On April 9, 1909, Aunt Blanche sent an Easter card to Miss Garnet Morris.
Aunt Blanche posted the card in Centerville, Pa, and it was recieved by Garnet Morris in Spartansburg, Pa.
The card was made in Germany, and features a procession of rabbits walking upright and bearing lilies.
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Aunt Blanche, perhaps because she saw her niece quite often, perhaps because she was in a hurry to post the card, perhaps because she was a woman of few words, wrote a single inscription.
"Love from Aunt Blanche" is the message of the card.
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Copyright 2008, Wimsey Productions
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Comments: 54
I thought the procession was quite dramatic, if not a bit Prussian. Perhaps they are Prussian Hares.
It does look like a cel, Kris.
I was going to write something about the scene looking "animated", and what I was searching for was the words you offered.
It is a combination of religious and secular themes, Lisa,
It is also whimsical, and so, less sentimental.
At least, I find it so.
They are barely able to balance the lilies uptight and march in a straight line.
Glad that you enjoy the bunnies, Vicky.
With the correspondents that Kate has discovered through her genealogical research, we could assemble little stories around several Christmas greetings, Valentines, and Easter cards.
Here is a map of the northwest corner of Pennsylvania, not far from Lake Erie or the border of New York State.
I thought they looked a bit sinister.
Maybe they were recruited by Blackwater Eggs.
That's really a very unique card.
The bunnies look harmless, and very much engaged in their Easter tasks.
Based on my small sample of Easter cards (about 40), I believe that this style of illustration is rare.
I love this one too! When I first saw it I flashed on "Watershiip Down" and thought this could be an offering to El-Ahrairah!
Thanks for the great image.
Do you think that Peter Rabbit is an Lapinofascist terrorist?
There are some avid promoters of "Watership Down" among my friends on Gather.
I am eager to hear what they think of your comment.
Charming, very charming!
I am going to post another one, too.
You may have read the controversy about the hares being Prussian or Hessian,
I performed some additional research and discovered that they are Bavarian Hares. they really like beer.
Little Garnet Morris would have been 78 when she died in Texas. Aunt Blanche, who lived for another fifty years after sending the card, must have been at least 80 when she died (if she was at least 18 when she married.)
Mischelle thinks that we should write a book about the cards. Some of the stories would be fascinating.
The reason these little postcard research projects are so wonderfully fascinating is that they are glimpses into real lives from another era. The stories could only be enriched by contacting the living relatives, wherever possible, to enhance the stories -- and to return those stories to the families.
You'll have to ponder how much work would be involved -- possibly geographically limit the stories, and consider whether the postcards would become someone else's heirlooms.
I have sometimes considered the possibility that someone might contact me about one of the vintage photos that I posted.
"Hey, that's my great-uncle, how did you get that?..."
I would probably surrender the photo or card, at least if I had some assurance that they were in better custody than they were when they were sold to a dealer.
I have a small collection, at least four cards so far, that relate to the Schenevus, NY area, Dannielle.
You could assist us in tracking down descendents of the correspondents.
At this time, i would have to have help in pursuing and interviewing folks or looking for vintage photos to accompany the cards.
I would love find a good reason to take early retirement and devote myself to projects like this.
They didn't look like soldiers to me. They looked like aspirants for some sort of royal job they're practicing for. You know, like carriers of the royal chamberpot or royal launderer. Or does that break the mood?
The comments about the Bavarian Hares were a humorous diversion.
Anyone can see that the rabbits are being trained for funeral processions in New Orleans.
I suspect that all rabbits would like to march around carrying lilies, if they were only asked to do so.
Since that time, I have discovered three other postcards addressed to Schenevus.
I have to find them again, as I set them aside as the subject of a potential "article".
Now, I have to find the envelope of Schenvus-related cards.
I can return to the Thanksgiving article and find one name.
In the "Grandma Has Her Hair Bobbed" article of Thanksgiving cards, we learned that "Mildred" sent a lovely greeting card with corn shocks to:
Mr and Mrs. Harry Wayman and family
Schenevus, N.Y.
R.D. # 2
Postmarked New York, N.Y.
November 23, 1927
Kate found some information about these folks.
I will go and get that, too.
From Kate C. on November 12, 2007
Okay...after some sleuthing, I figured out that Schenevus, NY is a 'hamlet" in Maryland, NY...in Otsego County. Harry Wayman (b. 1894) was married to an Agnes (b. 1899). According to the 1930 census, they had at least two daughters, Ruth and Ellen. Harry is a farmer.
Harry's mother's name was Sarah (b. 1865). She was widowed by the time Harry was six. (I haven't found his father's name at this time.) Other children living at home (on the 1900 census) were Anton, 15, Bart, 12, Jannie, 9, Harry, 6, Hettie, 4, Ethel, 3, and Rebbie, 11/12.
(I corrected Kate's typo in the county name, which Dannielle pointed out in her next comment !)
Harry (Harold? Harris? or simply Harry) b. 1894
Agnes (nee?) b. 1899
Ruth
Ellen
Previous generation:
Sarah (nee ?) Wayman, b. 1865
Harry's siblings:
Anton
Bart
Jannie
Hettie
Ethel
Rebbie
I'll send that out as an inquiry to the libraries in the area and see who's available to dig into the archives!
The ideal would be to work with any of them who are involved in family research, though, wouldn't it? We have a LOT of genealogical research papers added to some of our larger libraries for their Local History sections; that stuff doesn't circulate, but it's available to all others researching that name or community.
I really would like to locate related or supporting documents.
It would be so much more exciting if we could retrieve some recorded memories, memorabilia, or photos of the folks who shared the cards.
This is an excellent question, and has piqued my curiosity.
Lilies, I imagine are very ancient.
Rabbits? That is intriguing.
I am off to LaGuardia (ugh) on what was supposed to be a restful, catch-up, week at home.
Glad that you enjoyed the vintage cards.
This image seems to have been well-loved among some of my friends, especially those who are less sentimental and more high-spirited.
I am glad that you enjoyed the vintage card.