Over a year ago, I wrote a series of posts about Theresa (Tracy) Paak, the daughter of my great-great-grandmother’s only brother. Theresa was the mother of Professor Lawrence, who has been kind enough to send me photographs and information about his branch of the family. If you’ve been following along here for some time, you might remember my posts about Theresa Pake, the middle child (of five) of my great-great-grandmother’s brother, George.
You might remember that after the disastrous fire that destroyed the family home, Theresa went to live with Oliver and Una Pickard. Mrs. Pickard was Theresa’s Sunday School teacher. I wrote about the Pickards in George Paak’s Legacy, Part VI: Who Were the Pickards? What I discovered in my research was that the Pickards were married young, remained childless, and began their careers as nurses, both living and working at the State Hospital (psychiatric hospital). Eventually Una became a private duty nurse and Oliver a postman.
I really tried to imagine this couple and what they were like because they proved to be so important to Theresa’s life. The other day I got my wish to see what they looked like when Professor Lawrence sent me photographs.
Una was 18 and Oliver 23 when they married. Could this be their wedding portrait?
Here is Auntie Pick, as she was called, in uniform.
And Oliver, or “Uncle Bob,” in the classic “man walking down the sidewalk pose” (yes, we’ve seen it a couple of times already with other people in other photos).
Here is a photograph of Theresa herself taking a photograph of her foster parents.
Here is “Uncle Bob” with Theresa’s son Richard, or Dick, in Wisconsin. This is Professor Lawrence’s brother.
There was some confusion in the censuses over the address of the Pickards, but I think they lived in the same house for years at 1846 Oakland Drive.
And many years later. The house is no longer there.
As a bonus, here are photographs of Una’s parents and of Una as a baby.
She looks the same as a baby as at eighteen!
Here are the other Pake/Paake/Paak/Peek posts:
The Children After the Fire, 1902
George Paake’s Legacy, Part II: Theresa’s Pre-Professional Education
George Paake’s Legacy, Part III: Theresa’s Professional Education
George Paake’s Legacy, Part IV: A Letter to His Daughter
George Paake’s Legacy, Part V: Theresa Gets Married
The Family Kalamazoo 
Love the post. You can’t beat these pictures for helping to bring the past to life!
Been seeing Kalamazoo on the news with the recent storm – hope all is well!!
I checked in with Mom, and she said the storm is over and all is well by her. But apparently too many are without power. Yes, these photos add a whole dimension to Theresa’s story!
Glad to hear Mom is alright.
Me too!
What amazing photos! How long did Theresa live with them for? It seems that they continued to play a big role in her life long after she was grown and had her own family.
I know! If I recall she went with them when she was about eight and stayed until they sent her to a boarding school and then college. Apparently they were very good to her.
They must have been. How wonderful.
That is really neat. How wonderful something good could come out of the fire.
Yes, Theresa and her family were enriched with the addition of the Pickards!
Such lovely photos, what a treasure. I have a special place in my heart for foster parents. My husband and I had several foster children years ago. It is such a humbling experience to care for someone else’s children as if they were your own, but still respect the biological parents and their role and rights. It sounds like they had a big impact on Theresa. I love that.
I do, too. My daughter and I used to have an adoption blog and then we branched out into the topic of fostering. Close to my heart. I am glad Theresa had those opportunities.
Wonderful post and photo’s as usual. The only complaint I have is they all look so serious in all the pictures, even the baby photo… Ha.. Must be in the gene’s, Are you sure you are part of this family? Maybe your smile comes from the other branch of the family. Thank you for the interesting family history.
Lol! It’s true that I have my dad’s smile!
I love your photos
Thanks so much! I was thrilled to get these from Professor Lawrence!