A life in material culture
1948: my beginning
We perhaps tend to forget that photographs, mere whisps of chemical-coated paper, are material culture, a phrase often associated with more lumpen objects. Yet photographs are solid objects, are material. That description, of course, applies readily to pre-digital photographs. Now that the majority of photography consists of bytes we have to come up with a new definition of 'material' when applied to images, but that is a discussion for another day. In 1948 a camera shutter opened and closed, a series of chemical reactions occurred and a moment in time was preserved. The sun shone, the grass was green, and the blurry focus was on me, asleep, a couple of months old, unaware of all the fuss. For the next couple of decades, photographs are the principal tangible evidence of my existence.
1948
Me, about 2½ months old, asleep in a pram. Probably taken at Ospringe Place, Faversham, Kent. "RALPH" written on the edge in ballpoint pen by my mother. On the reverse: "Ralph approx 2½ months 1948" "Velox" paper. The stamped numerals "77 63". Velox paper was manufactured by Kodak and was intended for contact printing. The stamp suggests that the photograph was developed by a professional darkroom. 86mm x 57mm
1949: 1
Me, about 7 months old, being held aloft by my mother, then aged about 27. Probably taken at Ospringe Place, Faversham, Kent, by my father. My parents rented a flat in this Grade II 1799 house while my father taught at Faversham Grammar School. On the reverse: "Ralph 7 months" "Velox" paper. 85mm x 60mm
1949: 2
Me, on a lawn. Aged about 7 months. Probably taken at Ospringe Place, Faversham, Kent, by my father. It is not clear what the object is that my mother is holding up to attract my attention. This appears to have been taken on the same occasion as image 1949:1. Reverse: stamped numeral "17". 85mm x 60mm
1949: 3
Me and my mother, Girl Guide Rangers camp, Faversham. My mother was a Girl Guide leader in Faversham, and this particular camp involved a number of visiting Girl Scouts for Hartford, Connecticut, USA. In the background a tent bears the legend "Faversham Division". I am sitting on a wooden camp bed outside the entrance to a large ridge tent, on the guy ropes of which hangs an assortment of washing - perhaps including my nappies. I am investigating a bowl (of food?) and am wearing a sun hat. I am sharing the bed with a heap of blankets. On the reverse: "Syndale 1949. Girl Guide (?) and Ranger Camp. Ralph 11 months." "Velox" paper. Syndale Park is located about 1km west of Faversham, and until 1961 surrounded C17th Syndale House, which burnt down that year. 85mm x 61mm
1949: 4
Me sitting on a wooden box, accompanied by what appears to be a cat on a wooden base, beneath the window of my parents' flat in Ospringe Place. On the reverse: stamp 17. 86mm x 61mm
1949: 6
Me sitting on steps, on the same steps as shown in photograph 1949: 5. "RALPH" written on the edge in ballpoint pen by my mother. On the reverse: "Ridax" paper. Stamp: 17. Gevaert Ridax photographic paper was manufactured in Belgium. The company was bought by Agfa in 1964. 87mm x 61mm
1949: 4
Me playing with my toes, aged 8 months (therefore in March 1949. It must have been mild!). 86 x 60mm. On the reverse: "Ralph 8 months" in my mother's handwriting. "Velox" paper. 85mm x 60mm
1949:5
Me, aged 13 months. On the reverse: "Calshot 1949. Ralph 13 months". "Velox" paper. Stamp "B 1". I am sitting on my mother's knee, and sucking the two middle fingers of my right hand, a habit that continued for several years. Although this photograph was taken at the same location as 1949: 5 it is printed on different paper and has a different stamp. 84mm x 56mm
1949: xxx
Me with my father, in woodland presumably near Faversham. On the reverse stamp 1 140. "Velox" paper. 83mm x 59mm
1949:xxxx
Me and my mother on the same day as 1949: xxx. On the reverse, stamp 1 141. "Velox" paper. Glue and paper residues from album. 83mm x 61mm
1949: x
Me playing with my toes, aged 8 months (therefore in March 1949. It must have been mild!). 86 x 60mm. On the reverse: "Ralph 8 months" in my mother's handwriting. "Velox" paper.
1949:x
Me with my mother's parents. They would have then been about 50 years old. This was probably taken at their home in Hounslow. I think the dog was called "Chrissie". On the reverse, stamp 17. 85mm x 60mm
1949: x
Me, aged about 7 months, being held by my father, then aged about 28. This appears to be the same occasion as 1949: x. On the reverse: "Velox" paper. Stamp C447. 83mm x 59mm
1951: x
Another photograph taken in the countryside. "Andrew" has been written on the border of the print, but the subject is definitely me!. On the reverse: stamp 1 140. 85mm x 59mm
1951: x
My mother and me walking down a lane preumably on the same day as xxxx and xxx. (I am wearing the same clothes). On the reverse: 1 140. "Velox " paper. 84mm x 59mm
1951: x
Me, aged about 3, with my uncle, Rex Jackson, and Chrissie, the dog, probably in the garden of my grandparents' house, Hounslow. On the reverse: stamp 10 24. Glue and paper residues from album. 89mm x 59mm (narrows to 55mm)