Lucy Albertine Helene Traulsen

Subject: Lucy Albertine Helene Traulsen
Age: 15
Date: Spring 1906
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Occasion: 8th Grade Graduation
Photographer: W. L. Stein, 452 Mitchell St., Milwaukee.

I posted this photograph on Facebook during Mother's Day week, sans the border. This view gives you the actual photograph. As Waswo has pointed out in previous posts, during this time, the mounting on heavy cardboard allowed you to stand the photograph without a frame.

If memory serves me correctly, Lucy, my grandmother, went no further in her education. She was fortunate as a young woman during this era to receive any formal education. My Chicago female relatives were not as fortunate as many did not even make it to the eighth grade and were required to leave school in order to work. From eighth grade, Lucy went to work in the family bakery. In future posts, I will provide more detail into the life of a female bakery worker.

Getting back to the photograph, in my opinion photography during this era was truly an art form. From your first glace you can just feel the preparation the subject and photographer went through to capture this special moment. Lucy was so beautiful, you can feel her youth radiate. Think how happy this moment was. She completed school and graduated. She received this beautiful new dress, and perhaps even the locket in the photograph was a graduation gift. I love the high white socks and the white shoes with the white bow. Lucy must have felt all grown up, diploma in her hand and ready to meet the world. I am so happy that my great grandparents had the means to capture this special day, and that it persevered for 104 years! I feel very fortunate to have this very special photograph of a person who I not only loved, but was so special in my own life.

My Cousin Waswo commented on this photograph on Facebook, "Wow Wicho...this photo is just a stunner. Not just because it is Grandma Lucy. It is just an exquisite portrait, a beautiful photograph. You are lucky to have it. Would be interesting for you to start a blog about your collection. Post one photograph each week and write a little family history. Seems like you might enjoy it, and it'd certainly be great to read."

And so the humble beginnings of this blog.

Heartache

Subject: William Paul Edwin Traulsen
Occasion: Birth? First Birthday?
Date: Unknown
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Photographer: Unknown

William is the first child of Henning and Alma Traulsen. William was born August 22, 1887. Imagine the joy, Henning and Alma's first child. Photography was expensive, but they needed to mark this very special occasion. Unfortunately all their dreams faded when William passed away on November 29, 1889. He was one year and three months old, and is buried in the Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI. I do not know the details of young William's passing. What heartache Alma and Henning must have felt? What potential was lost with William's untimely death? You are probably looking at the only picture of William.

The picture itself was large close to 6" x 8". It was mounted on heavy cardboard. I do not know what the original was like, as the photograph was cut into an oval shape, and placed in an oval frame. I assume the frame was broken, as all that remains is the photograph. I don't know who cut the photograph, was it the once proud mother, Alma? Or was it her daughter, Alma Bertha? Alma Bertha might have wanted to remember her older brother even though he passed before she was born.

Subject: George Daniel Waswo III
Occasion: High School Graduation
Date: 1966
Location: West Allis, WI
Photographer: Unknown

Daniel was the son of George Daniel Waswo, Jr. and Lucille G. Waswo. He was born on June 23, 1948. Such great potential was lost at an early age, as Dan passed away on May 18, 1974 at the age of 25. He is buried at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield, WI. At the time of his death, Dan was working on his car. It was speculated that the wind closed the door to the garage, and Dan was overcome by carbon monoxide. It was a shock, and I remember it.

As a child, my brother and I loved Dan, and his brother Rick. We loved it when Dan would babysit us. Dan would take what he had learned and presented it in an imaginable way that not only entertained, but taught.

I have fond memories of our living room becoming a cave. Dan would turn off all the lights, and we would walk around with flash lights. The furnishings magically transformed into cave architect through our imagination. I remember my mom and dad coming home early from their evening out, to find the house dark with light from the flashlights beaming around the living room. I can only imagine now what at the time they were thinking.

Dan sparked my imagination as well as opened my mind to enjoy learning. This is a trait I have carried through my entire life. When he passed, it was a major blow, and I have always felt a piece of my heart died that day with him. I can still visualize it in my mind.

Henning William and Alma Helen Traulsen

Subject: Alma Helen Wolff(age: 21)and Henning William Traulsen Sr.(age: 26)
Occasion: Wedding Day
Date: October 15, 1886 (but also reported as October 30, 1886)
Photographer: Runkel, 469 Third Street, Milwaukee, Wis.

I posted two views of the same photograph to give you the historical context of what photography consisted of at the turn of the century. The photograph was mounted on heavy cardboard.

Henning was born on December 23, 1860 in Karlberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He emigrated to the United States and arrived on May 5, 1885.

Alma Helen Wolff was born on November 23, 1865 in Schniedermuhl Proving
Rosen, Germany (my spelling may be incorrect as I was reading it from a very old document). Alma arrived in the United States on October 12, 1882.

I am not sure whether this marriage was arranged. In fact, I know very little history. It is my hope that some of my other family members will comment and provided some additional information.

Henning and Alma were the parents of my maternal Grandmother Lucy Albertine Helene Traulsen. That is my connection.

In my opinion, photography during this time was an art form. In a way, a poor man's painted portrait. Painting by far, was much more time consuming and expensive. One might say that at this time all photography portraits were similar. I beg to differ. Upon viewing this photograph you are immediately drawn to the people. Every detail was carefully prepared before the photograph was taken. I like the earrings, but notice the lack of a necklace on Alma. There appears to be a wedding band on her left hand, but Henning's left hand is not prominent and you can not really tell if he is wearing a band. I also like the view of the watch chain and fob.

I doubt very much that this picture was taken on the actual wedding day. It was probably scheduled after the wedding. It appears much preparation went into the making of this photograph by the subjects, as well as the photographer.

I also want to share, that I have started my family tree on ancestry.com. Many of you reading this are probably located in the tree. Please contact me and I can provide access to the tree. Feel free to share any information, dates, places, events and even stories regarding any member of our family. I will be happy to include it. Stories add to our history so that it is not just statistics. Our family lived and loved and I think it is an honor to remember them.

Happy Mother's Day

Subject: Norma Elsbeth Waswo
Occasion: High School Graduation
Date: 1939
Age: 18
Photographer: Unknown.

What better way to begin a Blog than to start it on Mother's Day, and also post a picture that basically began it all for my life.

It is my intention to share a photograph weekly from my archive, and include as much information as I can. I encourage viewers to comment as they see fit. It is my hope that family members and friends will add additional information. Many of the earlier pictures, my comments are limited by the verbal history passed down from the relatives.

I decided to post this picture on Facebook in honor of mom. A family member and a friend, encouraged me to begin a blog. I have decided to take them up on the challenge.

Getting back to the photograph below is the comment I posted on Facebook:
'This is mom's high school graduation picture. I have always loved this picture, she is so beautiful. When I was a very small child, I would tell her that I would take care of her. Back then, I never thought it would come true. She took loving care of me for 18 years, and I was able to return the favor for 6 years. I love her, I miss her. I am grateful that her last years were good. She was well taken care of and surrounded with love. Her promises and wishes came true'.

The stories surrounding mom's high school days were not happy ones. Mom was to graduate in 1939. The picture was taken and plans were made. Unfortunately the health of mom's father took a turn for the worse. Norma's mother withdrew her from school so mom could help in the grocery store. The family had a business that needed to keep running. Mom graduated a year later, but her words relayed to me were ones of remorse. She not only had to see her father sick and dying, but also give up her senior year of high school, graduating with classmates below her. Mom never appeared to be bitter, but experiences such as these shape the rest of your life.