Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: aunts

I chose musicians in order to pick a theme about people (or any other topic) for the first week of Wild Card Month—Pick Your Own Theme! in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. The handwritten message on the front of this real photo postcard (see the left-hand side) is: "Vara Light, 928 Maple St., Lebanon, Pa. Answer soon." There's no stamp or postmark on the other side, but Vara Light addressed the postcard to " Miss Sarah Zimmerman , Linglestown, Pa.," and also wrote a message: "This is a picture taken at Mt. Aetna last summer. The one standing is my uncle, a minister. Also the one with the violin [meaning that the violinist is also one of her uncles?]. The lady with the guitar is my aunt. Am working now in Lebanon. Tell Miles to answer my card." This postcard back has an AZO stamp box (four corner triangles pointing up), which suggests a date as early as 1904 to 1918. Vara Katherine Light married William Hoehle Keller on September 1, 1910, and at that time her address was 330 N. 9th Street, Lebanon, Pa. It seems likely, then, that the card dates to sometime prior to their wedding. I haven't been able to identify which of Vara's aunts and uncles might be the musicians in the photo, but they may have been siblings of her father, Harry Henry Light , who was a prominent businessman in Lebanon, Pa. I previously posted a Small-Town Parade with Cornet Band and Church Float photo for the theme of people playing musical instruments in 2014 and another photo showing Pop Morehead's Family for the theme of musicians and musical instruments this past April. For other photos and ephemera, see my Music and Musicians album.

Jennie B. Dorsey, left, and her aunt, Mrs. Amanda J. (Dorsey) Watkins, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

A picture that tells a sad story (either in the photo or written on the back) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. The woman at left on the front of this real photo postcard is Jennie B. Dorsey, who was visiting her aunt (her father's sister), Mrs. Amanda J. (Dorsey) Watkins, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1911 (mouse over the image above for a close-up view of the women). As Amanda wrote on the back of the card, "This is a picture of my niece who has the consumption," which was another term for tuberculosis , an incurable infectious disease at the time. On the front of the card, Amanda added, "She has been failing ever since she returned to her home in Scranton, Pa." Sadly, Jennie did pass away the following year on April 3, 1912. She was only 24 years old, and her death certificate listed the cause of her death as pulmonary tuberculosis. This real photo postcard was postmarked in Columbus, Ohio, on July 13, 1911. It was addressed to Miss Lizzie Seitz, Post Office Box, Muncie, Ind. Message on the front of the postcard: Jennie Dorsey & Mrs. Watkins in Clarksburg, W.Va. She has been failing ever since she returned to her home in Scranton, Pa. Message on the other side: Dear Miss Seitz, This is a picture of my niece who has the consumption and I on our lawn, and this is the house we live in. We are at the camp for 2 days. We are not very well in body. Will write more in a letter soon. We all send love. So sorry about your eyes. Use salt water diluted and get the juice of a grape vine. Be careful, don't use strong medicine. Be careful and rest them all you can. I cured mine with salt water.

That's Gilbert's Aunt Sue with Spottie the cat perched on her shoulder, and Uncle John is holding Pat the dog. Check out the full version of this real photo postcard:

A handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard says, "For dear little Gilbert from uncle John, aunt Sue, Pat, and Spottie cat with lots of love and kisses ." Unfortunately, there's no address or postmark on the card, and I don't have any additional information regarding the location of Cozy Nook Farm or the identity of Gilbert and his aunt and uncle. You've probably already noticed that Uncle John is holding Pat the dog. But have you spotted Spottie the cat yet? If not, mouse over the image above to see where Spottie is located .

A proud of their blooming plant photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. In 1910, sixty-year-old Sarah Hetyke posed for this photo next to the blooming mock orange tree in her yard and then wrote a poignant message to her three-year-old nephew on the back of it (see below). Handwritten on the back of this real photo postcard: Lewis Stifler Aug. 9, 1910 Dear Lewis, I am 60 and you are 3. You keep this to look at when I am dead and gone, and remember me. And I hope you will grow up to be a good and useful man. Lovingly, Your Aunt Sarah Hetyke Taken in the yard beside the mock orange tree when [it was] in full bloom.

Printed on back of this real photo postcard: "Myers Cope Co., 1521 & 1635 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J." Handwritten on back: "Aunt Sara Gongaware."