Why Don’t You Come To Fresno

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, artist-signed, used postcard. Postmarked from Fresno, California May 22, 1917. Publisher S. Bergman. Series or number 1060.

Price: $8.00. Besides the usual wear, this card has some soil marks on the little girl’s face.

In keeping with the prior post, here’s another one having to do with the city of Fresno, with the caption reading, “Why don’t you come to Fresno, Cal.” This is one of many that was produced using this same theme, with the city and state in a flag or pennant, though the designs and publishers vary. This one happens to be an artist-signed postcard by Charles Twelvetrees of a painting or drawing of a cute little girl in a pink dotted dress and straw hat with blue bow. A copyright logo appears at the bottom left of the front of the card which is hard to read, but others online have identified the publisher as S. Bergman (indeed the last name is discernible after knowing what to look for.) The copyright here looks like 1917. The card is addressed to: “Miss Henrietta Ellison, Sacramento. Calif. 1314 F st.”

The sender writes (this is good): “Dear Henry. Do you think you could come here – alone if Ma will let you or maby you dont wont[want] to come do you? Dos. yes. no. no yes” (Love the yes no no yes part.) “Dos” is short for Dossie. This is one of many from our “Alice Ellison Collection.”

The artist: Charles H. Twelvetrees was born in New York, about 1872 or 1873. A separate post will be up within the next couple of days on him, as there has been some confusion owing to what seems to be an incorrect middle initial of R, and whether his father was or was not also an artist. There are lots of online records to dig into for clarification, and we’ll get there in just a jiffy.

New Hat

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Annieoakley

Young woman posing with her new hat for the camera. At least this is the story that comes to mind with this photo. The hat itself is a little hard to determine (not being a hat expert) but perhaps it is straw. It does seem to have a band of flowers above the brim, but what is that to the right, a bow? or part of the garden type setting of the background? In any case it’s a lovely photo of a beautiful and happy young woman. We tip our hat to her!

Real Photo Postcard. Divided back. Unused. AZO stamp box, circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $6.00

Emma, Lionel And Marie

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard. Divided back. Unused with writing. AZO stamp box. Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $12.00

Real Photo Postcard showing a wonderful oval studio portrait of Emma, and her two children: toddler Lionel, and baby Marie. Although the back of the photo does not specify that the mother is Emma, I think we can presume that whoever wrote it would put the mom’s name first. I did some searching through the 1910 and 1920 U. S. census records but was not lucky enough to find any possible fit (what a time-consuming endeavor it would be to do a thorough search) but perhaps the photo will be recognized by a family member…..The stamp box is an AZO with four triangles pointing upward, so circa 1904 to 1918, but then with divided back puts it around 1907 – 1918. To pick out the details in these images is always interesting and revealing: In this one I love how Emma is holding baby Marie’s hand; the look on Marie’s alert little face; Lionel’s blonde, blonde hair; his gazing off-to-the-side expression, and chubby cheeks; the lacework on Marie’s cap and sleeves; the contrast between Lionel’s dark hat, dark stockings and high button boots, with his white (or maybe very pale pastel) tunic and knickers; Emma’s stylish dress with the darker underside to the sleeves to match the darker waistline sash; her stand-up neckline trim of dotted lace and ruffle; and her eyeglasses which appear to be not eyeglasses at all, but a monocle with a pince nez, also called nose piece or nose bridge.

Little Dutch Boy

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard, postmarked September 1, 1916 from San Francisco, California. Publisher: The Gibson Art Company, Cincinnati. Series or number 3536.

Price: $7.00

“I’ve lots of room

in my heart ’tis true,

And I’m keeping a

great, big place for you!”

A very well-done postcard from The Gibson Art Company (artist unknown) of a little Dutch boy in traditional costume. The card is addressed to: “Mrs. J. M. Ellison, 1415 Lee St, Sacramento, Cal.” The sender (whose signature is difficult to make out) wrote: “Dear Mother, arrived O.K. this morning and certainly having a nice time. Maybe I won’t have time to write again. Am terribly busy.”

Photo Day

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard, unused. AZO stamp box. Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $10.00

The divided back plus AZO stamp box, with all four triangles pointing up, places this Real Photo Postcard at around 1907 – 1918. We can tell the original photo was of the studio variety from the fake backdrop; it’s a charmer of a youngish mother and father with their infant son or daughter. The child wears a white gown and a very unusual bonnet with sides that stick out. (We wonder how the child felt about that bonnet later on!) The woman wears a short-sleeved corduroy dress with lace applied at the sleeves and in a “V” at the neck, a large-brimmed hat, and gloves. The man wears a pin-striped, three-piece suit and tie. We can see that his shirt collar is of the pointed, turned down variety. A shadow was produced in the photo from the collar that is not laying flat. He wears a hat with a short brim that is perched back on his head, maybe because he was having his photo taken, and we can see the shine on his right shoe and notice the side buttons. Also, if you look closely at this photo you will see the stuffed animal that the child is holding; it looks like a lion, and you’ll notice that the mother is making sure the lion stays in one place for the photo. We might imagine that this photo could have been taken after the child’s christening, or perhaps it was part of the family’s Sunday excursion to the park, after attending church.

Beautiful Mother And Daughter

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Annieoakley

Oval studio photo, with decorative border, mounted on heavy cardboard. Date: circa 1890 – 1900. Size: About 6 x 4″

Price: $15.00

A gorgeous oval studio photo found in Salinas, California of a mother and daughter. I love their beautiful expressions and how the mom is looking off to her right and the baby looking into the camera. At first glance I thought the little girl’s cap was polka dot but if you enlarge the view you will see that it was made from lace, and her ruffled high-neck dress is adorable. The mom’s lace blouse is just as lovely. Mother and daughter both wear pendants, and the mom has a perfume vial attached at the waist; it is of a simple design, perhaps of crystal or glass with a sterling silver top. These scent bottles were one of the many items that could have been worn on a chatelaine (used during the 16th – 19th centuries.) Dictionary.com describes a chatelaine as “a hook-like clasp or chain for suspending keys, trinkets, scissors, a watch, etc. worn at the waist by women.” Check out the photos of chatelaines online, like the ones shown in this Pinterest collection listed below in sources. (Wow, absolutely incredible!) ….We can’t forget to mention the woman’s hat in this photo, a very high affair which jaunts off to one side, and so tall that the top part was cut out of the photo. It might have included feathers, maybe ostrich, though it is a little hard to tell.

Sources: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chatelaine

http://www.pinterest.com/mysweetbebe/chatelaines/

A Family In 1904

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard of two women and two men, names unknown, possibly siblings, posing for the photo. The women are wearing wide-brimmed hats. The photo is on the blurry side. Too bad or we would be better able to see those stylish hats, but it’s a great photo anyway, of some very nice-looking people, and written on the front of the card is the date of July 3, 1904. This is from the pre-divided back era, and the back shows the logo of an eagle with a shield. Incidentally, July 3rd, 1904 was a Sunday.

Real Photo Postcard, non-divided back, not postmarked. Dated July 3, 1904. Publisher or printer unknown. Location unknown.

Price: $4.00

I’ll Stick To You

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard. Publisher: S. Bergman, New York. Copyrighted 1913. No. 6508. Postmarked May 18, 1914 from Pueblo, Colorado.

Price: $5.00

“I’ll stick to you thru thick and thin.”

Cute image of a little boy and girl on an early motorcycle, or perhaps a motorized bicycle, with the above caption. The girl wears a red outfit and hat with black tassels, and is looking back over her shoulder, smiling. The boy is outfitted for the road in his green motorcycle suit, brown boots, cap and gloves.

Sent to, “Mr. J. M. Ellison. Gen. Del. Sacramento, Calif.”

The sender wrote, “Dear Mike. I am sending this card to you to let you no we are all well. We had a letter from Lizzie this morning. Tell Dossie we got her letter and many thanks for the 5.00 spot. Good By. Wiflie[?]” The sender (hard to read his or her signature – Wilfie as a nickname for Wilfred?) added, “Mr. Henson The baptist preacher was out to see me and said for me to give you his best reguard.”

On the postmarked year, the 1 in 1914 didn’t get imprinted, but presuming it’s a 1 rather than 2, due to the copyright date of the card. The publisher logo is also visible underneath the postmark, and shows a capital “B” inside an artist’s palette with the words “Bergman Quality” underneath.

This card is another from our Alice Ellison Collection.

J. Paul Zemmer, WWI

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Annieoakley

This is a Real Photo Postcard that, as you can see, was trimmed down, and must of been in a family photo album. On the back is written, “J. Paul Zemmer. Co K. 1st Reg. N.G.S.T.[?]” These last initials were not found in reference to WWI in online searches but not much time was spent on that. This photo shows a “movie-star handsome” young man, smiling for the camera, in uniform during WWI. Nothing at first was found for this man in this regiment, but if you look closely, you will notice that the button on his collar (on our left) shows TENN. As you might guess, this stands for Tennessee, and this bit of information was key in the i.d. process.

J. Paul Zemmer’s military record shows a short week’s stay in the Leavenworth, Kansas disabled soldier’s home in January of 1924. This record provides a lot of information: enlisted June 22, 1916 at Jackson, Tennessee; Private; Company 115, U.S.F.A. (United States Field Artillery); discharged April 14, 1919 at Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia; reason for discharge: term ended; occupation in January of 1924 was copywriter; married to Pauline S. Zemmer (we find from their marriage record that her maiden name was Pauline A. Simons); their home address in 1924 is given on Benton Blvd in Kansas City, Missouri.

The fact that the regiment listed on the postcard does not match the vet’s home record was a puzzle of short duration: It is confirmed in the first source listed below (an excellent website re Knox County, TN in WWI) that there were some changes in the form of mergers, one company into another, and that accounts for the difference, and that the 1st Tennessee Infantry was converted to the 115th Field Artillery.

In checking other online records we find the 1910 Federal Census taken in Kansas City, MO shows that Joseph Paul Zemmer was born in Kansas about 1896 (actual year of birth 1895 per death records) and that his parents were Samuel (a builder for the railroad) and Jennie Zemmer. Three brothers show on this census: Ralph, Clarence and Harold. Joseph Paul Zemmer, who probably went by Paul, was married to Pauline A. Simons on July 15, 1921 in Jackson County, MO. The marriage record shows they were both living in Kansas City, MO at the time of marriage, therefor that is likely the actual city they were married in. Online Ancestry.com family trees indicate Paul was married a second time ( to Sue Lee Mainord) in about 1927, however the research for this won’t be pursued here to confirm.

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard with AZO stamp box, unused with writing. Date 1916 – 1919.

Price: $25.00

Sources: http://knoxcotn.org/old_site/military/wwi/book/2tninfantry.html (accessed online on 05/03/2014.)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Kansas Ward 9, Jackson, Missouri; Roll: T624_787; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0115; FHL microfilm: 1374800. (Ancestry.com)

Ancestry.com. U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938. Original data: Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1749, 282 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com. Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 . Original data: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.

Harry W. Yeager, Bantry Bay, Ireland

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard showing studio portrait of handsome young man in suit and tie and holding a straw boater. He is seated on the commonly seen type of small photo studio bench; he wears a ring on his right little finger and some type of pin in his suit lapel. Note how the very stylish plaid tie was arranged for the photo. It looks like his hair color must of been either blond or reddish-blond. On the back is written “Harry W. Yeager” and in fact it looks like this could have been his signature. “July 1918” is also recorded in lighter writing, and in dark pen, “Rec.[?] Bantry Bay Ireland 7/ /1918.”

There are multiple possibilities in records for this name in the United States, and nothing is coming up online in the United Kingdom; it’s definitely unexpected to have a name, date and location, but no confirmation for the person. Since the date is 1918, we wonder if this is WWI connected, although if so, then you might think that Harry would have been in uniform.

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. Dated July 1918.