Father’s Day | Quite Continental

Start ’em Young

22/06/2015 § 2 Comments

I hope everyone had a lovely Father’s Day! I spent it a bit far from my dear old Dad, since he lives out west and I’m in New York, but at least we had the chance to talk on the phone. I’ve been sitting on these photos, of Arizona rancher James A. Shugart and his children, for some time — but perhaps I was actually waiting for Father’s Day. Taken in 1954 by Allan Grant for Life Magazine, my favorite image is probably the one of James Jr., pouring his morning coffee.

These photos are similar to an older post of mine, The Youngest Cowgirl, also featuring Allan Grant’s work for Life.

Drawing Dad

15/06/2012 § 7 Comments

In honor of Father’s Day, a little something I found in the Life Archives…

One morning in 1949, the Kindergarten class of Ms. Doris Morcom at Sedgwick Elementary School in West Hartford, Connecticut, all drew portraits of their dads from memory for an upcoming Fathers’ Night at the school…and here we can compare the portraits with the subjects themselves, in photos taken by Al Fenn. Aside from some startling accuracies, I love how these photos also give us a look at men’s style as the 1940s were giving way to the 1950s.

If you’d like to read the original article, which appeared in the December 26, 1949 issue of Life Magazine, you can find it here.

For fun, the fathers drew Ms. Morcom for their children.

Happy Father’s Day!

All images via the Life Archives.

Happy Father’s Day

19/06/2011 § 5 Comments

Me and Dad in my grandparents’ backyard in LA.

I’ve actually already said Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, since I called him up last night in order to be officially first among my siblings. Win! But even though I’ve already said it to him, I couldn’t let the day pass without letting you know how amazing my father is. He’s always been my biggest fan and supporter, even when it meant I would move clear across the country and could no longer to attend the Sunday dinners he works so hard on every week. My father patiently coached my mediocre soccer skills over the years, made me hold his hand even when I went through that phase when I didn’t want to, tears up at the schmaltziest greeting card (and may even be tearing up right now, in fact), and would do anything within his power for his wife, children and grandchildren. And has worn an earring since the mid-80s. And maybe wears a pinky ring now.

Succinctly, my Dad is awesome. It is my earnest life’s wish that the man I choose to be the father of my children will love them as fiercely as my father loves me. (Earring/pinky ring is optional.)

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Me and Dad at a Macy’s fashion show.
I was the one that was modeling that day, but can we talk about the brown three-piece suit my dad is sporting? His loafers? That amazing camera strap draped over his knee with the little loops for the film cannisters?