The caption called the man a scrofulous beggar. (scrofulous: sordid, corrupt, morally tainted) A descendant objected to the casual degradation and asked the archive to remove it. (degradation: humiliation, debasement, disparagement) The archivist agreed the description was reproachable. (reproachable: blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible) A label repeating an insult could perpetuate it long after the original speaker was gone.
But the sleeve in the picture was distinctive. (distinctive: characteristic, distinguishing, individual) Its embroidered cuff belonged to the school's theatrical wardrobe. The supposedly emaciated stranger was a pupil in costume. (emaciated: gaunt, wasted, skeletal) A second frame showed him laughing beside the photographer. His family had kept the program and his costume sketch.
The new caption described his part and quoted the production date. The old caption went into the accession record with the evidence for its correction. It took more care to repair the record than to despise its anonymous author. (despise: disdain, scorn, loathe)