Freda Minder and Friend 1909, Herkimer, Kansas

"aren't we sweet? Freda Minder and girl friend Rachel(?)"

"I suppose you are

home again. I wanted
to write sooner but u
must excuse me
this time, I'll try
and do better next time.
Come to see me soon.
Love from all
Freda."

At first glance this seemed to be nothing more than a picture postcard of two friends posing and having a nice time- until I realized it was addressed to Emma Zimmerling, the same Emma from this post! Thanks to the address, Home, Kansas, I was able to find Emma and her sisters as well as Freda Minder.
The Zimmerling's were German immigrants and their father, Ernst Zimmerling, was a farmer. Ernst and his wife Carolina had 10 children, including Emma, Bertha, and Anna. Emma married Henry W E Kossow who, like her father, was a German immigrant farmer. They had no children, though Bertha, who never married, lived with them. Emma died in 1967.

Freda Minder was born in Switzerland to parents Adolph and Rosa Minder, who initially came to Home, Kansas before settling in Herkimer (I have a feeling Freda met Emma during their brief time in there). Adolph ran a harness shop in Herkimer until his death in 1906. On May 10th, 1914, Freda married successful businessman John H. Krug. She died in 1945.

If you know who these lovely young ladies may be, let us know in the comments!

Sue Whitman 1900's, Fort Worth, Texas

"Sue Whitman in graduation togs"

Sue is wearing a very flowery hat and a large fern corsage pinned to her front. I can't decide if her expression is grumpy or pensive.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Anne Peoples 1860's, Texas

This tin-type fit this week's Sepia Saturday prompt so well, I couldn't help participate (even if I'm a little late)! Anne Peoples is wearing elaborate earrings, a necklace, and a brooch, as well as a gold ring that has been carefully tinted.

The back of this badly damaged picture is almost as interesting of the front. Someone (Anne herself?) used a scrap bit of notebook paper as a backing and made it very clear the photo belonged to her. I'm not sure what "H.I.A" stands for. Is there anyone who might know?

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Click to see more lovely jewelry!

A Photo Finds a Home! (#1)

One of my old photographs has finally found a home! While researching this Real Picture postcard of two men and a sod house from Bowman County, North Dakota, I discovered a museum located in Bowman that had many interesting artifacts that told the history of the area. I was even excited to find that a reconstruction of a sod house had been built here and was on display near the museum! I contacted the Pioneer Trails Regional Museum to ask them about the picture and they told me they would love to have it.

I'm just happy I can return this photograph to the town it was sent from over a hundred years ago.

Photo 7 of Unknown Family 1940's-50's Texas

This is definitely one of the more peculiar pictures in the collection. Here is grandma, wearing shades, and holding...something. Is it a rock? A loaf of bread? If so, why is she posing with it? What do you think?

If you know who this may be (and what she is holding!), let us know in the comments!

Photo 6 of Unknown Family 1940's-50's Texas

Here's a snap of just the ladies. It looks pretty sunny out- everyone is either squinting or looking away. Everyone, that is, except for the ever-stoic grandmother. They've even put a bonnet on the littlest girl to shade her eyes.

Also, a note: I've decided not to post all twenty-something of the snapshots from the family collection on the blog, mostly because many of them are copies of each other or variations of the same photo. If these do, in fact, happen to be ancestors or family members of yours, than great! Let me know and you'll be able to get all of the snaps. :)

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Photo 1 of Unknown Family 1940's-50's Texas

This is the first snapshot from my family album collection! It's very small- only somewhat bigger than a postage stamp. It shows what looks to me like Grandma posing with her three curly-haired granddaughters in the yard by their house. It's a shame there are no names here. Can you find the curious cat lurking in the background?

If you know who this family is, let us know in the comments!

Adolf, George, and Johannes Baur 1890's-1900's Moulton, Texas

This is a cabinet card of three handsome brothers. The youngest boy, Adolf, who looks about 18 or 19, is on the left leaning against a painted wooden prop. The eldest brother, George (or Papa Baur) is in the middle sitting on the fake stone wall. To the right is the middle child, Johannes, or John. His hand is resting on an interesting looking table where he has set down his hat.

 Both the photographer and the brother's names sound German, which makes sense, since Moulton, Texas was home to many German and Czech families during the mid-1800's and onward.

If you know who these fine young men may be, let us know in the comments!

Clara Watson Alber 1890's Unionville, Missouri

This is a cabinet card of Clara Watson Alber.

 Her outfit is gorgeous! She is wearing a dark dress with a long, elaborate white lace collar and large, puffy sleeves. You can just make out the lovely beading on her sleeves and at the top of her skirt. She is accessorized with rings, a brooch, and a long necklace that is tucked behind a bow on her waist, probably so it wouldn't dangle too much. The hat that is beside her is adorned with ribbons, bows, flowers, and lace- just as much as the hat-maker could pile on! Propped up below the hat is a simple umbrella. I wonder if it was sunny or raining that day?

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Sybil and Tennie Guillory and Reinhardt (?) 1920's

This is the last picture I have of Pearl's family. Pearl Cockfield eventually married Jules Barre around 1920. This is an Artura Real Photo Postcard of Jules's cousins, Sybil and Tennie Guillory, and Sybil's husband, Rheinhardt(?). I'm not sure where the picture was taken, most likely in Louisiana.

"Rheinhardt(?) - & wife- Sybil
Tennie Guillory
Jules's Cousins"

If you know who these folks may be, let us know in the comments! Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve. :)

Unknown Family 1920's-30's

 This lovely little family caught my eye the other day. This is an Azo Real Photo postcard and the stamp box suggest it's from the twenties or thirties. It looks like the man is wearing some sort of fedora and a single-breasted, striped suit. Both he and his wife are wearing glasses. I love the little boots on the children- a boy and a girl maybe? On the back it reads:

"We are just home from Sunday School and the children are tired and hungry and not very anxious to have their picture snapped."

Sadly, there are no locations or names given.

If you know who these folks might be, let us know in the comments!

Unknown Family 1920's Train Station

This snapshot was probably taken in the 1920's judging on the fashion: there appear to be cloche hats on a few of the ladies (some with wider brims than others), short hair, and low-waisted dresses. There are no names on the photograph, but this looks like a family to me, particularly the three children in front.

If you know who these people may be, let us know in the comments!