As a follow-up to my first post at Vita Brevis, back in early January, I am happy to report that a likely photograph of my great-grandfather Edward Hughes Glidden (1873-1924) has surfaced – but, initially (and tantalizingly), an accident to the glass plate meant that his face was obscured.
The caption for the photograph reads ”1920. Man in Overcoat walking by Homewood Apartments. Man could be Lt. Glidden, architect and resident of Homewood apts.” on North Charles Street in Baltimore. According to the collection’s online catalogue, the captioner provided the identification for the photograph’s subject, and I wonder if the original notation was for E. H. Glidden, the name he most often used professionally.
With his partner, Clyde Nelson Friz, my great-grandfather built the Homewood Apartments in two stages, between 1910 and 1913. Once construction was completed, the Gliddens – including my grandmother, who was married from the Homewood in 1925 – moved into the building, and it was there that E. H. Glidden died at the age of 51 almost ninety years ago.
I am grateful for the kindness of Susan Graham of Special Collections at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, who undertook to have the tape removed to show its subject’s face, as well as the jagged break in the glass negative that required taping to stabilize the image.
I think I spy something of my great-uncle Ted Glidden’s features in his face. He has a prosperous look, this mystery man, with his bemused sidelong look at the photographer. I would be glad to claim him as my own.
With luck, other photos will turn up with Glidden positively identified; in any case, having other pictures to compare with this one would make the identification more water tight. Stay tuned – I hope there will be more to report!
