A search for information on this photograph led to a series of message postings on ancestry.com.uk. In February of 2005 someone named "Laura" discussed a similar photograph which had the same individuals. Through her descriptions, the individuals in this photograph have been identified as (left to right) Pearl Hurtt, Abel Z. Hurtt, May Hurtt and Frank Hurtt. Abel was born in Ohio about 1832. His first marriage ended in divorce although he had three daughters from that union. He later married Mary S. Meeker Lynch Hurtt and had four children: Zedder, May, Pearl and Frank. In the 1870 and 1880 censuses, the family was living in Indiana. In the 1880 census Abel (who was listed as "Edward") is identified as a "vocal teacher." In this census he is 48 so was born about 1832). In the 1880 census, Zedder is 9 (born about 1872), May 7 (born about 1873), Pearl 5 (born about 1875) and Frank 4 (born about 1876). C.C. Packard operated as a photographer in Kalamazoo from 1869-1872, 1878-1889. Unfortunately just his name is on the photograph, not an address which would help the dating of the photograph. Based on these facts found in the census and city directories, and giving the children an approximate age, a date of c.1886 is given to this photograph.