Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories 2010 ~ Grab Bag

I've missed the first few days of the Advent Calendar, so I'm going back to the Christmas Cards.

These two are from Grandpa George Albert JOHNSON's suitcase of memorabilia. When Grandpa George was nearing the end of his life in the early 1960's, he gave the suitcase to one of his four sons, William "Bill" Lester JOHNSON. Uncle Bill was the eldest of George's two surviving sons at that time.

William Lester JOHNSON, was born 22 January 1911 and died 21 January 1995, aged 84 years.

George Albert JOHNSON, was born 2 November 1875 and died 29 January 1964, aged 88 years, 3 months.

Several photographs, greeting cards and Funeral cards were lent to me in early 2009 by Uncle Bill's son,  who is now the caretaker of this suitcase. He's one of my first cousins.

To You and Yours

As on this joyful Christmas Day

the bells are gladly ringing

A wish sincere, to you and yours,

this little card is bringing.

Mr. George A Johnston

Milden Sask

Dec 1921

Christmas Greetings

to my Dear son George i send you

my love and good wishes i

hope you will be

good and happy all your life.

from your Dad

In 1921, Christopher JOHNSTON was 80 years old. George Albert was 46 years old. George was Christopher's eldest son with his second wife Mary Jane ACHESON.

Christopher lived to be 83 years and 7 months old.

George lived to be 89 years and 2 months old.

  

Still closer Knit in

Friendships ties

each passing year

Christopher "Christie" JOHNSTON ~ Circa 1930

Proton Township, Grey County, Ontario
(Text added by me.)

This photograph was pasted over top of a verse and someone elses' signature. Perhaps recycling during the Depression!

Inside left front.

Inside verse.

Xmas comes with joys abounding,
Happiest, best of Days,
May it fill your home with gladness,
And your heart with praise.
A. G. Fisher.

Sentimental Sunday ~ Photograph of a Photographer

Monday 25th October 2010 - Update. I found out who this photographer is. Read the details above for this remarkable man, Wilson Alywn Bentley who was born 9th February 1865 in Jericho, Vermont and died 23 December 1931, aged 66 years, at his home in Jericho, Vermont.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday 24th October 2010 - I found this fantastic old photograph of a photographer!

Update: When I first posted this image, I thought that this gentleman was a portrait photographer. However, the next day my research resulted in finding other photographs of him on Wikipedia.org. along with his biography.

Wilson Alywn Bentley - "The Snowflake Man"

"No two snowflakes are alike."

(SOURCE: found his name and biography on Wikipedia.org)

UPDATE: What I know now is that Wilson is catching snowflakes on a tray covered with black velvet. On the stand behind him would be his microscope where he places the snowflake on a glass plate to photograph it.

Amazing!

SOURCE: I had no way of identifying who he was. There was no caption or identification given on the GimpSavy.com site. The photograph was included in the section of the NOAA, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I found out that Benley did a project with a member of the US Weather Bureau which is probably why the photo was included with other NOAA images.

SOURCE:  Gimp-Savvy.com (public domain)

Sentimental Sunday ~ Poem ~ Carte de Visite Album

Yes, this is my Album.
But learn ere you look,
That all are expected
To add to my book

You are welcome to quiz it

The penalty is.

That you add your own Portrait.

For others to quiz. 

       Circa 1880.

RAGAN & MUNN, Photographers, Atchison, Kansas

Pink image:
"RAGAN & MUNN, Photographers, 317 Com. Street, Atchison, Kan. Negatives preserved. Copies can be had at any time."

White image:  
"J. M. MUNN, Photographer, Atchison, Kansas."
Very small lettering at lower left: "Riches Co." 
This is probably the name of the printer.
Images ©   Personal collection.


These are the reverse side of two more carte de visite photos from my Grandmother's little olde album.
The pink one is fancier that the first one that I posted on October 25th.  Note the camera with the painter's palette and the cloak. Two little angels are holding the banner.I have found a record that puts Ragan and Munn in business in Atchison, Kansas in 1880.
The logo on the black and white one, is much larger, taking up almost the whole back of the photo and even more artistic. Note the camera is a bit smaller and the artist's palette now is larger and  has brushes.
From what I have read, the photographer's logos became larger and more artistic as the years pasted. Knowing this, helps to date these little keepsake photographs.

An excellent site for information on how to date these vintage photographs is Roger Vaughan's site.
This extensive site is a great resource.
It also shows pictures of the clothing during the late 1800's and early 1900's another helpful technique.
Roger Vaughan is from the UK and appears to have been collecting and researching vintage photographs for a number of  years.

J. M. MUNN ~ An Olde Business Card

Carte de Visite, "J. M. MUNN PHOTOGRAPHER, Atchison, Kansas."
Image © My personal collection.

This back of an carte de visite  photo,  from an album of my Grandmother's. It is the back of the photo of the woman standing that I posted a little earlier.

Although the photos were know as 'carte de visite' they were not actually a visiting card for the person in the photo, but they were an inexpensive way for family and friends to exchange photos. A close look at the upper left corner shows - $1.00 Per Dozen.

Gradually, the photographer's logo became more and more prominent and gives a clue to dating these little 2 1/2" x 4" photos. The larger the logo, the closer to 1900. Free advertising for the photographers of the day!