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), Bess Cheney (probably Elizabeth 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 "Ned" Moyle Cheney (1862-1888) and Herman Cheney (probably Charles Herman Cheney (1866-1961)). Seated in the middle row are: Frank Cheney, Jr. (1860-1957), Maude Cheney (probably Alice Maude Cheney (1862-1942)), May Cheney (probably Mary "May" Bissell Cheney (1866-1890)), Alice Barrett Cheney (1858-1908), Harry Grant Cheney (1852-1918), Mary "Polly" Cheney (1855-1934), George Herbert Cheney (1861-1929) and Florence Cheney (probably Florence Douglas Cheney (1864-1916)). Sitting on the ground in the front row are: Charles Cheney, II (1866-1942), Ellen "Nell" Waitstill Cheney (1862-1938), Harry Richmond Cheney (1869-1947) and Bessie Cheney (probably Catherine Bessie Cheney (1861-1926)).

The photograph is mounted on a very thick piece of cardstock, or photographer's cardboard, that has gilt beveled edges.

Object number2024.1.20

MarkingsPrinted in gold ink on recto: "Stuart / 'Grand Panel' / Hartford."InscribedHandwritten in black ink on verso: "1 / Walter / Cheney / 2 / Robert Cheney / 3 / Harriet / Cheney / 4 / Louis / Cheney / 5 / Bess / Cheney / 6 / Will / Cheney / 7 / Helen / Cheney / 8 / Wells / Cheney / 9 / Emily / Cheney / 10 / Ned / Cheney / 11 / Herman / Cheney / 1 / Frank / Cheney / 2 / Maude / Cheney / 3 / May / Cheney / 4 / Alice / Cheney / 5 / Harry G / Cheney / 6 / Polly / Cheney / 7 / Herbert / Cheney / 8 / Florence / Cheney / 1 / Charles Cheney / 2 / Nell / Cheney / 3 / Harry R / Cheney / 4 / Bessie / Cheney"

Handwritten in blue ink on verso: "Return to Mary Cheney"NotesDate note: Estimate based on life dates and approximate age of subject in photograph. Most debutantes were around the age of eighteen.

Context note: Most of the members of the extensive Cheney family lived in Manchester, Connecticut. This photograph was probably taken there.

This photograph is the same as 1991.54.159.

Many 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).

Florence and May were daughters of Richard Otis Cheney (1841-1912), the son of Ralph Cheney (1806-1897), the fourth Cheney brother.

Harry Grant 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.

Bessie, Maude and Herman were the children of Charles Sylvester Cheney (1836-1907). Charles's father, Halsey Cheney (1799-1853), was a cousin of the brothers who founded the silk mills.

Subject Terms