Object ID
F2014.152
Object Name
Photograph
Date Created
1941
Medium
photographic print
Object Description
Black and white wedding portrait. Bride stands center facing the camera and holding a large bouquet of flowers and greenery in front of her waist, tied with a large silk bow at image left. Her gown has large puffed sleeves with a lace bodice and tulle skirt. The outside layer of the skirt opens in an upside down V-shape descending from the waist in front, and its edges are lined with lace. Bride also wears a bonnet with a long tulle veil. The veil flows to her side (image right) and is arranged in front of her, spread over several feet of the floor in foreground. Her hair is pinned up under the bonnet, but rows of curls are visible on each side of her part, which is slightly to the image right of her head. Above her hair but under the bonnet brim is a cluster of small flowers. She is wearing large round pearl earrings and a pearl necklace. She has a soft oval face, very dark hair and dark lipstick, and she is smiling slightly. Her eyes are large and dark.

The groom stands to the right, slightly behind her. He is wearing a black tuxedo with a gray lapel. He has a white pocket square and a single flower corsage on his left lapel (image right). Under the jacket he wears a crsip white shirt and white bowtie. On the ring finger of his left hand (image right) is a very large ring. Groom is angled toward image left but looks at the camera. He has short dark hair combed back away from his face. He has thick arched eyebrows, dark eyes, a large nose, and a dark mustache. His expression is serious.

The wall behind the couple is light colored with a dark chair rail at the height of their waists. There are four dark curtains/banners hung vertically on the wall, spaced equally apart. On each side of the couple a large indoor plant. These are comprised of large bunches of tall palm branches. An ornate vase is visible at the base of the plant at image right. Also at image right, part of a table or desk is visible. The floor is very dark.

On the cardboard frame, right outside the image, is a gray and tan diagonally striped border 1/8 of an inch wide. Three 7/16 in. diagonal stripes run from the top left to bottom right corner, each spaced an inch and a half apart.

At bottom right under the image is written "Portrait by Aristo Studio - Chicago" in type.
Origin
This photograph of Peter Matzoros and Margaret (Zees) Matzoros on their wedding day, Sunday, April 27th, was found in the collection. Little is known about the donation. This photograph, a larger one of the same pose (F2014.150), and a portrait of the bride by herself (F2014.151) were all previously stored in a box along with two containers of photographic slides and negatives, two family albums (F2014.156 &.158), and one album containing newspaper clippings and correspondence from the Matzoros' life together (F2014.157).

The bride's gown and bonnet, as well as her hairstyle, are in a style popular during the late 1930s and early 1940s. It is described in the wedding announcement as "marquesete" with imported lace.

At the time of their wedding, Peter and Margaret were considered "prominent Greek Chicagoans." Peter Mantzoros was Editor of the Chicago PNYX, a monthly Greek American newspaper. Less is known about Margaret (Maragarita) Zees. She had two brothers, Chris and James Zees, who owned Zees Coffee Co.

The couple had an engagment party at the bride's home on October 5, 1940, with sixty close relatives and friends gathered. Their wedding was officiated by Rev. Pantazopoulos at the St. Demetrios Church in Chicago.

They went on a honeymoon to Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, and Indiana. This appears to have been a business trip for Peter as well. He wrote about the trip over the course of three issues in his magazine.
Rights and Reproduction
The content on this site is made available for research and education purposes only. The use of these materials may be restricted by law or the donor.

Any other use, such as exhibition, publication, or commercial use, is not allowed except by written permission in accordance with the NHM Image Rights and Reproduction Policy.

For questions on image rights and reproduction, please contact nhmcollections@hellenicmuseum.org
Citation
Photograph, 1941, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/4703. Accessed 04/19/24.