Last spring I posted a photo of my great-grandmother Clara Waldeck Mulder (1884-1953) that I discovered. You can find the post here. It was the first time I saw what she looked like as an older woman. Up to then, I had seen her as a bride and as a young mother.
The other day my mother sent me another old album and loose photos. Guess what? There are TWO new photos of Clara! In one of them, she is young. It’s taken before she was married–or even engaged, I am pretty sure. The photo has a little damage–a white mark across her skirt and a dark spot on her cheek. I did my best to fix the cheek, but left the white mark alone.
How old does she look here? 16-18? If so, the photo would be from around 1900-1902.
And here is another photo, this time from around 1940.
In my post My Great-Grandmother’s Lifetime of Service it’s clear that Clara was very devoted to her service groups. I wonder if this dress has something to do with a ceremony in Eastern Star or Rebekah Lodge. Any other ideas about the dress?
The Family Kalamazoo 
I think she looks about 15 or 16 years old. What treasures!
So maybe 1899 or 1900 then! Yes, it was pretty thrilling to find these photos!!!
Wow!!’ So many treasures!
I know! It’s so exciting. More to post in the future, too!
Welcome back – I’ve missed you. I have a hard time dating so I will leave that to others but will say – keep the photo’s coming, they’re so precious!
I’ve missed you, too. Been thinking about you and excited to get some time ahead to see what I’ve missed on your blogs!
Welcome back. I hope you are okay, and your mission for the CIA, NSA or NASA went smoothly. Professor of linguistics at a major university, HA, great cover though. I’ve watched my share of “The Librarian” and “Indiana Jones” to know what you “really do”. Living out there in Arizona; Oh Really, close to Roswell, NM, wink, wink. I wonder if that is how you get those wonderful photos of your relatives; perhaps “time machine”. Oh sorry, I know you can’t talk about those clandestine missions, and I am sorry if I spilled he beans here. LOL.
The photos are are nice. It is wonderful that you have such memories and that you share with the rest of the world.
🤣🤣🤣 Jose, you are on a roll here! I am glad my life isn’t that adventurous. I couldn’t handle it. My husband and I went to Alaska (loved it!) and he was sick too much this summer. But things are getting back to a new normal. Hope you are well!
Luanne, how thrilling these photos are to find and for us to see! She was such a beautiful young woman. Your Great Grandmother looks so comforting and kind as an older person, too.
I have been enjoying being my youngest daughter’s administrative assistant. Just learning since my last day at the warehouse (ten years’ mark) was 8/30/18.
Unfortunately, bad news is my dear 12 year old grandson has a mass in his head (3x4x5 cm.) He was taken by ambulance to Columbus Children’s Hospital. Sadly, he had complained and been seen more than once for headaches at Ohio Health centers in this area. They have had bone marrow testing (ouch!), MRI’s, CT and PET scans. . . He was moved to the Oncology floor today, so they have not told us directly a diagnosis. Please keep positive thoughts, energy and (if you wish) prayers for his complete recovery. . . Thank you, dear friend!
Big hugs sent your way and hope all is well with you and your family! ❤ ❤
Oh Robin! I am so sorry to hear about your grandson. I think I have your email and am going to email you! XO
Luanne, so sorry to say my email is usually a disaster, full of stuff.
Thank you for your caring words and I do wish to give you my new email:
robincochran43015@gmail.com
I wish I had gotten back sooner. Life is good in my daily life, enjoying learning and working in real estate with Felicia.
Landen is in Children’s Hospital still, I’m glad they labeled this “Ewing’s Sarcoma” so at least they know “what” they are dealing with. For some reason, my DIL says the chemo will be in Pennsylvania. . . She gets distracted and didn’t finish this thought. Sometimes Landen is listening, which may be the other reason she didn’t finish “why?” Thank you for possibly sending an email I missed. . .
I still get notifications from my blogging friends’ posts on my (Hotmail) email address.
Peace and blessings sent your way, Luanne.
I will email you at this address.
I’m so glad we’re in touch, Luanne.
I posted recipe post for hot toddy and shouted out to you mentioning Doll God and Kin Types. xo
Oh great, Robin! Thank you!!!! xo
On your blog, Robin? I can’t find it!
I love these old pictures! I’ve been researching a relative who ought and died in the Civil War and discovered a relative living across the country who has a picture of him. I almost DIED I was so excited.
Adrienne! That is fantastic! Wow, what a dream find! Hope it inspires another novel!
I’m hoping so too. In a weird twist of fate this same lady told me there were rumors that this soldier’s mother who was my aunt had a possible morphine addiction. But I don’t think I’d do another morphine related story!
Are you KIDDING me? That is wild! Such an amazing coincidence?
How lovely to have these treasures Luanne. I’m rubbish at telling people’s age, but my guess would be late teens in the first photo. Can’t help much with the latter either, except that my mum always wore white dresses to Eastern Star things, but she had brooches with insignia on relating to the organisation which tended to stand out.
Great info about Eastern Star. I knew the dress had to mean something and since that ring we thought was Eastern Star turned out to be Rebekah Lodge I think maybe Clara had little if any Eastern Star jewelry. She was a farm woman who raised five kids. Pretty sure there wasn’t much extra money. But the dress, yes.
It’s a little odd to see her young in black and old in white!
Hah, now that you mention it. WHY was her dress black? Her parents were still alive, I believe.
Yay, a new Kalamazoo blog post! I agree-she looks like a teenager in the first photo. Can’t help you with the dress in the 1940 shot. Hope you had a good holiday!
Thanks, Amy. You probably saw some of my Alaska photos? Such a relaxing trip. But then we had to come home. Heh
I did—looked beautiful! Yeah, coming home seems to be inevitable!
🤣
Treasures
I have a very large portrait of my great great grandmother aged 18
Oh, what a wonderful family heirloom, Derrick! So glad that your family has hung onto it!
Thanks very much, Luanne
Just love your stuff, Luann. Prayers, here, for your reader reocochran’s sweet grandson, his family and his care team.
Thank you so much for your prayers for Robin’s grandson. What a difficult time for their whole family!
I’m not great with judging ages, but I’d say she’s late teens or early twenties. In the older photo she looks like she’s in her 60s. I’m not sure she’s in a dress – it may be a skirt and blouse (with the blouse tucked in to the skirt waistband, but the photo’s not really large enough for me to see it.
Hope you had a good break. x
Thank you, Val! I always love getting your expert “take” on the photos! The part of the break that included our trip to Alaska was wonderful!!!!
I am using my Facebook to connect to people. Some are from my warehouse experience but there is a journalist, Judy Berman, and authors Colleen Chesebro, D.G. Kaye and Merril D. Smith.
I usually will re-post their Instagram onto FB. But I was looking up recipes which used green tea to connect with you and how you needed a hot toddy after the rains. So, Oct 2 is the timeline on FB which I shouted out with your name and books.
I only have 3 pre-scheduled posts about Fall on WP which I did last year to spread into this Fall. Sharing my wealth of Autumn, ’17 photos! 😊
So you’re switching your focus from blogging to Facebook! I am glad we are Facebook friends!
I’m glad to be on there, as well as Instagram. Thank you, Luanne! My last written post had my author friends on it. You probably didn’t believe I was giving blogging up as so many people have said this! 😀
No, I didn’t!!!!