Category: Photographs

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Postcards and Progress: Etta’s Excitement, Ethel’s Mystery, and a Glimpse into 1900s Life

To Mrs. W. Beals, From: Etta J P (unclear). 1907-1915

I suppose you are home and “hard at it” as I have been. I am on the verge of getting some new bedroom furniture so I am all excitement. I will write you a letter some time soon. Hope you and Dorothy. We were greatly recovered(?) all wish to be (unclear)

Etta J. P(unclear)

On flipped side: write me a letter and tell me bout your stay at the beach

Although I can’t be certain when this particular postcard was written, there are some clues. It’s a divided back, which means it has to be 1907 or after. The handwriting exhibits the cursive style script that was typical of the early 1900’s, and many of the Acegraph company postcards were printed and sent between 1910-1912. So, I think it’s safe to say that this postcard is somewhere in-between 1907-1915. Which, if you’ve followed along with me for a while, you’ll know is my personal favorite time-period for a postcard. I do love those wily progressives.

I’ve been re-visiting some of the postcards I posted back when I started this blog, and this is one of them. It’s actually one of my favorite messages I’ve seen on a postcard because Etta is simply dripping with excitement about her bedroom furniture. It makes me wonder if she was a new wife, or perhaps she and her husband recently moved, or maybe they had been saving for some time. Especially since she says she’s on the “verge” of getting new furniture and she is “all excitement.” I love the imagery of it.

As for Mrs. W. Beals, I’m 87% sure I found her. And, when I say she fell in my lap by chance, I mean it. I’ve talked before about how difficult it is to find women when they are obscured by their husbands name. It’s even more difficult when the sender of a postcard abbreviates the name (like “w” for example). As a historian, it presents a fun, challenging mystery. But it’s also super frustrating sometimes! Nonetheless, I figured that Bluefield was small enough that I might get a hit. I found some “Beals” and started following the family trees.

Wouldn’t you know it, a few clicks later and I had found William Jacob Beals, and his wife Ethel Julia Cross. They were married in 1908 (which fits the timeline) and had a daughter…wait for it…named Dorothy born in 1909! In the census of 1910 and 1920, they also lived in Bluefield West Virginia.

Ethel Julia Cross was born on April 2, 1888 in Minnesota. At the age of 20, she married William Jacob Beals in Pennsylvania. From there, they moved to Bluefield, West Virginia. The couple had two children, Dorothy and William. I’m not sure why they lived in Bluefield, but the city boomed because of it’s coal mines. At one point in the late 19th century, it was also considered the “city of millionaires” because there was so much wealth fixated in such a small spot.

At some point, she and her husband made it out to sunny California, because her grave is located in Los Angeles. Ethel died on September 7 of 1973, about 20 years after her husband.

I had hoped that I’d be able to find Etta, because I feel confident she’s related to Ethel in some way. However, no luck. Ethel’s grandparents aren’t listed in her tree, so any search for cousins or family connections runs dry. Nonetheless, the archival Gods aren’t usually this kind, and I must remember to present them with an offering later tonight.

I do hope Ethel lived a wonderful life, and I hope she enjoyed her time in the sun in California. I also hope that Etta’s furniture was exactly as she hoped it would be!

Front of Postcard: Randolph Macon Women’s College, Lynchburg, VA

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Unanswered Letters: A 1914 Postcard and Ruth Kenison’s “Secret” Marriage

To: Miss Ruth Kenison, From: F.R. La Barre 1914

Am on my way to Winona Minn. to see my kid brother.

F.R. La Barre

In 1914, Woodrow Wilson was president, the Ford Motor Company instituted the 8 hour shift and $5 per day wage, Babe Ruth made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox, and World War I began in Europe. Great social upheavals pervaded the world.

In 1914, Winona, Minnesota was a decent sized town that grew up due to the steam boat and railroad industry. As of 2020, there were 25,000 people living. Dubuque, Iowa is an even larger town, and what’s fun is Julien Dubuque’s Grave really looks a lot like the image on the postcard. I assume our friend F.R. traveled through Dubuque on his way to Iowa. Though what’s interesting is that the postcard was addressed to San Diego…quite a long way from where he was.

As for Ruth, I think I found her. I found a Ruth Kenison living in San Diego in 1914, but here’s the kicker…she lived in Iowa as a child. In fact, she was there in 1910 at the age of 14! This is the type of connection that really clinches an identification for me. By the census of 1920, Ruth’s parents were living in San Diego, California. So, I have to assume that at some point between 1910 and 1914, the family made the move west. F.R. easily could have been a childhood friend sending a quick note because they thought of Ruth.

What I did find interesting is that in June of 1914, Ruth Belle Kenison married Hugh Adams Haffley in San Diego. She was 18 at the time. This postcard was mailed in August, but still used the title “Miss”, so it makes me think that F.R. wasn’t aware of the marriage. She was awfully young, even for the early 1900’s, and I have to wonder…was it a secret marriage? Was it rushed? or was it simply kids making choices?

Ruth ended up on Coronado — a “tied island” in San Diego County. You may know it from the beach scenes in Top Gun, but it was initially settled specifically for tourism. It’s known for sparkling beaches and the Hotel Del Coronado. She marBy 1929 Ruth lived in Oklahoma, but she moved back to California by way of Sacramento. Born August 2, 1895, she died on Christmas day in 1971 at the age of 76. I have to wonder what she did in Coronado. Was she a worker, or did her husband have money and own land out there? I wish I could find more information.

As for F.R…as so often happens, without a full first name, I wasn’t able to find them. I feel like it was probably a man, based on handwriting alone. But just because I think everything revolves around love, doesn’t mean that it does. This could be a cousin or family friend. Either way, what’s clear is that F.R did not know about Ruth’s marriage. I hope the message found Ruth, and she was able to write back to F.R.

Front of Postcard: “The Monument at Julien Dubuque’s Grave”

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Promises, Procrastination, and Postcards: Unraveling a 1912 Tease to Frank Van Gordon

To: Mr. Frank Van Gordon. From, Chuck(?) 1912

Dear Old Friend:

How are you. I am fine and dandy. Marie said she was saving her daughter for you so don’t get married. “Ha Ha”. I never got your letter until the other day and will just send you a card. Haven’t seen tasel(?) for a long time. Well so long and soon.

Yours,

Chuck

542 N. Elder Ave, Indpls

In 1912, William Howard Taft was the president, New Mexico and Arizona were admitted as the 47th and 48th U.S. State (respectively), and in the early hours of April 15, the RMS Titanic sank in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Suffragettes paraded in New York City, and Theodore Roosevelt was shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, proceeds to give a speech, then goes to the hospital.

It was a crazy year.

This card is one of the first postcards I put on this blog, though I felt like I never quite did it justice. There is just so, so much going on. First, there’s the innuendo that “marie” is “saving” her daughter for Frank. Which…I guess the jibe is fun but it gives me a bit of the ick. I also wonder why Chuck “never got” Frank’s letter. As a professional procrastinator, I wonder if Chuck did in fact get the letter, forgot about it until he saw Marie, then remembered to send a card.

Much to my chagrin, I couldn’t find Frank at all. There were a few decent candidates, but none of them fit the timeline well. I have to assume that in 1912 Frank was somewhere between 20-30 (I’d guess 22), especially seeing as his friend is teasing him about getting married. Also, Antigo is a relatively small town, though it’s part of the lumber industry. It’s possible that Frank was a lumber worker.

Which might be why he’s hidden from us in the archives. If he only worked in Antigo as a seasonal worker, or for a year or two, then there would have been no reason for the census to record him living in that city. Also, I wonder if he’s listed in the archives as simply “Frank Gordon”. It’d be strange, since “Van Gordon” isn’t that crazy of a last name, but it’s still possible I suppose.

Well, I revisited this card in the hopes that I could shed a little more light on Frank and his friend. I’m sorry that I couldn’t find them! At least I feel like I’ve given the card it’s due — especially since so much happened during 1912! I do wonder what happened to Frank. I hope he lived a good life, and managed to sit down to dinner with Chuck at some point.

As an aside, the postcard front is so silly when you connect it to the message on the back. Chuck is teasing Frank about a wife, then sends a card that reads “I found a Queen in Indianapolis. If you’re wise, you’ll hurry here.” That’s more than a hint, it’s a smack across the head with a trowel.

Front of Postcard. “I found a Queen in Indianapolis If you’re wise you’ll hurry here.”

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No Rest for the Wicked: The Life of a Teacher in 1945

To: Mrs. J. Clarkson, From: Ruth. 1945

Monday Evening

10:30 PM

Sept. 3, 1945

Dearest Mother,

Haven’t seen this yet, but there’s a view for you. (unclear) badly put in our first work day and it wasn’t too bad. Spent the morning registering and signing forms. Had a picnic lunch out on the lawn and back to lectures and instructions until 5 p.m. Came back to hotel, changed, and (unclear) to a place called “Treasure Island” for dinner. Did some window shopping on the way back and here I am. Have to be Johnny-on-the-spot tomorrow at 9 a.m. Howe’s everything?

All my love,

your, Ruth.

September 3, 1945 was “Victory over Japan” day, or V-J Day, as that’s when Japan officially signed documents of surrender. Though, you wouldn’t know it from this particular postcard. In fact, there’s no mention of the war at all, not even a passing relief that it was finally over. As a historian, I find this fascinating.

In 1945, citizens of the United States had borne witness to the horrors that came out of the end of World War II. Liberated concentration camps, sunken faces of POW’s, and Nuclear Bombs pervaded newspapers for months. It’s no wonder, then, that Ruth simply tried to lead a normal life. As we know so well, when everything around you feels like it’s tumbling down, you cling to what you can control. Perhaps that’s what Ruth was doing, leaning into the mundane because she could control it.

When I started out, I wasn’t sure I would find Ruth or her family. I did have her first and last name, but I didn’t have the name of her mother, or father. However, after digging a bit on the internet, I found that in 1938, Ruth was teaching high school. The entry is as follows:

Miss Ruth Barbara CLARKSON
Who has taught at the Lincoln School for several years and is completing her first year at Manistee High School, received her A.B. degree from the University of Michigan. She teaches civics (12), economics (12), sociology (12), and English (11). Miss CLARKSON was born in Highland Park, Illinois, and is a graduate of Manistee High School. She assisted the Junior Class sponsor with the J-Hop.
(“Most Popular” female faculty member)

Since Manistee is a relatively small town, and since the time-frame sits right, I figured I had our Ruth. More digging, and I confirmed that Miss Ruth Barbara Clarkson, the most popular female faculty member at Manistee High School in 1938 is very likely our Ruth. I managed to find her grave, which lists her father as Joseph W. Clarkson. Hence, “Mrs. J. Clarkson.”

Ruth was born on October 9, 1910 to Joseph and Bessie Clarkson. Because of that wonderful yearbook blurb, we know that she earned a degree at the University of Michigan, and taught high school for several years. She died on April 13, 1963 at only 52. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find an obituary.

Why was she in Washington D.C? The tone of the card indicates she was doing some sort of work, and that she planned on going to Mount Vernon. And, I have to wonder, did she take students on a trip out there? Was it some sort of Civics convention? I myself will be taking the 8th graders I teach to Washington D.C. this Spring. It’s possible that she was on some sort of school trip. Perhaps that’s why she went through a list of everything they did. And maybe that’s why she had to be “Johnny-on-the-spot” in the morning. She had a bunch of students to wrangle!

It’s only conjecture, of course. The postcard gives us a lot of detail, but very little actual knowledge. What is apparent, however, is that she must have been close to her mother.

I do love this postcard. I hope Ruth had a wonderful time, and I hope she spent more lovely days in Washington D.C. seeing the sights, and taking picnics on the last days of summer.

“Washington’s Home” Mount Vernon, VA.

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“Take Care of Puff and Fluff”: Exploring 1957 Through a Family Postcard.

To: Master David Thomas. From: “Mom” 1957

Tues Eve.

Dear David,

How are you today. The water looked like this, so John hasn’t been swimming yet. We had dinner with Stella yesterday and we drove around. We crossed on the ferry boat today. I should get your Canadian dollar tomorrow.

Love, Mom

Take good care of Puff and Fluff

In 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president (with Nixon has his VP), and despite the attempt at gilded edges, the nation was entering a massive era of change. Elvis Presley moved his family into Graceland, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was shown on television, and West Side Story opened on Broadway. The Little Rock Nine were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, and eventually the National Guard had to be sent in to allow the students to enter. The 50’s were in full swing, an era of prosperity for some and civil action for others.

For those of you who read my blog daily, you may notice that the front of this postcard is the exact same as the front of my postcard from yesterday. The difference between the two, however, is 30 years. While yesterday’s postcard was written by a young man to his friend, this postcard is much more maternal. Signed only “mom” and filled with family news about the vacation. My favorite part about this particular message is the name of the pets, who I’m guessing are cats? Puff and Fluff are the most adorable names for animal friends. I also love that mom referred to her son as “Master David Thomas” as though he’s lord of the house while they are away. It’s very sweet.

Ironically, I struggled to find “Master David” in the archives. I suspect this is because he’s still alive. I could find record of a David M. Thomas still living in Wheeler, Michigan. This David was born around 1948, which would have put him at 9 years old at the time of the postcard. This feels fitting. It’s possible he stayed home with a grandparent while the parents and older children (or aunts and uncles?) went to Lake Michigan. It’s also possible the parents were doing a college tour with the elder son (John, perhaps?). Anyway, if a person is still alive, they don’t really exist much in the archive except through census records.

If I knew who “mom” was, I’d probably be able to find the family. But, alas, that’s the way it goes sometimes.

Nonetheless, I do hope that puff and fluff were well taken care of, and given lots of extra treats by the man of the house, Master David Thomas.

As an aside, I also tried to research the postcard itself, and it turns out that they were fairly popular! Which, considering I have two of the exact same image 30 years apart, isn’t too surprising. But, I do wonder who sold them. Was the postcard picked up at a local shop? Was this image so popular it was constantly in print? For anything to survive multiple editions over 30 years is quite the feat. If only my endeavors could be so prolific!

“A Rough Day on Lake Michigan” Photo Postcard

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A Friendship Through Time: Robert and Colby’s Story

To: Mr. Colby Reed. From: Robert Hensley, 1927

Dear Colby –

I am feeling fine and having a good time swimming. How would you like to take a dip with me.

Yours Truly,

Robert Hensley

Another postcard from the Roaring Twenties! I must be feeling the vibe of flappers and speakeasies! And, honestly, 1927 was a bit of a wild year. Actress Mae West was sentenced to 10 days in jail for her play titled “sex” because she “corrupted the morals of youth.” The Supreme Court decided the case Buck v. Bell which allowed for the compulsory sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities. I hate to tell you that this precedent hasn’t been specifically overturned, though it fell out of use in 1942 after Skinner vs. Oklahoma. In other news, the last Ford Model T is produced (later replaced with the Model A) and the Jazz Singer opened to great success; the beginning of the end for silent films.

There is a lot that is interesting to me about this card. One of the main points of interest is that I have two of the exact same cards (“A Rough Day on Lake Michigan”) postmarked 30 years apart. I decided to post this one today, and I’ll do the second one tomorrow. Sort of a fun trek through time to see that, when it comes to vacations, not much changes.

And so Robert Hensley found himself on Lake Michigan and decided to write to his friend, Colby Reed. Unfortunately, even though I have Robert’s full name, I couldn’t be positive I found him in the records. As is often the case with postcards, the people who wrote them are obscured by the card itself. Colby knew Robert, did not need an address, or probably even a last name. Thus, the act of recording a message and sending it to a friend becomes an act of erasure when it comes to family searches.

Colby, however, was much easier. With the city and state, I found him quickly. Colby P. Reed was born October 25 of 1909. At the time of this postcard, he was about 17 years old. Which honestly tracks, because the handwriting on the card is stilted and juvenile. It’s clearly two friends writing to each other, and I’d assume Robert is roughly the same age as Colby.

In 1923, Colby’s father died at the age of 56. His mother remarried that same year. Still, Colby would have been about 14 when this happened, and must have impacted him significantly. In 1938, Colby married Jean Cordelia McConoughey. What’s interesting is that there aren’t any draft records for WWII attached to his profile. This doesn’t mean that he didn’t register for the draft — at 33 he would have had to — but it is a gap in the records that makes my historian spidey senses tingle. Was there a medical ailment that made him unfit for service? In the census of 1940, he was working as a shop foreman, so I can’t imagine that he had a job that would prevent him from registering. I’m sure the record just hasn’t been attached yet, but it does make me wonder more about him.

Colby had one child, Ardis, and sadly outlived her. She passed away in 1999 to his 2000.

Since I couldn’t find any mention of Robert in Colby’s family line, I’m guessing they were school chums. Close enough for a 17 year old to hold on to a postcard for nearly 100 years.

If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is.

Front of Postcard: “A rough Day on Lake Michigan”

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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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May 8, 1945: A Momentous Day

To: Mrs. S.G. Zoeger From: K.B 1945

I hope you had a good time while away.

K.B.

May 8, 1945 was a momentous day for the Western World. In the lead up to this day, we were nearing the end of the storm that was World War II. With the knowledge that allied forces were advancing on Germany, Adolf Hitler took his life and effectively ruined any hail mary on Germany’s part. And, on May 8, 1945, the Allies accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender.

This was Victory in Europe day.

Which is likely why the date was added posthumously, perhaps by Mrs. Zoegler herself. As historical dates often do, when we wake up and go about our lives, we don’t imagine that particular day will become important. But, of course, some days are filled with significance, and this was one of those days.

After hitting such a jackpot yesterday, I decided to choose a card that I’d been holding off on, particularly because I had the feeling that the research would be difficult. Not only is this card not postmarked or addressed, but the two people involved are obscured beneath their initials. However, we still have the clue of the card itself: an image of the City Investing Building in New York City, so that’s where I started.

Surprisingly, I found a few Zoegers. One family in Illinois even seemed promising, though not promising enough for me to be confident in telling their story. Alas, we will never know about the trip they took, or who K.B. may have been. My instinct tells me that K.B. may have been a neighbor who dropped a card into a mailbox when they saw their neighbors were back. From what trip? We won’t know.

But, perhaps that’s not the story this postcard is supposed to tell. Maybe, this card is to remind us that eventful days are just like all the others. They stream in and out of our lives like spider silk. It’s only once we step back for a moment that we can see the huge web of significance that tells our own stories.

Front of Postcard: Image of the City Investing Building