This week I’m sharing photos of my father’s family in Illinois. This photograph was taken in July 1960 in Chicago.
From left to right: Aunt Anna, Aunt Marge, Aunt Dolly, Grandma, and Mom
Grandma and Aunt Anna were sisters–maiden name Klein. They grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois, which is in DuPage County. They were only a year apart in age and born in Budesheim, Germany, in 1892 and 1893.
Aunt Marge was Grandma’s daughter (Dad’s sister) and married to Guido (Joe) DiBasilio. Her sons Michael and Steven were already born by 1960 and James was born in April 1960. He was a new baby at the time of this photo.
Aunt Dolly was Uncle Frank’s (my dad’s twin) wife. She was born Doloria Pawlak. My cousin Leah was also born in 1960, February, so she was also a little baby when the photo was taken. David wasn’t born until 1962.
I was five years old at the time this pic was taken. My brother not born for three more years.
Look at the box of Kleenex table napkins on the table. The Corningware coffee pot. The dome clock behind them is in my living room today.
You see my mother’s beautiful very sheer dress? I remember it very well.
OK, in the lower right from our view? A baby bottle. So it could have belonged to Jim or Leah–or maybe even Steve who was only three?
***
I’ve shared the photo above before (it’s one of my favorites). My dad, his two siblings, and their mom. This was taken years before the photo of the women.
Do you see the picture behind Dad’s left shoulder?
This is it:
It’s a needlepoint that my father brought back from the Korean War. It hangs in my bedroom. The frame and mat are still in great shape because Grandma always liked to buy the best. So we know the photograph was taken after Dad got back from the war. Maybe he was already a college student at Western Michigan University, but the photograph was taken in my grandmother’s home in Chicago.
Have you seen similar Korean needlework before? I’d love to see other versions.
The Family Kalamazoo 
We all have pictures like these that could use a write up like you did. By pointing out the people and items you bring the pictures into better focus for future generations. I have often thought about doing a photo book like this.
That would be cool to make. I could try taking them from the blog to make a book like that, but I am so “random” in my blog posts that it wouldn’t work very well. I guess I would have to start to be very organized about my postings with the idea of the book behind doing so. Would you do yours in conjunction with your blog or as a separate project?
I would tie in my blog when it was possible. However I think that most of the photo story book would come from outside the blog. While I do tell a lot of family stories in my blog many things would be more of interest to family while other things I may want to keep more in the family circle rather than so much in the public domain. But all of that could change while working on the project. It could very well take on a life of it’s own. I also would not worry about being “random” as that could be part of the charm of this type of book. I did
post on my blog about telling the stories of family items
https://mooregenealogy.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/do-our-family-treasures-have-a-secret-life/
But this was only about items so now I am thinking you could combine the two. You did that in your blog today. This is something worth looking into. 🙂
I remember that post! In fact, it inspired me to start to write more about family treasures, on blog and off blog.
Love the details and was wondering who ended up with some of the treasures. The women in the top photo all have nice eyes–kind. I don’t have Korean needlework, but have Hmong stitchery–reverse applique and story cloth–as many first came to Des Moines as refugees before 1980.
Oh, wow, that is cool. Yes, there are a lot of Hmong in Minnesota, too, I think. I really don’t know if others ended up with any treasures. I’m not only the oldest grandchild on both sides, but keep this stuff pretty secure once I get my mits on it haha. The difficult thing is going to be where it all goes when I am done with it. I am hoping to find ones of the next generation who are interested!
I like how you tell a bit of story behind the photos. Who was married to whom and their children, the objects and perhaps their meaning.
I wish I knew where the clock had come from, but my grandmother did work at Marshall Field’s for decades, so I suspect she used her store discount to buy some of her home furnishings.
Quite plausible.
What a fun post, and period photo’s. It’s amazing that this 60’s photo seems so old fashion in terms of today. Thanks for sharing. I have seen needlework like this before. ~
Just recently it seems that we’ve flown so far past the 60s and the 70s and the 80s. Those are now antique times. How are you doing on your family research, Sharon?
Pretty darn slow ~ no headway, no brick walls crumbling 🙂
Oh no! That’s how it’s been for me with my husband’s family. Total bricks walls, although I got an email the other day that gives me a smidgeon of hope. Good luck, Sharon!
I also have a domed clock very similar to the one in the picture. There were two in our family – my parents had one and my mom’s parent had the other. I’m assuming my father got them in his travels. Our eldest daughter got one of them and kept in on the coffee table in her living room. Her grandson fiddled with it and knocked it off the table. Even though the room was carpeted the dome shattered. Grandson got his britches dusted off for that trick, as he’d been told umpteen times to keep his “grabbenmittenz” in his pockets.
They must have been very popular at one time. I wonder what the time period for them is, in general. Oh boy, what a “shattering” event for the little guy. He’ll probably remember that for the rest of his life! hah
I was especially impressed with how beautiful Aunt Marge looked. Was this a baby shower?
I don’t think a shower as in pre-birth shower because both Jim and Leah were just tiny babies. I think it was a family get-together of some sort maybe for everyone to meet the new babies? And I think the men were probably there. There is an ashtray on this far side of the table. In all the old photos, Aunt Marge looked beautiful.
Such wonderful photos, and I can tell they trigger wonderful memories. What do you think the event was in the top photograph? Was it a special occasion? Or just a family dinner? Remember when people dressed up even for family occasions? We have old photos of my dad wearing a tie to a children’s birthday party. And women all dolled up in dresses!
I am glad I can now wear jeans most anywhere I want.
I don’t even wear jeans any more. I’ve sunk lower–to yoga pants, although recently I’ve stepped up a bit with the Duluth stretch pants. LOVE those.
What I suspect is that it was a family get together because my family came to Chicago to spend time with the two new babies and their families and Grandma. Everybody else lived in the Chicago area, so it would have been when we came to the city. Of course, it could have been a BIRTHDAY PARTY for Michael and me (July 18 and 20) and maybe even for Steven (August 24). 🙂 So cute about your dad with the tie. I do think that was pretty common in those days!
I also wear yoga pants a lot or even sweats when it’s just a walk around the neighborhood. But Duluth stretch pants is not on my Google list!
They are so comfy and actually look better than jeans or yoga pants IMO. And they have a cell phone pocket AND a secret pocket ;).
I took a look—they look sort of like sweatpants. I am looking for pants that feel as comfortable as sweatpants or yoga pants, but look like “real” pants that I could wear to dinner. Would I get away with that with these?
You might think they look like sweat pants. I do not haha. But dress up dinner? Not really. Casual dining, sure. They wouldn’t look good with a frilly/fancy/silky top. https://www.duluthtrading.com/womens-noga-stretch-relaxed-fit-pants-blkhthr-med-000204870.html
I don’t think I’ve ever worn a frilly silky top! 🙂 I just want something that would not embarrass my daughters if I wore them to a restaurant or a public meeting!
It depends on your daughters. I don’t THINK I embarrass my daughter at a regular restaurant, but I wouldn’t wear them to a fancy place that charges a fortune.
OK, I will have to test them out.
Let me know what you think!
Haven’t had a chance yet, but will do!
The first photo bigifies very well
Haha, I had to look up that word, Derrick!
Coined by Pauline, thecontentedcrafter
Haha, ah, Pauline! Well, it showed up now on Google!
Love that needlepoint. My grandfather did one for me, and one for my cousin. Treasures!
Oh, how wonderful! Do you know how he learned?
I wish I did. He was an active man of the forest who had finally succumbed to wheel chair from a distant kick off a broncho. He did two, before his arthritic hands said no more. One was for me.
Oh what a shame, but so wonderful that at least he was able to make two!!
I love the photo of the women. It is almost an iconic photo that is representative of that time period. In addition to the Corning coffee pot, dome clock, and Kleenex napkins, I noticed the drapes with wide metal blinds. When I was a child, we had almost identical blinds and drapes.
Yes, the drapes and blinds were such a part of the time period! Although I think my mother must have disliked the blinds or thought they were old-fashioned because we didn’t have those in our house. On the bedroom windows under the curtains we had window shades.
I love the Korean needlework – it’s lovely, Luanne. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Of course, I love the photos!!
I think that needlework looks so beautiful. And I grew up with that piece, of course, so I enjoy having it around me.
Yes, the photos are pretty cool!
Great pic of the women in your family. Bd I then they all were so dressed up in photo’s. Table set nicely With Kleenex napkins and china cups. Coffee served with the Corning pot and yes I spied the dome clock – always loved watching the chimes circle around.
Thank you, Jeanne! I love all the details of this photo! It is such a slice of time, and I love how it was such a special occasion because that is how it was in those days: dressing up to spend time with your mother-in-law!