Yesterday, I posted on Facebook a link to the Washington Post article about an old letter written by Thomas Jefferson was found at an Alexandria, VA American Legion by a colleague of mine Candice Bennett. Wow is all I can say, I've been on a high about it since I read the article and I didn't have anything to do with it.
I do have my own historical gem to share. Last year, I hardly did any scrapbooking (a far cry from the year I did over 20 albums) and over the Christmas holiday I took some time to reassemble my Grandmother's scrapbooks. The most precious item I found was a 1938 high school graduation announcement for my grandfather's brother.
First of all the design and quality and texture of the paper was exceptional. It's cardstock weight, the fold along side the ribbon is scored, the ribbon is tightly done, there are three layers of paper, the green inside shadowing sheet has a satin-like finish and the year is gold embossed. I love the Christian theme to it, see the fish symbol and the dove. Check out the die cut window for the graduate's name and the raised lettering. It's even tri-fold, I haven't seen that in a graduation announcement ever! I can't imagine what the cost of this was back in 1938.
So here is the graduate, my uncle Henry. I knew him as a child, he was short, slow moving and smoked cigars...I met two of his granddaughters for the first time this summer, I hope they enjoy this post.
A quick note about this photo,, first of all it's about the size of my thumbnail...it fell into the cuff of my pants while I was looking at old photos with my dad a number of years ago. I put the photo on a tray in my closet and low and behold I uncover it on the tray while rummaging through old change on that tray. It has finally made it's way to my scanner and now computer hard drive to be shared.
Here are a few of his granddaughters and great grandson.
That's really great. I have a graduation announcement from one of my father's cousins from 1936, complete with the postmarked envelope and all. I didn't know the person, and don't have a picture of her, but like yours, the announcement is beautiful and on excellent quality paper. I don't know why that surprised me so much, but it did. Maybe I'll post it one day. :)
Renate
Posted by: Renate | January 27, 2010 at 06:55 PM
Renate...please post, that era is much closer to the great depression than mine is, please share.
Posted by: ethnicscrapbooking | January 30, 2010 at 08:15 PM
What a great find. My mother has one of those thumbnail pictures of a great uncle. I need to scan it before it's lost. She's got it in a thumbnail size photo frame.
I keep saying I'm going to get into scrapbook (have even bought some kits over the years) but have yet to get going on it. Maybe this will be the year.
Posted by: Mavis | January 31, 2010 at 10:09 AM
wow,, youre really blessed to have som awesome momentos and leagacy to share and leave behind! Nice,thanks for shairng girl! ;0)
Posted by: Jennifer Owens | August 21, 2010 at 02:12 PM