#52Ancestors52Weeks...Week 52 Theme...Resolution...Past, Present and Future

A New Year's postcard from 1915

 From the Hansen Family Postcard Album

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  This postcard was sent to my great grandmother Vere Burrows Hansen from her sister Maud Burrows Morrill in 1915.  It made it to its destination, despite missing street numbers. 

 "The pkg. came at last.  Everything was lovely and we all send thanks.  I will be in L.A. until Feb. 1st at 488 California St.  Best wishes to all.

Maud

The Hansen Family Postcard Album

   A New Year is fast approaching!  With it comes the opportunity to  reflect on the year 2024 and make new genealogical resolutions for 2025.  A year ago I started Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge. It kept me busy researching, archiving and writing on a regular basis.  I hope my family and others enjoyed the journey with me. 

  I managed to finish 48 out of 52  themes for this year.  I am giving myself grace for the missing 4 and will call it a day (or year).  I shared my stories with you on social media or through email, as well as with the genealogy community on FaceBook.  I had three stories featured by Amy Johnson Crow (Nino's Immigration Story, The Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the origins of Nino's swaddling band) this year in her Generations Cafe group.  I appreciated the feedback I received from all these platforms; it makes writing more meaningful when you write for an audience! But most of all, I write for my present family and for my future descendants.  You cannot possibly know who you are if you don't know where you came from. The past is important and needs to be recorded for the future. Write it down. 

   So, where do I go from here?  I am opting out of the writing challenge for 2025, but will be busy with lots of other projects.  I still have cemetery visits to make (I need to recruit some cemetery buddies!).  I have a tape recorder sitting next to my computer waiting for Grandpa's tapes...it will be good to hear his voice again and finish what Auntie Claire started with that project.  I have John Hansen's original manuscript he wrote of his adventures in San Salvador that still needs to be scanned and properly preserved.  I have an idea for a family book documenting  our Virginia City family history that needs to be started.  And still soooo many pictures to be scanned and saved before going into their archival boxes.  Oh and not to mention, every genealogist's New Year's resolution....getting more organized! 

    I think my daughter has caught the genealogy bug!  She has shown an interest in learning about her Alden relatives and is beginning her dna journey there.  She may end up as the keeper of those family stories in time.  Which is just as it should be.  

   My resolution for 2025 is simple.  Keep going!

Happy New Year!

52Ancestors52Weeks Week 51 Theme: Holidays......The Hansen Family Postcard Album: Holiday Greetings and Wishes From Near and Far

 

 A 1916 postcard written to my Grandfather Harold Hansen from Myra.  From the Hansen Family Postcard Album.  Grandpa was 6 years old in 1916. I am still working on identifying Myra.  She may have been a family friend from the Bay Area. 

    This postcard is from a postcard album put together by my Great Grandmother Vere Burrows.  It contains postcards from around 1910 all the way up to the early 1930's.  Each postcard gives a small glimpse into how the Hansen, Hurd and Burrows families kept in touch during the holidays.  

The Hansen Family Postcard Album cover.  The ship illustration is fitting as John Hansen came to America from Norway on the clipper ship Seminole......the cover design is Art Nouveau in style.   I am sharing just a small selection of Christmas and New Year Greetings and Wishes from the album.  

This postcard was sent to my Uncle Jack, date unreadable, from the Curtis Boys (Elbert, Melvin and Allan Curtis: sons of Winnie (Hurd) and Morrill Curtis from Reno, Nevada).  Jack was staying in Oakland at the time with his younger brother Bob.  Jack would have been 4 years old in 1910. 

This postcard was sent to my Uncle Bob in 1917 from Jane Hurd Burrows, his "Grand-Ma".  The first sentence is difficult to read, but ends with "Hope you have a fun Xmas".  Even with the sparse address, it made it to its destination! Robley (Bob) was 8 years old in 1917. 

 Uncle Bob got a special postcard just from Allan (Curtis) in Reno, Nevada.  I am sure his mother wrote and addressed this one which was postmarked in 1910.  My grandfather was born in October of 1910 in Grass Valley, so Jack and Bob may have been staying at Jane Burrow's home in Oakland, California around the holidays. 

Jane Burrows added the actual address as an afterthought as she sent her Christmas wishes to her daughter Vere Hansen in Grass Valley in 1915. Her writing is very faded and difficult to read,  but she signed off with "Mother". 

A postcard sent to Jack Hansen from Don and Lillian Burrows and the "little Bees" (Marjorie, Evelyn and Don) in 1915 from San Francisco, California.  The Don Burrows family had quite the sense of humor!

A wish for a Merry Xmas and A Bright and Happy New Year to Vere (Burrows) Hansen "from all in Reno", sent in 1914.  The handwriting looks like Winnie (Hurd) Curtis' handwriting.  

Vere Burrows with her boys Jack (left), Robley (bottom right) and Harold (top) around 1911.  

  This is just a small selection from this remarkable album.  I will continue sharing more postcards in the New Year!  I am sending wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to all my family near and far......