Virginia Lee Bazile

Virginia Lee Bazile, the only child of Virginia and Leon Bazile, is the subject of this glass-late photographic portrait taken in 1921. Before their marriage the couple struggled over the question of religion and how any children they produced would be raised: Would it be as a Catholic, Leon's religion, or as a Baptist, Virginia's religion? Leon, a lawyer, presented his future wife with a legalistic document in which she had to agree that their children would be baptized, taught the catechism (though they did not have to attend Catholic schools), and go to Catholic Mass when he attended. However, he promised that their child could attend church with their mother as well, and that "I will not coerce them against their will as to religious matters."