. And now, with just a click of a button, we can capture a photo instantly. Photography has come a long way since those early days.
Understanding how these portraits were made makes me appreciate the one of John and Malinda even more. It's more than just an image; it's a part of their story and my story. Let's take a closer look at their portrait!
John’s hair is parted neatly to the side, and he has a full beard and mustache. But something doesn’t feel quite right—the strands of his hair stand out, and his mouth appears as a dark, harsh line as if he has no lips. His eyebrows are entirely missing. Were they too faint to capture when the photo was enlarged?
Malinda’s long hair is parted down the middle. Her nose looks soft, almost undefined, and her right eye sits higher than her left. When I look at these details closely, I wonder: How much of what I’m seeing is truly how they looked, and how much has been altered? Some parts of their likeness may not be entirely accurate, but that doesn't change anything.
How old is the portrait? When examining old photographs, clothing often gives us clues about the time period. John is wearing a jacket, plain shirt, and a Western tie with its strings turned up. Malinda's short-sleeved capelet crosses over her dress, though it's hard to tell if her dress has a crisscross collar or if it's part of the capelet. Their clothing reflects their humble farm life—nothing fancy, just simplicity. One of my favorite parts of the portrait is the frame. It's made of plaster, hand-carved with a swirling design of leaves, flowers, and dots, all painted in a rich gold. It looks so elegant!
 |
| A closeup of the frame. Check out those details! |
Based on these details, I believe this portrait was created sometime in the 1870s or 1880s. Since Malinda died in 1888, it was almost certainly made before then—but exactly when? That’s a mystery that may never be solved.
When I started my genealogy journey, I wondered if I would ever find a photograph of John. I never imagined in four years, I would not only find one but that it would be the very portrait that once hung in the old Beaman Homeplace. And to think, it was sitting in an attic all along, forgotten and collecting dust. There are real treasures in the attic. You may never know what you might find!
Do you have a crayon portrait of one of your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
