My great-grandmother, Margarethe Wendel Klein, born in 1869 in Budesheim, Hessen, Germany. She died in 1932 in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Is there a name for this sort of hat? Would you call this a suit? I’m not sure about the year, but I guess it to be in the 1920s.
I am going to take a little blogging break to recharge the brain batteries.
The Family Kalamazoo 
What were they thinking when they wore hats like that! So silly looking in today’s world.
Have a great break! I am slowly returning from mine and finding it difficult. I am hoping the juices start running soon!
Gonna start slowly returning here, too. But I am exhausted from traveling. So not a real break, per se.
Aren’t these feathers on this hat something, though?!
Great Photo… I posted a link to this on the FB group “Gen I need Help” so maybe you will get some new comments.
Thanks, Jose! This photo is pretty special to me because most of the photos my g-grandmother show her in more of a housedress, not dressed up.
Looks at this page : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/528469337496512808/
There is a suit sort of like this and a couple of hats. Circa 1918.
So I guess this was the right sort of outfit for an “older woman” of the time period! I had thought the photo was later than 1918, but then I realized that many of the family photos on that side ARE around the time of WWI, so it is possible.
I love this hat! Such personality and style. Your grandmother had a wonderful smile. Enjoy your break…hope you’ll be back soon.
Thanks, Laura! In every photo of her, I think she looks like someone I would like to know. Very nice and friendly and welcoming.
It is a wonderful hat. In those days, hats were iften large constructions, almost an event in themselves. Lovely photo to treasure.
Thank you so much, and I’m so sorry it took me so long to respond. I knew you had commented, and then I couldn’t remember on which post (sigh)! Yes, it’s an amazing hat. I always wished I had an old photo of a relative in a big gorgeous hat, but I overlooked this one for so long because of it’s different shape.
Oh, brother! That hat really is a pip, isn’t it? I remember my grandmother, who was built along She always reminded me of a “weeble” when she wore it. (Not that I’d ever tell her!)
Hahaha! So funny! Yes, it’s a pip all right!
Well, I should proofread my posts, shouldn’t I? My grandmother’s hat had a pom-pom on top. And THAT was why she resembled a Weeble. Sometimes I wondered if I could wind it up and just let ‘er rip!
Hilarious!!!
Luanne, your great grandparents Frank Klein and Margarethe Wendel Klein are my great grandparents. Their daughter Elizabeth is my grandmother who married Peter Van Gessel and gave birth to Grace Van Gessel (Stade) who is my mother. I may have a few old family photos (most went with Grace’s siblings). If I can find what I have, I will let you know. William Stade. (email billstade at hotmail dot com.)
Hi Bill! Welcome! Yes, we are definitely related! I have quite a few photos of the Van Gessel kids, etc. I will email you and we can share “notes.” I mainly concentrate on my mom’s family on this blog, but sometimes I post a little something from dad’s family. My BIG question for you though is: can you identify Elizabeth in photographs? I have been in contact with other “Kleins” and nobody has been able to identify her with absolute certainty.