What Are the Hats on These Women?

My cousin bought this (ca. 1890, I believe) photo and asked for help identifying the hats on the women. The crossed swords look like those on hats from the Civil War. Are they daughters of vets? Any ideas? These are the only images she sent.

Thank you.

 

Crossed-swords insignia is for cavalry (I think?)

 

Thank you Bakers. I found THIS page of insignias, but the topmost sword on each hat seems to have the...what do you call it?...the grip(?) at the top, rather than at the bottom as on the other insignias.

 

I knew there was something off about them. But perhaps the women put them on the wrong way round by mistake?

 

Both swords have the grip "up."

 

So they do. It is possible they put them on the hats upside down.

 

I was just looking a bit and haven't found any period photos with the hilts on the swords on top. I'm not sure whether theirs were done on purpose this way or not.

 

My first thought was that they were Civil War wives, and the upside down swords mean their men were killed.
Just a thought.

I think the first hat shown on pinterest is similar to what the ladies are wearing.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/552605816751444144/

 

A little too young to be Civil War widows. They would have been children, if that, when the war ended in 1865.

Debora

 

Even daughters of veterans would know how the swords should be, unless, as cluttered said, the veterans had passed.

 

There was a time when no one would wear any insignia they were not entitled to - unless it was worn in jest or as a costume. If worn in those circumstances, they were not worn "correctly". I once had to borrow a necktie when I was the guest of a friend at the Yale Club. It was a Yale tie (I had never attended Yale), so I had to tie it with the short end long - incorrectly - because I was not entitled to wear it.

Now of course, people wear any insignia they care to, including on coat buttons, jewellery, emblazoned arms, etc.

So I vote in the case of this photograph that they are being worn "in memorium", or as a "costume" - thus incorrectly.

 

Thank you all very much for helping! I sent my cousin the link to this discussion, so she can follow it.

 

For some reason, the photograph is cropped so the lettering isn't visible. Would you post a photograph of the full card?

Debora

 

You know... the young lady on the left may be wearing a nurse's uniform.

Debora

 

Here are copies of the complete front and back...

 

I was definitely not expecting Philadelphia!

 

Why?

 

Oh look
Famous

"his business grew during the Civil War. After the war his reputation was known outside of Philadelphia and the military so that distinguished individuals were coming to having their portrait made by the master."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Gutekunst

 

I guess I was expecting some less urban location.

 

One of the most famous photographers of his time. I had thought a small town photograph. Hats could have been studio props. (Perhaps they appear in other of his photographs.)

Debora