We believe that this is a photo to commemorate the departure of Ion “John” for Canada in 1907. It was a common custom to have a photo taken on the day of departure. Photo’s were a new luxury these peasants were lucky to be able to afford.
- What: This is a black & white photo of two couples taken to commemorate the departure of Ion “John” Cojocari for Canada. The group of four stand in front of what might be a church steeple in the background. We think that the phot is taken in front of a painted backdrop. Each person is wearing some of their best clothes and hair styles showing the fashion-sense of the Suceava region in that era. Note the wide belts that the men of the region wore!
- Where: Village of Liteni, Comuna Moara, Județul Suceava, Romania
- When: Spring of 1907
- Why: It was a common custom to have a photo taken on the day of a departure
How many can you name?
I have labelled people with a number on their chest or above their heads from 1 to 4. If you click on the photo or here you can see a larger version.
Use these buttons to jump to information for each numbered person:
People in the photo
1. Ion “John” Cojocari was born in what was at the time Bucovina in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Județul Suceava, Romania) during 1888 to Timofti & Elisaveta. He would have been around nineteen (19) years of age in this photo. He married Maranda (#2) at some point in the previous year (1906). John was leaving Bucovina to join his older brother Nick who was already living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the last couple of months. John would leave his wife Maranda in Bucovina and welcome her to Canada the following year.
2. Maranda Cojocari nee Tihulca was born in what was at the time Bucovina in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in about 1883, making her about twenty-four (24) years old in this photo. She married her husband John (#1) at some point during the previous year (1906). This was her second marriage. She bid her husband well as he travelled to Canada without her but would join him the following year.
3. Elisaveta “Savetta” Cojocari nee Cosmachuk was probably born in what was at the time Bucovina in the Austro-Hungarian Empire around 1865. She would have been about forty-two (42) years old in this photo. She must have been sad yet hopeful that her oldest son Nick had already moved to Canada and that her next oldest, John, was also emigrating. She would not see them again except perhaps in photos.
More
Elisaveta’s husband Timofti Cojocari (#4)
Elisaveta’s second oldest son Ion “John” Cojocari (#1)
4. Timofti Cojocari was probably born in what was at the time Bucovina in the Austro-Hungarian Empire around 1865 which would make him about forty-seven (47) years old in this photo. If we assume that Timofti and Elisaveta (#3) were married before the birth of their oldest son, Nick in 1886, they would have celebrated their marriage in about 1885. Timofti likely had mixed feelings about four (Nick, John, Costan and Rachela) of his nine children emigrating for Canada. He may have assumed that they would have more opportunities there but they were effectively gone forever.
Evidence
Why 1907?
We can guess the date of this photo to be around 1907. I haven’t found records for John & Maranda crossing the ocean or arriving in Canada yet. Have YOU found them? When I say that I am dating the photo in 1907 it is based on two things.
- First, John’s older brother Nick left for Montreal, Quebec, Canada in February 1907 from Hamburg, Germany and we know he was first to emigrate.
- Secondly, there are a number of documents where John stated later in life that he immigrated to Canada in 1907 and more specifically in one case ‘Spring 1907’.
