German Immigrants

My German great-grandmother

I found photos of my great grandparents (Mildred’s parents) who came to American from Germany. My mother Elle marvels that back then no one smiled in photographs. People did not smile when posing for paintings because it required too much effort over long periods to do anything but pose at repose. People didn’t smile in old photos because it took a long time for the shutter to stay open and if they smiled their facial expressions would change. The photographer recommended that they not smile but have an at repose expression to keep the mouth area from blurring.

My German great-grandfather

This was a time in American when those who immigrated here were largely looking for a way to a better life and though people retained being German, Irish, Italian, etc they happily and proudly became Americans. They were expected to learn English and adapt to their new place of residence. How different this is from today when many immigrants want to live as if they are still in the country they left behind. If I move to another country it is expected I will learn their language and adapt to their ways, not the other way around.