Category: Education

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1945: The Canal Zone’s Unique Postcard History

To: Mr. Scott R. Galbreath From: Robt. (Robert) 1945

Dear Scott —

Hope all the family are ok by now and especially Exa. Scott will you try to get me a set of those 5¢ stamps recently issued on the different nations of the Allied Nations. Mgt (Margaret?) is supposed to do it, but I’m afraid she has slipped up. Also any other recent stamps, just 1¢ mint and send them to Mgt and I’m telling her to send you whatever they cost. I’m trying to get some nice ones here for both of us.

Best Regards,

Robt. (Robert)

I talked about it in a recent post, but in March of 1945, WWII was on it’s way towards being over. Allied troops were pushing Germany ever inward. FDR would be president for just over 30 more days, Americans launched the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theater, and the Academy Awards were broadcast over radio for the first time. I don’t know why, but it always seems so strange to have something as incongruous as WWII and Academy Awards happening at the same time. As we know, the world rarely stops moving for big events (except Covid!), but still, it’s strange to see something as normal as the Academy Awards next to the Battle of Iwo Jima.

This particular postcard is super interesting, first because it’s postmarked from the Canal Zone (as in Panama Canal). Second, you can’t tell, but the postcard has a sort of metallic sheen to it. I’m unsure if it’s from age or if it was always the nature of the card, but it’s super cool to see in the light. I’ll try and capture it on video and post it to my Instagram account if you’re interested.

Through 1945 (and beyond) the Canal Zone was also deeply segregated by race. The “Gold” roll workers were almost all white US citizens, while “Silver” roll workers were non-white, non-US workers. The titles “gold” and “silver” stems from an earlier practice of literally paying white Americans in gold and non-white, non-Americans in silver.

Interestingly, the Canal Zone also issued their own stamps until 1978. The stamp is on the card, and not super obscured, but I’ve added a picture of it at the bottom as well. Even though the zone had their own stamps, that sort of mundane existence may be exactly what Robert chafed against — hence his request for various other stamps from his friend Scott. Poor Margaret, I wonder what she did to muck up his stamp order so poorly.

And what of Robert and Scott? Surprisingly, I found Scott immediately, largely because the name of his wife is so unique. Though, I’ll admit I thought it was Eva at first. Scott Robert Galbreath Jr. was born in Paris, Texas on September 13, 1908. In 1945, he would have been 36 years old. He lived with his wife, Exa, and his daughter Ammie, who was 7 in the census of 1940. From what I can tell, he was a manager at an insurance company. At least that’s how the census listed him in both 1930 and 1940. I even managed to find Exa in the record, though obscured by her husbands name, attending a silver tea for charity.

Although Family Search does not list any children, I did find his daughter, Ammie’s, obituary, which indicates that Scott had at least one son…yep…you guessed it…Scott Galbreath III. It’s always very rewarding when I’m able to track down snippets of a life from a postcard.

Robert and Margaret, however, remain a mystery. I had hoped that one of them was related to either Scott or Exa, and perhaps they were indirectly related (cousins or something), but they were not direct brothers or sisters of either one of the Galbreath’s. Though, judging by Scotts photo (on Find a Grave), I have to believe that he got poor Robert the Allied Nations stamps he so desired. I hope Robert enjoyed the heck out of them.

Front of Postcard, featuring the Administration Building of the Canal Zone

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Miss Isabell Cox: Exploring 117 Year Old “Junk” Mail

To: Miss Isabell Cox From: Pittsburg Press 1907

Take my advice — Stop the Saturday Evening Post and take the Pittsburg Press

When I first scanned this card into my digital collection, I didn’t take much notice of it other than the postmark. It had come to me as part of a bulk lot, and I was new to collecting. The card looked old, and it felt old, and the postmark confirmed that it WAS old, and that was all I needed. So I scanned it in.

Only once I really started to create this blog did I realize what I had.

Junk mail. I have 117 year old junk mail. This junk mail is almost as old as Edward Cullen. Now, if this were an actual connection, of course this would be so super cool. But junk mail? It’s a little disheartening to know that people were getting non-desired mailers even during the undivided back period. Though something about it does feel so…human?

For a western town, Greeley, Colorado was quite up and coming. Originally founded as an “agricultural utopia” based on farming, temperance, and religion, the town seemed always on the forefront of modernity. Telephones were installed as early as 1883 and electric lights graced the Greeley downtown by 1886. It’s fitting, therefore, that the residents were interested in the Saturday Post, since it truly was the bees knees. It’s just as fitting that the Pittsburgh Press was trying to get a hold on the burgeoning town.

And what of Isabell Cox? First, I suspect the name was misspelled (does nothing change?), though it could be Isabella Cox, I suppose. I thought for sure I’d be able to find some semblance of her, but of course the archival Gods laughed at my certainty and left me stumped. In the end, there were a few good options. One Isabella Cox who was living in Colorado, but moved to New York by 1910, and an Isabel Cox who lived in the correct city…but was 4 in 1907.

I’d like to think this was sent to the 4 year old. Because of course it was. We’ve all received random junk mail for our children, and it seems that the turn of the 20th century was no different than the new millennia. Proof that times change, methodologies change…but capitalism never changes.

Undivided back, addressed to Miss Isabell Cox

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Across the Pond: Exploring the Innuendo of a British Postcard

To: Miss D. Ekins From: Unknown Date: 1902-1920

Do you like this. If so don’t have to much

First, I want to give a huge shout out to Gemma at The Seafood Picnic Gift Company for this postcard. She sent the image to me about a week ago and we had fun trying to dissect what all of the innuendo might mean. I apologize in advance that I cut your thumb out of the card!

Second, what’s wonderful about this postcard is that it’s from Northampton, UK. I love this so much, but I don’t know postcard lore, nor have I tried to research outside of the United States. But, there’s always a first, so thank you again for giving me the opportunity to share this amazing card.

My guess is this card stems from around 1915, but it could date as early as 1902 and as late as 1930. For those of you who have been around for awhile, you might be thinking “but the divided back began in 1907!” You’d be right — for the United States. The UK introduced divided back postcards in 1902, a full five years before the US. Seeing as the image on the front is late 19th and early 20th century attire, and seeing as the handwriting is still flowery, I’d guess this was written 1902-1915.

I also think it was written by a man. Partly, because honestly a ladies handwriting would be significantly better (sorry dudes). Also, there’s a weird innuendo going on in the whole card. There’s the front of the card, which says “methinks the lady doth protest too much” (which smacks of Baby it’s Cold Outside“), and the vague (threat?) of “Do you like this, if so don’t have to much.”

I wonder what the card is actually asking Miss Ekins. Does she like what…dancing? Being forced to dance? The sender? Gemma thought maybe it’s a strange affair saying something to the effect of do you like me (the sender) if so don’t have too much (dancing with other men). I think it could be something like do you like dancing? If so, don’t have too much (liquor).

And what of D. Ekins? I found a decent match. A Mary Dolly Ekins lived in Northamptonshire and married John Bennett in 1919. The dates and places seem to align with our D. Ekins, and I’m inclined to think this may be her, but I’m not confident enough in my research abilities to say that it’s more than 50/50.

It feels like a long shot, but let’s say this is our Miss D. Ekins. She was born in 1888 and passed in 1926 at only 38 years old. This is a tragedy, as she was taken both too young, and only a few years after her marriage. With the date of 1919, I have to imagine the marriage was put on hold due to World War I.

Also, if this is our couple, could it be that John sent the card to D during the war? Perhaps he’s imploring her not to dance too much while he’s away? It’s hard to tell since both the stamp and the postmark are missing on the card. But it’s an interesting story…if it’s true.

What do you think? What vibe or story do you get from the card? What could the sender be implying? Let me know!

Front of Card: “Methinks the Lady doth protest too much.”

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“He Was Here Last Eve”: Capturing Girlhood and Family Bonds in a 1909 Postcard

To: Miss Mildred Freeman From: Mabel 1909

Dec. 7, 09

Why don’t you write me, M. and I want you to come up Xmas just as you did last year and we go home with you. We will meet you at Russel just the same and we will try and not make any mistake. I went skating last eve and had a fine time only wish you were here. I would teach you how to skate. he was there last eve but I didn’t skate with him. his time was occupied. Now answer right back.

With love,

–Mabel

In December of 1909, William Howard Taft was president, Pearl Harbor is founded, and the Manhattan Bridge opened. Women couldn’t vote, neither world war had broken out, and we were still three years away from the Titanic sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic.

While I love the many different postcards that I write about, and while each of them is a gem unto themselves, this particular postcard feels like something special. Partly, because it reads like it came directly out of a period movie. I can almost hear Mabel’s sweet but chastising voice, almost picture her coy and playful smile, can practically hear her nonchalant frustration at his time being too occupied to skate with her.

It is a perfect snippet of girlhood. The longing, the frustration, the all encompassing angst of (unrequited?) love. So rarely does a card capture the essence of a moment so wonderfully.

Yet this is undeniably Mabel. And she is amazing.

I love this card so much that I almost didn’t want to research the people involved. I know that sounds counterproductive, but I enjoyed the picture painted by the correspondence, and worried that research might ruin that image. And, as I’ve stated time and time again, researching women is complicated. They are obscured by their fathers and husbands, and maiden names can be just as difficult to research as married names.

But this gem of a card just kept on giving. One quick search and I immediately found Mildred Freeman, and her story is just as interesting as Mabel’s story on the card. Mildred Freeman was born September 28, 1894 in North Prescott, Massachusetts. At the time of this card, Mildred was 16 years old. However, she was only months away from her wedding to Charles Fiske, a man 7 years her senior. For reference, he was 23 to her 16 when they married. Perhaps that’s why Mildred wasn’t writing Mabel back…she was being courted by Charles. Mildred had one son and died in 1988 at the age of 94.

And what of Mabel? The letter suggests the two girls are related (especially since Mabel suggests they spend Christmas with each other’s families), so I went through each of Mildred’s aunt’s and uncles in the hopes I could find a cousin that matched.

And I did…sort of.

Mabelle Florence Beach was born on June 16, 1889. At the time of the postcard, she was 20 years old. This surprised me a little, since the voice of the card reads a tad younger. However, it still tracks. The tragic thing about Mabelle, or perhaps not so tragic depending on how you view it, is that she never married. Her father died in 1907, and in the census of 1920, Mabelle was working as a stenographer. Mabelle died in 1944 at the age of 55. She was buried with her father and mother, which I find endearing. Though, I’m saddened he never gave her the attention she hoped to receive.

What a lovely, lovely card. The love between these two cousins endures, and I’m so grateful to tell their story 115 years later.

Front of Postcard: “In the Berkshires”

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“Greetings”: The Art of Succinct Messages From A 1908 Postcard

To: Mr. Andrew Berlin From: Martin 1908

Greetings from Martin

The beauty of this postcard is astounding, and I’ve loved it since I first saw it. Yet, I’m in the business of connections, not art and the brief greeting on the back of the postcard always left me a little sad. Unlike so many of my cards, there’s almost a lack of connection here. It’s cold, formal, almost a card of obligation rather than desire.

In my (limited) experience, there’s two reasons why a greeting might be so short on a postcard. First, the writer is young. Let’s face it, kids can pepper you with questions, and string stories from their imaginations, but when asked to write a card or a thank you — they freeze up.

Second, short greetings are usually reserved for undivided back postcards sent before 1907. Those required the sender to write on the front and often left little to no space to send more than a “wish you were here.”

This card doesn’t seem to fit any of the above. The handwriting is too elegant to be considered a childish scrawl, it’s dated 1908 with a divided back, AND there’s plenty of blank space on the front for the sender to write a message if they had wanted.

In going into my research on the addressee, I now have a set of questions in my mind. Like, how old were they when the postcard was sent? Is there a Martin in their family tree? And why might the postcard be postmarked in the same city?

It would be a lovely thing if archives opened up and the answers to all our questions spilled out of their coffers. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I am not positive that I found our Andrew Berlin. However, I did find record of an Andrew Berlin living in Minnesota at the 1910 census. In that year, he was 7 years old.

If this is our Andrew (which I am not positive that it is) then the short greeting is appropriate for a five year old. Perhaps an Uncle or a cousin sent the card in the cold March months to cheer the boy up. It’s plausible. A beautiful picture, a succinct greeting, calling him “Mr. Andrew Berlin” as though he’s older than his five years. It’s certainly something I might send to my niece or nephew.

The only sort of broken cog in the machine is that I couldn’t find a relation named Martin for this Andrew. But, I didn’t scroll through the myriad of cousins on both sides of the family, so we can hope.

In the meantime, please enjoy my own maiden meditation.

“Maiden Meditation” front of postcard

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Tripping the Light Fantastic: Exploring Chicago Through a 1942 Postcard

To: Mr. Jim Henry From: Private Shorty Martin, 1942

Taken in the big city of Chicago. We would like to have sleepy here. I am having the time of my life with all the trimmings. Just got here, budies are waiting , tell all hello, will see you all later.

Pvt. Shorty Martin

By November of 1942, the United States had entered into World War II with fists swinging. Although the US had instituted a peacetime draft in 1940 — which required all able bodied men ages 18-45 to register, many of the enlistees were volunteers. Chicago, a city bustling with industry, was a vital crossroads for war preparation.

Not only was Chicago a major industrial city, producing parachutes, bombs, metal sheeting, and airplane engines (among many other things), but was also within easy reach of various military training facilities like Fort Sheridan, Glenview Naval Air Station, and Great Lakes Naval Training Station. It’s no wonder, then that Pvt. Shorty Martin tripped the light fantastic in the bustling streets of Chicago.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find Jim or Shorty. There were a few decent contenders, but none that I could link to Waco definitively. Though, there were more than two “Shorty’s” running around Texas before and after the war. Although I couldn’t find our sender or recipient, it’s fairly easy to imagine a young soldier experiencing a big city for the (maybe) first time in his life.

I do love that he’s meeting up with some of his buddies. I wonder if these are military friends, or simply connections he has in Chicago. It’s feasible that Shorty was African American. As industrialization boomed in the United States — and racism spread after the fall of Reconstruction — Black men and women left the south in waves and traveled north, many of them landing in cities like Chicago. Perhaps Shorty had friends or connections already who had made the move?

I also puzzled over the “would like to have sleepy here.” I couldn’t figure out if he wanted to spend the night, but couldn’t, or if it was a misspelled word (or a mistake in transcription). But, after a minute, I came to the conclusion that I think “sleepy” is a person. He would have “liked to have sleepy here” seems like it’s too bad another friend couldn’t join. I assume Jim knew who sleepy was but nothing is certain in the postcard game.

The card itself is a linen postcard published by Curteich with a vibrant and stunning image of the Chicago skyline. While the scan did bring out many of the colors — it’s even prettier in person.

I do hope Shorty had a fabulous time exploring Chicago. Cheers to him and Jim.

Curteich Postcard: Michigan Avenue North from River, Chicago

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Decoding a Vintage Postcard: Untangling Lois’s family ties

To: Mr. A.D. Keese From: Lois 1940’s

Dear Aunt and Uncle;

Glad to get your card. I will write just as soon as I get time. I really like my job. I really get a kick out of it. I went home this last week in. Saw all of the family but Lee and they are all well.

I will close. Write to me soon.

Love,

Lois

Have you heard from Grandma?

This is one of those sneaky little postcards that has a half legible stamped date. I can see it was sent on September 8, but I don’t know the year! It’s smudged out and lost to time. But, we know it has to be past 1907, since it has the divided back.

The publisher, MWM, appears to have been active in the 30’s and 40’s. I was able to find this same postcard in a few places, but no date. Finally, I found one for sale on ebay with a date of 1947. I think this one likely dates slightly before that, but it’s safe to say Lois wrote to her Aunt and Uncle in the 1940’s.

Even casual students of history know that the 40’s were a time of sweeping change. World War II took up half the decade, and in the United States, the war years saw a great gush of women in the workplace as they stepped in to fill jobs left by men.

For the first (and last) time, we created a country that allowed women to work. Childcare was subsidized by the government, women were not only allowed to work, but encouraged to work. Many found fulfillment in wartime jobs, only to be shuttled back to the suburbs when men came home from the war.

And what of A.D. Keese and his niece, Lois? Without a first name I was not confident that I’d find A.D. and his niece. Yet, magically, the family popped up under my first search! It took some time to make sure I had the *right* A.D. and even now, of course I’m never 100% confident. But, I feel pretty good about these ones.

A.D. Keese was born Arthur David Keese on December 29 or 1883. In the census of 1930 he was listed as a farmer, and by his draft registration in 1942, he was living in Florence, Texas. On December 19 of 1915 he married Myrtle Farmer. Arthur died in 1976, and Myrtle passed four years later, in 1980. They are buried together.

Myrtle is integral to the story, however, because Myrtle is the blood aunt of Lois. Lois Donham Carr was a Christmas Eve baby, born December 24, 1924. Unfortunately, the record on Lois is a bit thin. I know that she married and had children, but as for what job she was doing when she sent the postcard, I’m not sure. Perhaps some sort of secretarial work? What is clear is that she had a sweet connection with her extended family and took the time to — not only write, but type — a card to them in her early 20’s.

As for Grandma, Lenora Farmer (Lois had Lenora’s middle name, by the way), she lived until the age of 81, and died in 1955.

What a wonderful opportunity to tell their story. I can see why this postcard has survived through many hands.

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Celebrating a Roaring 20’s Birthday: Warren Spitler’s Legacy and the Mystery of Effye

To: Mr. Warren Spitler From: Effye 1920

Am having the time of my life. Can you find me on the beach? Come down, the water is fine. All well and able to sit up an take notice.

Effye.

The 1920 census was the first census to record a population of over 100 million in the United States. 192o was the ACLU was founded, and Congress decided not to join the League of Nations. By August 26, the 19th Amendment of the Constitution was passed, granting women the right to vote. Racial tensions, however, ran high in the nation. Lynchings occurred in throughout the year in both the North and the South. The Roaring Twenties had truly begun.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you may recognize this card. This is one of the first cards I posted, and I didn’t research it. Since I had a bit of a late day at work, I decided to revisit the card and do a little bit of research. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find anything — as you know that’s how the jelly rolls sometimes, but I like the art on this card. I think it’s beautiful and I love the beach scene. So, I figured I’d give it a go.

Imagine my surprise when I easily found a Warren Spitler in the family search records. Even stranger, Warren was born on September 18, 1884. The post date of this blog will be the anniversary of his 140th birthday! I’m a bit of a superstitious gal, and I can’t help but think Warren may have had something to do with the timing. Let’s get into it.

As I said, Warren was born on September 18, 1884 in Augusta, Virginia. There’s no (accessible) information on him until the 1930 census, which places him in Covington. He was 45, and living with his brother and his brother’s family. He’d remain there in the 1940 census as well. Both the census records and Find a Grave indicate that he was a salesman in a department store, though was type I don’t know.

It seems that Warren never married, so I wondered who Effye may have been and what relationship the two of them had. I thought perhaps a sister, though there was none that stood out as having the nickname Effye. There is an Abbie, so maybe that’s it? The handwriting also seems a bit childish to me, so I thought niece perhaps? But, searching through the family tree I can’t find many of his siblings who married. If you note the grave, Warren is buried next to his brother Clarence, also unmarried. I didn’t go deep into the family tree, but there weren’t many nieces or nephews to be found.

So, who is Effye? Is it a nickname for a sister or a niece? Is it a friend of Warren’s, or perhaps even a cousin? There’s a few cousins that could fit the bill, but again I came up short. Still, I hope that Warren found time to “sit up and take notice” on the beautiful beach with the people he loved.

Happy birthday Mr. Warren Spitler!

Front of Postcard, 1920

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Ida’s 1958 Postcard: Desperately Seeking Summer

To: Mrs. Chas C. Green. From: Ida Lyon

Dear Bea(?) (or Beau?)

Just a card and few. lines — hope yous are well and enjoy yourselves. I’ll be glad(?) when Spring is here so I can be outside. Love snow now. Must close for now. Write when you can.

Love as always,

Your Friend,

Ida Lyon(?)

In 1958, Eisenhower was President, Bobby Fisher won the US Chess Championship, the plastic hula hoop is first marketed, and the space race is in full swing. The country may have been leaning into scientific progress, but it would be another two years before Ruby Bridges stepped into the halls of a white school, and another seven before the Civil Rights Act was passed that outlawed discriminatory voting practices.

It took me a while to research this card, in part because the names aren’t super clear. Again, we have a card that’s being mailed to a woman, but her name is obscured by her husband. I started there, with “Chas Green”. Quickly, I found that Chas is often short for Charles (yay internet!), so I then started to search Charles, Charles C, etc etc, all to no avail. I thought I might get a hit off the address, but no luck.

And what about Ida? Well, I can’t be sure that her last name IS Lyon. Nonetheless, I searched the name on Family Search, and started weeding through the Ida’s. Sometimes searching the archives is like trying to find breadcrumbs lost in a dirt path. They are there, and you can find them, but it’s very difficult.

Since I’m fairly certain this card starts out with a pet name (Bea or Beau) I considered that it was a possibility Ida was writing to her sister. I went to every Ida that would fit the timeframe, and followed the family trees to check sisters and their husbands. On very rare occasions, this tactic has worked and I’ve been able to find the subjects of my postcard.

This time, it did not work. I did find an Ida with a slew of sisters, one of whom was a Betty. Betty was married four times, and as I kept scrolling I hoped that one of them had the last name “green.” She did not, so I kept searching to no avail.

Despite the fact that I couldn’t find Ida or Mrs. Chas Green, the postcard itself is lovely. I get the sense that Ida is a bit cooped up, though she seems to love the snow (I think), she’s already longing for the warm days of summer and looking for connection in the dark and chilly season. It’s also very typical of a 1950’s postcard. It has the divided back, a two cent stamp, and the image on the front has a white border around it that was normal for the era.

Whomever they were, I hope they connected via a longer letter, and managed to see each other in the warmth of Summer.

Mississippi River Lock and Dam, Fountain City, Wis

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Beach Vacation and Friendship: The Postcard of Anna Hickey

To: Miss Anna Hickey, From: Ellen R. 1910’s

Dear Anna,

I did not see you to say good bye. We are all here and it is just grand up here. How is all your family? I hope all well. This is like the beach we go to. Goodbye

From,

Ellen R.

(On Cayuga Lake)

At top: By Biddeford Pool(?)…Maine

Although the postmark on this card has faded, I’m reasonably sure this dates to between 1909-1912. There’s all the usual suspects: a divided back, a one cent stamp, the publishing company (which began in 1908). But the clincher for me is the beach scene on the front of the postcard. The waves are filled with vacation revelers, but the women are dressed in the long bathing dresses of the early 20th century. Further, their hair is pinned up in the distinct Gibson Girl style that defined the beauty standards of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

So, although I don’t have an exact date, it is with relative certainty that I can say this postcard was sent during a time when the nation was on the cusp of change. The Progressives were far from perfect, but they fought against the corruption of the gilded age. Standards of living rose, labor practices became better for workers, and women…

Well, women wouldn’t get the right to vote for another ten years. And remember, that’s effectively only white women. Alas, alack, at least the styles were beautiful.

As for Anna and her friend Ellen? I’m pretty sure I found Anna, though I’m not entirely confident the time frame works out. I found an Anna Hickey living in Aurora, New York, but she was born in 1862. Which, if my time line is correct, would make her nearing 50 by the time this postcard was sent. While, of course, many women chose to remain unmarried, this Anna did marry. Through a stroke of luck I found a small obituary entry that announced her death with her full name — both maiden and married (Murphy).

This Anna lived a long life, and died in 1956. So, it’s possible she married late in life. But seeing as the title is “Miss” on the card, I tend to think our Anna is younger. Unfortunately, the obituary was the only solid piece of evidence I found. So, if Anna had a niece named after her, I wouldn’t know. It’s also feasible that Anna was a middle name, or short for Annabelle, or Anastasia.

Though, every day I find something stuck behind a paywall it chips away at my resistance to only use free services.

Nonetheless, it seems that Ellen had a lovely time in Maine. Biddeford Pool is a tidal pool with sleek waves and soft beaches. I’d like to think that she wrote her postcard to Anna on the beach, staring at the ocean. Maybe a breeze played at her loosely pinned up hair, maybe her skin flushed a bit from the sun. But she took time out of her vacation to share the moment with her friend. And now, it’s immortalized for us us to share.

“Bathing Scene at the Pier,” Old Orchard, ME