In one of my many envelopes, I recently found this photo, which I can't recall having made its way into any of the family albums:
This is the car my parents had in my early childhood. The photo is from my paternal grandparents' yard, and was probably snapped by my grandfather Gustaf when we were about to leave after a weekend visit. My grandmother is leaning into the back - probably saying goodbye to little me.
Another photo of the same car, on an icy winter road. Sweden had left-hand traffic back in those days (until 1967). Whether my dad stopped on purpose just to take this photo, or the car stopped by itself, I don't know. I'm probably in the back seat here too. We lived around 100 km away from both sets of grandparents, and did quite frequently drive to visit them on weekends.
In summer, my paternal grandparents Sally and Gustaf liked to go for a drive and have a simple picnic outdoors.
Before my parents bought the Volvo - probably in connection with little me coming into the picture - they (or my dad) had an older car, which they called Patrick.
In this very blurry photo he's doing something with it in his parents' yard.
This I think is my parents setting off on their honeymoon, in 1954.
A couple of years before they got married (I think they had just about started "dating"), my mum was a teacher in a small countryside school, for a small number of pupils of varying age. There weren't many books for the youngest, and my mum then made some of her own (with her own illustrations). One of them is about a young troll getting a lift by an old car called Patrick (with a tendency to sometimes stop "for no apparent reason").
Linking to Sepia Saturday 782
The only person in this photo whom I recognise without doubt is my grandmother Sally, in the middle. It's the small girl in front who makes one smile at these photos, though - isn't it?
Because of the photos being found in an envelope marked Tvärred, I'm guessing that the man to the right may be my grandparents' friend Anders Andersson (who lived there) - but I'm not sure. I'm also not sure when to date it. The photo seems to be of later date than most of those in the same envelope. Mid 1950s? I was born in 1955 myself, and I remember my grandfather often wearing a beret similar to those worn by the two gentlemen here. I also have a memory (unsupported by photos) that there was a girl at Tvärred who must have been some 6-7 years or so older than myself. Whether she was the daughter of Anders or someone else, I can't recall. All I really remember is that she introduced me to the dance called "twist", playing music on a small record player up in her room!
Linking to: Sepia Saturday 774 - The Look
Yesterday, opening another envelope of miscellaneous old photos taken by my grandfather, I found two of my grandmother Sally (in the middle above) with her sisters (+ brother-in-law) that I can't recall having seen before. But they were obviously taken on the same occasion as the portraits below of my great-aunt Gerda proudly wearing a medal - previously posted on this blog in a post entitled Gerda's Medal, for Sepia Saturday 634, in August 2022.
That post was about my research to try and establish when and why Gerda was presented with that medal; and my conclusion was that it was probably after 30 years of service to the countess Estelle Bernadotte. Estelle was American (born Estelle Romaine Manville, 1904). She got married to the Swedish count Folke Bernadotte in December 1928; and Gerda - by then 47 years old and an experienced lady's maid who had worked as such not only among nobility in Sweden, but had also lived in both America and France, and was well used to travelling - got employed as lady's maid to Estelle from shortly before their wedding; and ended up staying with that family the rest of her life.
If Gerda got the medal after 30 years of service, that dates this photo to 1958. An alternative might be if she received it in connection with her 75th birthday, in 1956. (She was born in 1881, and lived to be nearly 92 years old.) Either way, it seems that shortly after Gerda was presented with this medal, not only did she visit my grandparents Sally and Gustaf, but they also managed a reunion with all four sisters still alive.
The woman next to Gerda here must be her sister Ester, who was born 1876 (five years older than Gerda), and died in 1959. (So this may even be the last time they got together.) The one standing in the middle behind Ester is Hildur (born 1892) - older half-sister to Sally on their mother's side, and step-sister to Gerda and Ester. The man to the left is Hildur's husband Olle. (They lived only a few minutes walk away from my grandparents.) And to the right, my grandmother Sally (born 1900).
Below to the right is a double portrait of Ester and Gerda together from their youth (some time before Gerda emigrated to America in 1902); and to the left, one of Ester on her own (obviously some years later, but I don't know the year).
Linking to Sepia Saturday 766
I've been taking a break from family history and old photos for a few months, but I still have a number of envelopes of old photos that never reached the albums to go through. My father obviously started a sorting process many years ago, so some envelopes are marked with a name, or other themes. But very few of the photos have any notes on the back to identify individual people or places or year. (That goes for most of the old photo albums as well, though!)
As Sepia Saturday just now does not really have any special themes for each week, I'm thinking I might just randomly dive in now and then, though, and pick whatever I happen to find interesting...
My grandmother Sally was born 3 February 1900, so that date, a month ago, was the 125th anniversary of her birth. I can't say I "celebrated" it, but I did remember, and think of her.
Today, opening a photo envelope with her name on it, I found (among others) these three below, which clearly must represent three of her "major" birthdays.
With that established, it was also easy to deduct that the following two photos must be from 1960 and 1970 respectively. (She died at 79, so did not live to celebrate her 80th.)
My grandfather Gustaf died in 1969, so the photo from 1970 was presumably taken by my father. You may notice the Christmas tree to the right... That does not necessarily mean that her birthday was celebrated in advance, as I remember that she did actually often (if possible) keep the Christmas tree over her birthday. Checking a calendar online, I see that 3 February 1970 was a Tuesday, though - so I suppose the celebration may have taken place on the weekend before.
My paternal grandfather Gustaf T. was a journalist at a local newspaper (in Borås, Sweden). He also often took his own photos to go with his articles. Unfortunately, the notes in his private albums are usually very brief with few details about when, where or who.
For Sepia Saturday's October theme "Special Times", one album page with three photos on it came to mind for me. The only note is Royalty at Levene.
I could see that the photos must be from the early 1950s, and that they included members of the royal family. But I've never known the occasion, nor been sure who of the princesses it is who is in focus here, or why. So I decided to try some googling...
Levene is a small village in the province of Västergötland (the same province where my grandfather lived; as do I). The vicar there (Tell Törnblad) happened to have connections in some noble families in Stockholm, and the royal family came to choose to send three of their princesses to him in the small remote countryside village for summer confirmation teaching; including having the ceremony in that church rather than in Stockholm. The first to have her confirmation at Levene was princess Margaretha, the oldest; in 1950. But she is not the one coming out of the church in my grandfather's photos.
Googling a bit more, I found an online photo (No 4 below), which is clearly from the same occasion as in the photos I have: the confirmation of Princess Birgitta, in July 1952.
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| "Royalty at Levene" |
In Alan's introduction to this week's Sepia Saturday, he writes:
"This might take you back to the days when getting a car was such a big event in life that you would instantly drop your kids, your pet dog and your Great Aunt Sophie and rush outside with your camera and take a picture of the car."
Having searched my grandparents' albums for photos of cars, I can only come to the conclusion that for my grandfather Gustaf, the car was no more than a means of transport, of little interest in itself. He was obviously far more interested in great aunts, kids and dogs! I can't find a single photo of the car (their first one bought in 1947) even though it obviously brought about quite a big change in their lives. I know they loved going for outings, visiting friends, having outdoor picnics, and exploring an extended area around where they lived. But the photos are all of the people and the places; not the car itself.
Moving on to my dad's albums, he seems to fit Alan's description better...
In dad's album I also found these photos below that he snapped of an unusual accident he happened to witness. Not sure if he actually saw it happen, or passed by after. Judging by the crowd gathered, my guess is on the latter alternative.
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The last photos of my grandmother's sister Gerda that I have are these two below, with her wearing a 'royal' medal. I was hoping to find out when she was awarded it, and for what - but that turned out not all easy. There is a register of medals that one can search on the Swedish Royal Court's website - but her name does not turn up there.
However, I decided to apply the advice repeatedly given by Alan Burnett (host of Sepia Saturdays): Looking for 'time markers' to try and date the photo and occasion.
1. The photos were taken in my grandparents' living room. I recognise the chair Gerda is sitting in, and also the cupboard behind her. Moreover, I happen to know that my grandfather got that chair for his 50th birthday - which was 23 June, 1954. So that would be the earliest possible date for this photo.
2. Because of the where, I also feel sure that the photo was taken by my grandfather, who was a journalist and an experienced photographer. But as in later year's he suffered from Parkinson's disease (and died in the spring of 1969), I'd say the photo was taken before the mid 1960s.
3. Using a magnifying glass with the original photo, I can establish that the text on the front of the medal says Gustaf VI Adolf - Sveriges konung (king of Sweden). He became king in October 1950, after his father, Gustaf V passed away. This means that Gerda must have received the medal after 1950. As I don't have the medal itself, I don't know what the text on the back said.
4. Gerda was born 25 October 1881. If she was given (or wearing) the medal in connection with a special birthday, it's likely to have been for her 75th (1956) or her 80th (1961).
5. I recently got confirmed from a reliable source that Gerda did get employed as lady's maid to Estelle Bernadotte in the autumn of 1928 - after Folke and Estelle got engaged, and before their wedding. (Just as I have been guessing all along, but haven't known for sure.)
6. There is a medal for 'Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm' (Swedish: 'För nit och redlighet i rikets tjänst') - awarded to one who has been a Swedish State employee for 30 years and has shown "zealous and devoted service". If this was the medal that Gerda was awarded, it ought to have been in 1958. The problem is that I don't think that Gerda, employed by Folke and Estelle Bernadotte, would count as "state employee". Moreover, the top of that medal is different, and I haven't seen any images of it with a neck ribbon like in Gerda's photo.
7. However - I also found a similar medal from a 'Royal Society' called [Kungliga Sällskapet] Pro Patria - a charity society that has also given out medals. Between 1836-2005, there was a medal for 'Fidelity and Diligence' (Trohet och Flit) that could be awarded to someone who had been serving the same employer/family for a long time. (At least 25 years for the bigger size medal.) This medal was paid for by 'the one who applied for it' - which I take to mean the employer/family. I also found images showing that the front of this medal seems to match the one Gerda is wearing, and also seems to come with a ribbon to be worn around one's neck.
8. If Gerda was awarded this medal after 25 years of service, it would have been in 1953 - in which case the earliest possible date for the photo would still be my grandfather's 50th birthday in 1954. I'm leaning towards the idea that she was awarded it after 30 years of service, though - in which case the photo could be from 1958. Her "showing off" the medal when visiting my grandparents seems to suggest to me that the visit happened not too long after she recently received it - and that she was in focus, rather than either one of my grandparents. I guess other prossible occasions could also still be her 75th or 80th birthday, though (1956 or 1961).
Svenska:
De sista foton jag har av min farmors syster Gerda är dessa två, där hon bär en 'kunglig' medalj. Jag hade hoppats kunna fastställa vilket år hon fick den, och av vilken anledning – men det visade sig svårt. På hovets hemsida finns ett register där man kan söka medalj- och ordensförläningar, men hennes namn ger inget utslag där.
Så istället försöker jag nu bara tillämpa allmänna råd från Alan Burnett (värd för Sepia Saturday) om att titta efter 'tidsmarkeringar' när det gäller att datera gamla foton.
1. Fotona är tagna i mina farföräldrars vardagsrum. Jag känner igen stolen Gerda sitter i, och även skåpet bakom henne. Dessutom råkar jag veta att min farfar fick den stolen på sin 50-årsdag, 23 juni 1954. Vilket betyder att det är tidigaste möjliga datum för fotona.
2. På grund av var fotona är tagna utgår jag från att det också är min farfar som är fotografen. Han var journalist och även en erfaren fotograf. Men då han mot slutet av sitt liv led av Parkinsons sjukdom, och dog våren 1969, så skulle jag säga att dessa foton togs senast i början av 1960-talet.
3. Genom att titta på originalfotot med förstoringsglas kan jag se att texten på medaljens framsida lyder ”Gustaf VI Adolf – Sveriges konung”. Gustaf VI Adolf tillträdde som konung i oktober 1950, efter att hans far, Gustav V, gått bort. Det betyder att Gerda måste ha fått medaljen efter 1950. Eftersom jag inte har själva medaljen så vet jag dock inte vad som stod på baksidan.
4. Gerda var född 25 oktober 1881. Om hon fick (eller bar) medaljen i samband med en speciell födelsedag, så bör det ha varit när hon fyllde 75 (1956) eller 80 (1961).
5. Jag har nyligen fått bekräftat från säker källa att Gerda anställdes som kammarjungfru till Estelle Bernadotte hösten 1928 – efter hennes och Folkes förlovning, men före bröllopet. (Detta har jag tidigare också antagit, men inte vetat säkert.)
6. Det finns en medalj ”För nit och redlighet i rikets tjänst” som tilldelas den som varit statligt anställd i 30 år. Om detta var den medalj Gerda fick, så borde hon ha fått den 1958. Problemet är att jag inte tror att Gerda, som anställd av Folke och Estelle Bernadotte, räknades som ”statligt” anställd. Dessutom stämmer inte riktigt utformningen av överdelen av medaljen (kronan) med bilder av den medaljen jag hittat online – och jag har heller inte sett den med ett sådant halsband som på fotot av Gerda.
7. Det finns emellertid också en liknande medalj från ”Kungliga Sällskapet Pro Patria”; ett sällskap som förutom att bedriva välgörenhet också har delat ut medaljer. Mellan 1836-2005 fanns det en medalj för ”Trohet och Flit” som kunde tilldelas någon som hade tjänat samma arbetsgivare eller familj under en lång tid. (Minst 25 år för den större storleken.) Denna medalj ”delades ut mot en kostnad för den som gjort ansökan” - vilket jag tolkar som att det var arbetsgivaren/familjen som gjorde en sådan ansökan. Jag fann också bilder som visar att framsidan på denna medalj ser ut att matcha Gerdas, och även att den verkar ha haft ett sådant band att ha runt halsen.
8. Om Gerda tilldelades denna medalj efter 25 års tjänst, så bör det har varit 1953. I så fall är tidigast möjliga datum för fotot fortfarande min farfars 50-årsdag 1954. Jag lutar dock åt att hon ändå fick medaljen efter 30 år (då hon skulle ha förärats en liknande om hon varit statligt anställd). I så fall kan fotot vara från 1958. Att hon ”visar upp” medaljen vid besök hos mina farföräldrar tänker jag tyder på att besöket sker inte långt efter att hon fått den - och att det var hon själv som var i fokus snarare än min farfar eller farmor. Men andra möjliga tillfällen att ståta med medalj skulle väl fortfarande också kunna vara Gerdas egen 75- eller 80-års dag (1956 eller 1961).
