Between the Covers

Hardcover. Three volumes. All three albums are oblong folios measuring 15" x 11". String-tied tan leather over stiff paper boards. Contains 364 sepia toned or black and white photographs measuring between 2.5" x 3.5" and 8" x 12.5", with captions. Very good albums with some edgewear and chips with near fine photographs.

An archive of photo albums depicting three years of the Leroy Twin Festival from 1947 to 1949 as well as some earlier photos from the mid-1940s. The album includes ribbons which read “I am a twin,” “honorable mention,” and various prizes. It also features portraits of the twins at the festival including the winners of various categories. The twins are in matching outfits and are seen posed and smiling for the camera as the winners of the title, “Kings and Queens” of the festival. Other photos show candid shots of the festival with crowds including one with the caption, “the only living separated Siamese twin in Illinois.” The album also includes family photos of twins at home which were presumably provided by the families as part of their entry into the festival. One photo shows “the Clark Twins,” a group of three sets of twins, all dressed in basketball uniforms which reads, “these boys got together in February 1947 for the first time in several years, having been in military service. They organized and have won 14 of 15 games played.” The compiler of the album was interested in twins in general and newspaper clippings discussing twin events such as birthdays and marriages can be seen throughout the albums; he’s seen in a photo affixing the images into an album. One clipping discusses the 80th birthday celebration of a set of fraternal twins and another shows two sets of twins that were to be married. The festival itself included entertainment, prizes, and a dinner for the contestants. Additionally, other local festivals are captioned here including American Legion Day and a twin festival in Indiana.

An extensive collection of photographs representing a curious festival and hobby.

Item #413652