My cousin has been kind enough to share with me some of our family's old postcards. She has been sending me little bundles of old postcards from the 1920s which belonged to my Great Grandma Italy. And, if you have read any posts prior to this one- you know I love my Great Grandmother very much. So these little bundles of the past are near and dear to my heart.
Often times the postcards come ripe with mysteries. Who are the people writing Easter Greetings to Italy? What does this scratchy handwriting say, exactly? Deciphering people's handwriting, especially from practically 100 years ago, is a puzzle in and of itself! The long standing mystery is - who is the person who calls himself "Pal"? I believe I have that mystery narrowed down to one of 3 people from pictures of Italy's friends from the Tuberculosis Sanatorium (hospital) - either 2 ladies or 1 very mysterious and very friendly man. But, I need more clues for to solve that one. The newest mystery is in the form of an initialed signature- S. E. Ruark addressed to Mrs. Italy Grimes. The postcard thanks my Great Grandmother for the package, and is postmarked 1923 from the State Sanatorium. My first thought was that Italy sent a nurse a package. The name seemed vaguely familiar to me, so I went to the photo album and looked for any pictures that said Ruark across the bottom. I didn't find any. Then, I looked on FamilySearch.org for the 1920 census and scanned for nurses and doctors. None. I went to the page where Italy's name appeared and looked at the names on the page around her name. On the top of the next page I found one - Ruark! But Anna E did not fit what I was looking for. I looked over the post card more closely. The initials were definitely S. E.- no mistaking that. I went back to the census record. Anna E Ruark was a 29 year old widow. Let's see what she was doing 1 census before, in 1910. In 1910 she was married, her husband was alive and she had 2 very young daughters - Vergie (only a couple months old) and Sophia (2). I went back to the 1920 census to confirm- YES. Virginia E (10) and Sophia E Ruark (12) were listed as patients with the other children in the Sanitarium in 1920! This postcard was most likely sent from Sophia E Ruark, which is why it thanked "Mrs. Italy Grimes" for the package. One mystery solved! Now... I wonder if I have an untitled picture of the Ruarks? hmm..
1 Comment
maryann carlson
4/4/2018 10:23:07 am
Unbelievable research and perseverance has unlocked so many doors for you...and people like myself who genuinely care. I am beyond impressed!
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