Babyface Barrow — 1926
17-year-old Clyde Barrow, 1926
by Paula Bosse
These photos of a 17-year-old Clyde Barrow belonged to one of Clyde’s first girlfriends, Eleanor Williams, a student at Forest Avenue High School in 1926. For all anyone knew, Clyde was just an ordinary kid who liked to dress up and show off his car. (Or “a” car — he was arrested for stealing his first car the same the year this photo was taken — 1926 — so I’m not sure whose car this actually is….)
Eleanor and Clyde (whose unsubtle attempt to appear taller by standing on … something … is unconvincing and a little ridiculous).
Such a babyface. In a few short years, his name and face would be splashed across the country’s newspapers as Bonnie and Clyde’s violent killing spree made him and Bonnie Parker outlaw celebrities.
He looks a lot younger than 17 here.
The reverse of both this original photo and the top one — the car photos — have a hand-written “1926” on them as well as the film processing stamp “Finished by The National Studio, 1205 1/2 Elm St., Dallas, Texas.”
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Sources & Notes
Photographs from University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply. Photos loaned to UTSA by Henry J. Williams, nephew of Eleanor B. Williams. All photos have “1926” on the back.
The Handbook of Texas entry for Clyde Barrow (1909-1934) is here.
Additional photos of Eleanor Williams can be seen on the Bonnie and Clyde “Texas Hideout” site here.
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Copyright © 2014 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
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