Lost & Found: A 1940s Autograph Album

In 2017, I posted the contents of two autograph albums -- one from the 1890s, belonging to a girl named Millie; the other, from the 1880s, the former possession of my great-great-grandfather, Frank.

Recently, I came across another...

This album belonged to a girl named Carol Taylor. She may have attended Gaenslen School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1945, she was admitted to a hospital -- it's a bit unclear which one... some signatures refer to it as St. Mary's Hospital in Green Bay, others St. Mary's in Milwaukee, still others reference Milwaukee Children's Hospital. Maybe she was at more than one?! At any rate, she seems to have been hospitalized for at least a week, and had a teacher/tutor during that time. There are nurses' signatures in her book that are dated April and May of 1945.

After leaving the hospital, Carol seems to have forgotten about her autograph book for 2 years, as the next set of dated signatures are from June, 1947.

Over all the pages, Carol was called "cute," "Butterball," a "dope", "cracked," and a "drip."

She had pals named Joan, Shirley, Donna, Kathleen, "Sudzie," Florence and Marlene.

Some signers wrote in rhyme. Some used phonetic acronyms (ie Sudzie's "AINVUUQT.") Some made dumb jokes. Others left their contact information.

Below are pictures of most of the entries from this autograph album. The ones that were faded and hard to read, I've typed out.

* * *

Dear Carol - 

Have a grand vacation.

Sincerely, Ann Geise

* * *

^^  April 25, 45 ^^

Remember the girl in the city

Remember the girl in the town

Remember the girl who spoiled your book,

By writing upside down.

Remember me till table legs roll their stockings.

Miss Seibenaler

St. Mary's Hospital

Milwaukie

* * *

Dear Carol,

I shall always remember the nice little girl in 307 with the blond pigtails. I hope that you will have fun when you go home, and when you go fishing think of me.

Yours, 
Miss Ruth Landshron

* * *

* * *

When you get married and your husband gets cross 
Take the rolling pin and say I'm boss.

Your Pal Kathleen

* * *

* * *

May 3, 1945

Dear Carol,

Don't forget all the many giggles we had -- Hope you'll always remember the days you spent at Children's Hospital. We'll all miss you.

Miss Mary Walsh

* * *

* * *

Dear Carol,

My very best wishes for your future success! I'll see you on the "10" streetcar some Saturday.

Mrs. Eileen Wiegert

* * *

* * *

Carol Taylor --
Cutest little niece
I ever saw!
Best of luck
Barbara Jacobs

* * *

And so it ends. I've tried Googling Carol Taylor of Wisconsin, and I've found a few possible matches, but none seem to be the one. Granted, I'm taking on a lot on assumptions. For instance, I don't know how old Carol was in 1945... she's referred to as a "little girl" with pigtails, which makes me think she was younger than 14. Her friends and peers write in cursive, and while they're not terribly eloquent, I'm guessing they're at least 8, but probably more in the 10-11 range.

I did find a Carol Taylor Thwaites, whose 2016 obituary seemed to have all the key details... born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1936... spent her later years in Tillamook, Oregon (explaining how her autograph album came to be in an Oregon antique shop), and it even mentions that she had a hospital stay at age 12! Buuuut age 12, for her, would have been in 1948. So either they got the year wrong, or this isn't the right person.

Carol Taylor, wherever you are, I hope the past 70-odd years have been good to you. Thanks for not throwing away your album!

Fantastic Names From The Past: 1924-1926 Edition

A while back, I was perusing a list of recently-published novels when I noticed a strange trend. It seemed that many of the books' main characters had names that were kind of... quirky. From "Cedar McLeod" to  "Eyelet Elsworth" to "Petunia Beanly," colorful names seemed to be all over modern literature. So, naturally, I blogged about the phenomenon. I also came up with a few reasons why writers might bestow such monikers upon their characters.

But unusual names aren't limited to fictional characters. They're all around us. Within the past month, I've actually met people named Dy'Nastie (dynasty), Destaney (destiny), and Phaith (faith). And before you start fretting about "parents nowadays," you should know... I recently came across a whole bunch of strange, awesome, quirky names, in a rather unlikely place...

The 1920s.

Yes, those 1920's. That decade of jazz, prohibition, and what should have been an acute sense of impending doom.

These names were found in three yearbooks, from 1924, 1925, and 1926. If my math's correct, that means these graduates were born in the Edwardian era, so I guess we can blame (praise?) their parents, who would have been Victorians.

To be fair, some Victorian parents kept to traditional names. These yearbooks feature plenty of Johns and Marys, Williams and Margarets... and, to my surprise, a whole lotta Dorothys.

But the rest... the unusual names? Well. Below are actual names of actual high school students who graduated between 1924 and 1926 in Portland, Oregon.

Enjoy.


Actual Names Of Real High School Graduates From 1924-1926

Talmadge Rose

Melba Stebbins

Jack Winklebleck

Carolyn Octolony Jones

Millard Grimm

Oral Read

Irma Lindercrantz

Lela Van Groos

Florence Riffle

Margaret Micklewait

Gus Utter

Artiola Tethrow

Lloyd Goodwill

Priscilla Villa

Myrtle Skooge

Lucille M. Umbdenstock

Leif Sandberg

Retha Brill

Sterling McAlpine

Veola Hoselton

Guertin Carroll

Ethel Sylvester

Hugo Klingbeil

Autumn Sprague

Faun Peret

Jack King

Jewel Hall

Mildred E. Weed

Wayfe Hockett

Zella Halley

Concordia George

Herbert Eisenschmidt

Boatner Chamberlain

Marion Merservey

and introducing the heroine of my next novel:

Adelaide Embody!!!

Rest in peace, fantastically-named folks....

A 1950s Child's Scrapbook

I picked up this scrapbook (or, "Scrap Book") at an estate sale a few years ago. I can only guess at the child's age (maybe 8-9?), where they lived (maybe California?), and their gender (uh...?) but I do know a few things about what he/she liked, thanks to what's presented here: Animals, books, comics, coloring pages, and, oh yes, glorious food pictures! Also, the date on the stamps and a few other items = 1954, so I'm going to assume that's when this was constructed. 

Roman numerals! Classy.

You aren't supposed to eat cigarettes and toothpaste, kid... you do know this...?

Augh.

"Come quickly," Harold called. "The bears are coming."

I can't imagine this story ending well for anyone.

Speaking of endings... in true kid-scrapbook/diary/notebook fashion, the last half of the book is completely empty.

If only...

An 1880s Autograph Album

This is an autograph album that belonged to my great-great-grandfather, Frank (born in 1866). 

Recently I posted an 1890s Autograph Album that once belonged to a young lady named Millie. I love the album's illustrations, and, of course, the quotes within are delightful. Since then, I've run across more autograph albums. One belonged to my grandmother and is circa the 1930s. Most people simply signed their names in that one. A few people posted quotes, but there was none of the creativity and flowery prose that Millie's album had. A second album I found belonged to my grandfather. It had no quotes, just people's signatures and addresses. 

But this one's a real gem. While lacking the colorful illustrations of Millie's, it does have some great signatures and notes. The dates within are from 1884 to 1888. Enjoy!

* * * * * 

* * * * * 

To Frank   -   Kirkville Iowa

Passing through life's field of action

Lest we part before its end

Take within your modest volume

This memento from a friend

August 2 1885

* * * * * 

* * * * * 

Remember well

and keep in view the

pleasant hours I've spent

with you 

the grave will soon

be my bed 

remember me

oh when I'm dead. 

Remember me when far away 

remember me on your wedding day 

think of me when half awake 

and when you get married 

send me a piece of your wedding cake

Your friend,

Ella

* * * * * 

* * * * * 

The Green Leaves will wither

and the roots will decay

and the beauty of a fair maid

Will never die away

-Thas Green

* * * * * 

* * * * * 

Dear Frank:

Fall from the ship

fall from deck 

fall down stairs and break your neck 

fall from the starry heights above 

but never never fall in love.

D.W.

* * * * * 

* * * * *

Where's the small and simple four 

that twines around the humble colt(?)

 and in the stillness of the hour, whispers

low forget me not

I will rite by the roses 

The girls loves posies

and I do the same 

so here is my name

-Wm. Shirman

* * * * *

* * * * * 

Dec the 24 1884

To A Friend - 

[?] in your happiest hour

when sorrows are all forgot

take one lingern(sic) glance at this

and oh forget-me-not

Bettie C. Harris Lisbon

* * * * * 

* * * * *

Dear Frank,

Remember me

For Gods sake

And sent to me

Your wedding cake

Norah Huffin

* * * * *

* * * * *

To Frank - Feb 2, 1885

Forget me not forget me never

Until the golden sun has set

Forever

-Leonard Schroch

* * * * *

* * * * *

Remember me when this you see

Though I am out of sight

And I will do the same

By you with pleasure and delight

Your friend,

Annie Gardner 

(1 -30 - 1889)

* * * * *

* * * * *

Jan the 3 '83

When the evening sun is setting 

and your mind far from care is free 

when of absent friends you are thinking 

won't you some times think of me

Yours truly, Fannie A. Bailey

* * * * *

*Sarah Rigsby was Frank's fiancee at the time; they were married shortly after this was penned.

* * * * *

The air is soft

The sky is blue

Honey is sweet

And so are you

Frank

* * * * *

To Frank,

When you are sitting

All alone reflecting on the past

Remember that you have a

Friend that will forever last

Your friend,

Katie Barnes

Feb the 5th 1883

* * * * *

* * * * *

To Frank - 

Long may you live happy

May you be sitting on a wood pile drinking onion tea.

-Mollie Wills, Kansas City, Dec 31