Cheneys at Emily "Milly" Cheney's Coming Out Party
SubjectPortrait of
Emily Cheney
(American, 1864 - 1952)
SubjectPortrait of
Colonel Louis Richmond Cheney
(American, 1859 - 1944)
SubjectPortrait of
Wells Wadsworth Cheney
(American, 1857 - 1938)
SubjectPortrait of
Ellen Waitstill Cheney
(American, 1862 - 1938)
SubjectPortrait of
Robert Cheney
(American, 1859 - 1935)
SubjectPortrait of
Harriet Bowen Cheney Cowles
(American, 1867 - 1938)
SubjectPortrait of
William Coates Cheney
(American, 1864 - 1941)
SubjectPortrait of
Helen Cheney
(American, 1868 - 1937)
SubjectPortrait of
Edward Moyle Cheney
(1862 - 1888)
SubjectPortrait of
Mary Cheney
(American, 1855 - 1934)
SubjectPortrait of
Charles Cheney
(American, 1866 - 1942)
SubjectPortrait of
Elizabeth Cheney
(American, 1865 - 1898)
SubjectPortrait of
Anne Wells Cheney
(American, 1849 - 1944)
SubjectPortrait of
Louise Cheney
(American, 1856 - 1939)
SubjectPortrait of
Electa Lillian Goodman
(American, 1859 - 1930)
SubjectPortrait of
Samuel Martyn Cheney
(American, 1866 - 1884)
SubjectPortrait of
Alice Barrett Cheney, 1858 - 1908
(American, 1858 - 1908)
PhotographerPhotographed by
Charles T. Stuart
(American, 1856 - 1902)
Dateabout 1882
MediumPhotography, black and white photograph on paper and cardboard
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 9 × 13 7/8in. (22.9 × 35.2cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Mrs. George Wells Cheney, Jr.
Object number1991.54.159
DescriptionPosed portrait of three rows of young men and women at the time of Emily "Milly" Cheney's debutante ball or coming out party. They are standing outside in front of the side of a building, which has flowering vines growing on it. There are several rugs on the ground for people in the front row to sit on. Standing in the back row, left to right are: Walter Bowden Cheney (1864-1913), Robert Cheney (1859-1935), Harriet Bowen Cheney (1867-1938), Louis Richmond Cheney (1859-1944), Elizabeth "Bessie" Cheney (1865-1898), William Coates Cheney (1864-1941), Helen Cheney (1868-1937), Wells Wadsworth Cheney (1857-1938), Emily "Milly" Cheney wearing a Worth gown, Edward Moyle Cheney (1862-1888) and probably Samuel Martyn Cheney (1866-1884). Seated in the middle row are: Frank Cheney, Jr. (1860-1957), two women that are possibly Rosalie Chaney Goodman (1848-1925) and Electa Lillian Goodman (1859-1930), Alice Barrett Cheney (1858-1908), Harry Grant Cheney (1852-1918), Mary "Polly" Cheney (1855-1934), George Herbert Cheney (1861-1929) and Louise Cheney (1856-1939). Sitting on the ground in the front row are: Charles Cheney, II (1866-1942), Ellen Waitstill Cheney (1862-1938), Harry Richmond Cheney (1869-1947) and Anne Wells Cheney (1849-1944).
NotesDate note: Estimate based on life dates and approximate age of subject in photograph. Most debutantes were around the age of eighteen. Context note: The photographer was based in Hartford and the cataloging worksheet in the object file says that this is the place of origin. However, it is possible that the party was held in South Manchester, where most of the extensive Cheney family lived.
Emily is wearing a gown designed by the House of Worth, a prestigious fashion house in France.
All of the people pictured are descendants of the nine children of George Cheney (1771-1829) and Electa Woodbridge (1781-1853). Several of George and Electa's eight sons founded the Cheney Brothers silk business.
The debutante, Emily, and her brother Charles Cheney, II were the oldest children of Frank Woodbridge Cheney. Frank was one of the sons of the third brother, Charles Cheney (1803-1874).
Ellen Waistill, Elizabeth, Harriet and Helen were first cousins of Emily. Their father, Knight Dexter Cheney, was another son of Charles Cheney (1803-1874). (Of Charles' six children, only Frank and K. D. lived to adulthood.)
Well(e)s Wadsworth, Louis Richmond and George Herbert Cheney were the sons of George Wells Cheney (1825-1893), the son of the eldest Cheney brother, also named George Wells Cheney (1799-1841).
William Coates was their first cousin. He was the oldest child of John Sherwood Cheney, another son of George Wells Cheney (1799-1841).
Anne Wells, Harry Grant, Louise and Robert were the children of Rush Cheney (1815-1882), the seventh Cheney brother.
Mary, Alice and Frank Cheney, Jr. were the children of Frank Cheney (1817-1904), the youngest brother.
Rosalie Chaney and Electa Lillian Goodman, possibly the first two women seated on the left in the middle row, were the daughters of Electa Woodbridge Cheney Goodman (1821-1903). Electa Cheney was the youngest child of George Cheney and Electa Woodbridge, and their only daughter.
Status
Not on view
about 1885
Colonel Louis Richmond Cheney
George Wells Cheney Sr.
1904 - 1910