Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Wistful Wednesday: Generations


This is a photograph that was taken 58 years ago, in the spring of 1952.  From left to right, me and my Mom, my Grandpa, and my Great Grandma Hatwig or Hattie.. A four generation photo.


This is the oldest photo that my Mother has, it may have been taken in Germany.  The children are the twin sisters Hatwig and Elsie photographed with their Mother who would be my Great Great Grandmother. From my work with old photos, this is a remarkable image from 1880, 1881 or 1882.  Part photograph and part drawing.  The twins were born in 1878 and they came to the United States to Missouri when they were four years old in 1882.  This photo may have been taken in Germany before they left for the United States.  Can you imagine another Grandma in Germany having only this photo to remember her grandchildren by?  How sad she must have been to see them get on a ship.  Times were different then, I guess that if your children had no hopes of owning their own land you would want them to move and go wherever they could make the lives of your Grandchildren better.

I fixed this photo for my Mother, it had many dark spots that distracted from it's beauty.   I know nothing of this Great Great Grandma..not even her first name.  We did not know that this photograph existed until a few years ago, my Mothers sister had it, it was among the things that was cleared out from my Grandparents home after they died.   She kindly shared it before she died.  I suppose that one of her children have this photo now..I wonder do they know who it is..will they appreciate it..or will it end up in a box in an antique shop someplace? Thank goodness I was able to copy this photo before my Mother returned it to her sister:)

13 comments:

  1. Oh! Yes! What an amazing photo! I can't imagine having your children leave to never see them again.

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

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  2. When I first looked at the trio, I wondered if it were a painting. What a terrific find, and I know what you mean, it would be nice to know their names if there's still anybody alive who remembers...

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  3. What an interesting photo, and images. It almost looks like cut and paste, but I know it's not.

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  4. Really love the pictures
    The first one...your Mom...looks like my MIL from MO. Same hair and glasses...guess it was the look then.
    love the twins..such a neat picture.

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  5. Oh what a legacy your compiling for the younger generations in your family. I can't believe the second one. It's a real treasure.

    God bless ya and have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

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  6. I KNOW HOW HAPPY YOU ARE TO HAVE THE PHOTO'S.
    IT MADE MY DAY EVERY TIME I GET AN OLD ONE FROM A FAMILY MEMPER.
    PATSY

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  7. I have to say you did a great job fixing the photo.

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  8. Amazing old photo... people looked so serious when being photographed in those days.

    I love that first one too: what a treasure to have four generations in one shot!

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  9. How lucky you are to have such an old family picture. Sometimes I feel like my family started with my parents.

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  10. I love that first photo, kind of reminds me of our old family photos. Funny how everyone did rather resemble each other in those photos from those days.

    Jen

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  11. It's extremely important to do what you do and dig up the information on your family.My Dad was in his 90's before I smartened up and started asking questions. By then it was too late as his memory was pretty foggy. Someday some one will really value what you've found and left as a record.

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  12. I've one photograph that is similar -- can't tell if its a drawing or a photo.

    I'll have to send it to you sometime. We have no idea who she is.

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Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments! If you have a question I will try to answer it here. I no longer accept anonymous comments. All comments will be approved before posting...due to spammers...may the fleas of a thousand camels infest every hair on his body. Connie