This post was published on 18 September 2019, but I subsequently received information so that I can update this post. I will bold my additions. My amazing blogger buddy, José at Enhanced News Archive went all the way to the Kalamazoo Public Library to find the answer to the question I posed in my original post: is there an announcement in the newspaper about the wedding of Alice and Clarence. I wanted to see where they were married and thought the info might have been published. I searched in Genealogy Bank for the article in the Kalamazoo Gazette, but I could find nothing. If you read the original post, skip to the next bolded passage.
On 12 September 1923, Grandpa’s cousin Alice Leeuwenhoek married Clarence Dewey Moerdyk in Kalamazoo. They are the last couple listed on the following (cropped) image.
Clarence was 25 and Alice 26. He held a job as a foreman, and she had no employment. I found that interesting since the family thinks of her as an accomplished seamstress. In fact, I discovered a jottings ad from 14 May 1922 about Alice’s trade. She advertises her hemstitching and picoting, which is an embroidery loop edging used as ornamentation.
Right under Alice’s ad is one for the family’s Ramona Park dancing.
Their fathers are listed: Peter Moerdyk and Lambertus (Uncle Lou) Leeuwenhoek.
Their mothers were Cora Stevens and Jennie (Aunt Jen) DeKorn.
The couple was married by Benjamin Laman, Minister of the Gospel. Mr. Laman had become the 4th pastor of Bethany Reformed Church on 7 June 1923, just three months before Alice’s wedding. I tried to find a society page mention to discover if they were married in someone’s home, but neglected to find anything. In the search, I found articles about both their parents’ weddings though!
José found the article the old-fashioned way! By searching the microfiche of the newspaper at the Kalamazoo Public Library! So much for the accuracy of the cataloging skills at Genealogy Bank. It’s a reminder that there is NOTHING like primary sources in genealogy or family research. I will post the article itself and at the end of this post I will post the full front page of the newspaper from that date: 12 September 1923.
Look at this great info. First of all, now I know where Alice and Clarence were married: in Reverend Laman’s (sic in the article) home. I have to wonder if this was a parsonage owned by the church. Then we can see that they honeymooned in Chicago and were going to live temporarily with her parents, Lou and Jennie Leeuwenhoek, at 110 Balch Street. So they didn’t have a lot of extra cash would be my guess. Another great piece of information is that Alice’s dress was tan. I can see that the dress below definitely could be tan, but I’m not sure that it is crepe de chine. Is it?
I wrote about the church here: Bethany Reformed Church, circa 1918
and about Alice’s marriage here: Aunt Jen and Uncle Lou’s SIL Clarence Moerdyk
When I wrote these posts I did not know that I had in my possession the wedding portrait of Alice and Clarence. In my opinion, it’s a stunning photograph, mainly because of Alice’s sense of style and model’s grace.
I really love Alice’s hat!!!
The portrait is in a cardboard folder.
I hate to take it out of the folder, but I would bet that the cardboard is not acid-free. I think I will keep the parts separate, in 2 different acid-free sleeves, and then tape them together.
I’m sure Alice would love that we admired her dress and hat all these years later.
Here is the full front page of the Kalamazoo Gazette from 12 September 1923:
The Family Kalamazoo 
What an amazing and precious photo!
I couldn’t even believe it when I found it in with my other photos. I thought, “Where in the world did this come from?!”
She is absolutely elegant.
I so agree with that, Joy! In fact, she always seemed elegant to me. I, of course, knew her when she was older, but sadly she died when she was barely past 65.
I also like the dress and hat. Do you think hats will ever make a come back?
Interesting question. Many people wear ball caps all the time. I actually wear them quite often because I have a migraine condition affected by artificial lights. Other people wear them for various other practical reasons. Sometimes I see an attractive hat on a woman that is not a ballcap, but it’s unusual. On men, never. Ballcaps or beanies or nothing. It would be fun to have pretty hats and fedoras make their way back, but I can’t see it ever happening as clothing becomes more and more utilitarian.
Well some parts of the country would say cowboy/girl hats are worn. I myself wear a baseball cap most of the year but in winter I wear an Irish cap.
Oh, good one! Yes, I love cowboy hats, and especially cowboy boots. Baseball caps are the American hat, I think. I have one in every color, for several places, several schools, and several for the Sooners :).
That is a stunning photograph. I just love how it captures Alice’s face. She was beautiful, and there is something very genuine and authentic about her expression. As for the clothes—they are lovely. Isn’t it interesting to see that brides back then did not always wear what today we consider a traditional wedding gown?
I love how you describe Alice in the photo. I agree about her expression.
The styles of the wedding portraits in my collection, as well as those I see online fascinate me. White gowns seem so rare until maybe the 40s. What do you find in your family? I actually prefer Alice’s outfit here to something more “weddingish” according to today’s standards.
Remarkable photograph, Luanne. I might even say truly breathtaking.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I know the cardboard folder – I also found many of these in my ramblings. I cannot lie – I left them right there. Sigh.
Yes, I think it’s breathtaking, too. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I FOUND it in my drawer with the other photographs!
I have acid-free plastic sleeves that I find very useful. So after I scan a photo I can slip it into a sleeve, keeping it safe for more generations. You have your orders.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I know, Luanne. You have always tried to help me with my preservation techniques, or the lack thereof. Sometimes I wonder who will ever want to see this family history when I’m gone?
I wonder the same thing. I haven’t seen that spark of interest in anyone yet. It worries me that all this accumulation and effort, not just from me, but the generations before me, will go to waste. Hoping somebody matures in time for me to see their interest.
We are both hoping…
Simply dreamy!
Ah, I love that response!
The hat and dress are absolutely beautiful!
You feel as I do about them! So much more beautiful than many wedding gowns today, in my opinion!
A beautiful photo, and the resemblance between Alice and you is uncanny. Your photo collection is such a treasure trove!
So funny you mention that resemblance. I was thinking how she looks here like Aunt Alice and a tiny bit like Mom. There is no doubt that I favor that branch of the family, though–Alice’s mom Jen and her sister, my great-grandmother Cora.
As far as treasures go, sometimes I find treasures (like this one) that I didn’t even know I have!
Isn’t she gorgeous! Her clothes and her expression! He looks so young, especially next to her!
He looks like a baby! And he’s only a year younger, but it was kind of his nature. I knew him, even after she died.
What interesting info you discovered and that photo of them / what an awesome hat is right. She was very elegant in her mode of dress.
Thank you, Jeanne. She was so elegant. Always.
I’ve never seen a wedding portrait with the bride and groom in such a relaxed posture!
What an interesting insight. I wonder if that was a good photographer’s ploy to relax Clarence. He looks tense here, and I can see him being very uptight about it all.
It could have been–or perhaps it was that photographer’s signature style for couple portraits.
That would be interesting to research!
Yes, it would!
It looks like a pretty luxurious fabric for the time. She was good with choosing great fashion.
Oh, that’s a really good observation. Yes, it does. And the work in the ruffles. I wonder if she made it or someone else made it or if it was storebought. I wouldn’t be surprised if she made it herself.
It reminded me of a Downton Abbey dress. Very lovely!
Yes, me too! I want to see the movie.
What a great picture! Love the model’s style…that hat is amazing!
I so agree with you! What a gorgeous hat. I prefer it to a bonnet with veil myself.
I love the relaxed pose; so much nicer than the traditional, often awkward, pose. They look HAPPY! I love the dress and I think the hat is just fabulous.
Oh, I love your interpretation of the photo! I agree because I have seen some strangely awkward poses in antique wedding portraits. Alice really had a great sense of style
Another post that went to my spam grrrrrrrr I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing to much from you and OMG to discover this post ~ what a gorgeous photo, by far one of my favorite wedding photo’s to date – everything about it extra special!!!
What a beauty! And he’s no slouch, either. I have wedding portraits of my maternal and paternal grandparents — very formal poses that show no hint of emotion, although my paternal grandmother has the slightest hint of smile. Hmm, what was she thinking?
Your grandmother was probably so excited about her wedding and trying to contain her excitement for the occasion of a formal pose!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Margaret.
Wow, what a great find, and what a great friend Jose is to go and retrieve it for you. Don’t you have to wonder how GenealogyBank missed it? I would see if it comes up now if you search for it by date and maybe specific language. Maybe it wasn’t indexed at all?
When I read that her dress was tan, I thought, “Isn’t that interesting? Brides didn’t always where white.” Then I saw I made a similar comment when you first posted this a year ago… at least I am consistent!
I had to enlarge that page from 1923! A Japanese earthquake, a man with 7 wives and the Filipino people demanding the American flag rather than their own.
It seems the more this world changes, the more it stays the same. Excellent post!
I know! Those old newspapers are fascinating!
I wonder if she made the dress herself, given that she was a skilled seamstress. It certainly was a beautiful dress.
I really do think she would have made it herself! It’s so beautiful!
How wonderful that you now have a newspaper announcement to go with the photo!
I am so grateful to Jose for this announcement!