Monday, January 28, 2013

Connecting the Dots


Sometimes, a box full of unidentified photographs, handed over to the keeper of the family history archives after a relative’s passing, can seem a hopeless task to address. Whose faces are those? Who is left to tell us the names?

I know that feeling all too well, having taken one long look at the jumbled stacks of old pictures from family members one-generation-removed. That was the case for me in receiving the boxes of photos from Leona Bean Grant after her passing in 1977—and then again when her brother William Bean died in 1982.

It’s taken a couple of go-rounds—or maybe more—before I could find any clues to help guide me through the maze of unidentified faces. And, truth be told, I’ve taken quite a few years’ hiatus from the task, as you can see.

Bit by bit, though, I notice patterns, like similar faces from one picture surfacing in another photograph. And, thankfully, there were notes written—some by Leona’s mother, Ella Shields Bean, and some by Leona, herself.

California circa 1910
Remember this photograph of a young Leona, sitting next to an unidentified young woman, with her brother Sam and another young friend, in front of their home in Alameda, California?

I found another picture with what looks like the same mystery man.

Thankfully, that second photo included an inscription, written most likely by Leona’s mother, providing additional information.

Say Leona do you remember this picture of you + Ray Burke I think it was taken about 1909 or 1910—Don’t loose this picture + that the only one I have of you in your youth—I think it’s lovely.

California friends
So could that mean that the mystery person in the first photo was also Ray Burke? He seemed to have that same playful personality. And since the foursome included Leona and her brother, could that mean that the missing identity belongs to the sister of this Ray Burke?

While that only provides a bit of a hint, it gives me a name to keep an eye out for, should any more pictures show up with that face. Though I don’t yet know who Ray Burke is, I can take a glance at the Alameda census records for 1910 and see if there is anyone with that name and age listed near the “Beanery” on Santa Clara Avenue. Or, who knows…maybe Ray Burke will even turn out to be family, himself.

12 comments:

  1. Oh if only there were more notes written on the back of the photos! I have a box of photos as well and feel such a responsibility as the "keeper" of those treasures to identify the individuals but it a difficult and often discouraging task. I have a sneaky suspicion that my Grandma, the previous "keeper" knew who most if not many of them were, but never took the time to write any of it down. I distinctly remember looking through the box at her house when I was little and her telling me a few stories, but I no longer remember the particulars. Your continued determination is inspiring and makes me want to pull my photos out and give it another try.

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    1. By all means, Michelle, pull those old photographs out and try once again. You are right, though: it takes lots of determination, and you will be in for much frustration, as I'm sure you've seen me experience here.

      Even so, it has been nice to make some progress--even if it is microscopic!

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  2. I'm looking forward to the next dot!

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    1. Oh, Wendy, believe me...I am, too...at least, I'm hoping there will be a next dot!

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    1. Far Side, if I had never seen how it can be done on your blog, I'd never have attempted it! You have the patience of a saint with the photos you have reunited with family members!

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  4. Genealogy reminds me of Johhny Cash "I got it one piece at a time..."

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    1. Now that you mention it, Charlie, that's about it! Never would have thought of Johnny Cash when thinking about genealogy...

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  5. Hang in there... those hints turn into identification. You will then have a chance to label the images for the next generation of family historians. I'm going through this process myself and I know what one can go through. Good Luck.

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    1. That labeling task does seem like a tedious task. No wonder all these relatives just kept the info in their own heads. Who would have guessed that what once was new photos would someday be passed down to descendants as family keepsakes?!

      At least we have the benefit of perspective, now...

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  6. I am now the keeper of boxes of photos and am slowly but surely trying to connect the dots. The main problem I have is that I have 2-3 families that were all thrown in together so just sorting them into families has been quite a chore. A few times I've found someone's obituary with a picture included and then I find the photo - and the identity - in my stash. One step at a time......

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    1. Debi, I can totally relate. My box of mystery photos also was from two families--Bill's and Leona's. On top of that, when you add the in-laws' relatives, it becomes quite the mess. So I feel for you!

      You are exactly right when you say, "One step at a time." That's the only way to do it. I hate to think how many photos I've already thrown away from these two families' stashes. They could have been the very clues I needed to unlock some mysteries. Live and learn.

      I hope you are encouraged to keep at it, and not see it as a race with time. Even when all those relatives are gone (or even no longer able to remember), clues will pop out and catch your eye at unexpected moments, and you'll be able to make some connections.

      Sharing them on your blog may help, too, if you find distant cousins who may have those very same people in unidentified photographs of their own.

      Best wishes as you plow through your mystery photo box!

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