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Easter and Holy Week in Washington, D.C., 1922. "Group of pages." Plus an usher. 4x5 inch glass negative from the Harris & Ewing Collection. View full size.
I'm certain that this photo was taken in Baltimore, not in Washington.
Behind the heads of the two women at right, we see a painted sign reading "[HO]TEL [...]NERT". A bit of research reveals there was a Hotel Rennert in Baltimore in the narrow block bounded by Saratoga, Liberty, Clay, and Sharp Streets.
A handsome dome topped its southwest corner at the intersection of Clay & Liberty. A 1903 photo of the hotel's west façade -- detail below -- is an exact match for the dome seen above & behind our pages. The dome's balcony and the pointed pediment next to it also match, further confirming the location. Thus, the cameraman was looking west, capturing the Rennert's narrow southern façade.
The women in the photo seem to be standing on a balcony or terrace on the south side of Clay Street between Sharp and Charles. Perhaps they came from St. Paul's Church, which lies one block to the east across Charles St.
I remember this generation of women wore lace collars their whole lives. My grandmothers and great-aunts donned them at formal events until their passing in the 70's. I miss that beautiful fabric.
This photo was taken the week that my father was born, so these girls are of my grandmother's generation. Gives me a different perspective, since I only knew my grandmother as an "older" woman, but she was once a young girl, too.
My vote is for the sweet gal wearing the chain belt and criss cross shoes. Love her smile and her hair. All of these young ladies are lovely.
For her hat, tasseled belt, collar clip, two-tone brogues with low heels, and, of course, those outsized buttons, my vote for Most Stylish goes to the page second from the right.
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