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Behind them was a backdrop of climbing roses on a trellis. Soft afternoon light suggested the photograph had been taken outdoors, which was unusual for the era when most portraits were done in studios with controlled lighting. At the bottom of the photograph, written in faded brown ink, were the words, “Liy and Rose Davies, June 1895.
” The accompanying note written on modern paper in shaky elderly handwriting, said only, “The Davy’s sisters, 1,895. May they finally rest. I can’t keep this any longer. Someone should know the truth. Dr. Helen Foster, age 52, had been curator of the photographic archives at the Boston Historical Society for 18 years.