Where was my Dad in 1940?

In Junior High School!  How do I know?  Because I have his Report card to prove it!

Dad was always a good student and this report card proves that.  I was a little surprised, though, to see two B+s - I'd always thought he'd gotten straight A's all through school.  I wonder what instrument he played in the orchestra - I'm guessing it was piano because the only other instrument I remember him playing as a kid was the accordian.  He took piano, and later organ, lessons until just a few years before his death.  We loved listening to him play as kids and I always admired his dedication to practicing and lessons.

It's interesting that it looks like he moved on to 9th grade in February, 1941 - didn't kids graduate to the next grade in September? 

Who do you hope to find?

Like most of the geneaworld, I have been eagerly awaiting release day of the 1940 U.S. Census.  I wasn't active with family research 10 years ago when the 1930 census was released so I feel a bit like the new kid in school - excited to get started yet a little apprehensive about where to begin.  So I'm going to start easy and focus on finding someone who can help me in my quest - my mother!

My mother was 12 in 1940 and due to her parents' divorce, at some point she lived with her great aunt and uncle in a different city than either of her parents.  But she's not 100% sure where she was in 1940 - was she still with her mother, had she moved to Berkeley with her aunt, or was she back in Fresno with her mother and step father?  So I'm going to help her figure that out!

She remembers the address of the home she lived in with her grandfather's sister, Anna Teresa Fitzgerald Sronce, as 1441 Milvia Street, Bereley, California.  Lo and behold, when I received the 1950 death certificate for Anna, that was the address listed and it showed that she had lived "in this place" for 30 years.  However, the 1930 census shows Anna and Robert Sronce in Oakland.  My guess is that I'll find them on Milvia Street in 1940 but we'll have to wait to know for sure.

Once I find the Sronce family, I'm hoping my mom will be listed with them.  If she's not there, I'll have to start searching in Fresno to see if she's listed with her mother or, perhaps, her grandparents.  I'm hoping that once I find her, I'll spark some memories for her and she'll be able to put more pieces of the puzzle together.

Who do you hope to find in the 1940 census?



My mom - Geraldine Martin
She looks to be about 14 years old



Wordless Wednesday: Dad gets a promotion




Fresno Bee Republican
approximately 1960

 

I'm an Ambassador, too!

I never thought about being an Ambassador before, but this opportunity was one I couldn't pass up.  We're just 34 days away from the release of 1940 US census and the geneaworld is buzzing!

For those of you who might not be familiar with the release of the US census, this event occurs every 10 years and since there is a 72 year wait until the census details are released, we are eagerly awaiting the release of the 1940 US census.  When the census is released on April 2, there will be no index available so people are volunteering to index the information in order to make the information more readily accessible.

Are you interested in helping?  You can!  Anyone can index and no experience is necessary.  Read all about it here 1940 census and take the plunge.  You may find one of your ancestors listed!

Sentimental Sunday: My own scanfest

It's quiet today so I took this opportunity to go through a box of things my mother has had in her garage for who knows how long.  Many years ago we found a carboard box lying open on the floor and I just knew it was filled with treasures.  Several months ago my sister boxed everything up and sent it to me and after a quick look-through, off it went to the upstairs cavern.  I found a gazillion letters that were written to and by my father when he was off in WWII, a bunch of newspaper clippings, and various other things that were just waiting to get out of that box.  So today is the day and here's a few things I've found.

My Dad - Gordon Levy
March, 1942

This is my dad when he was just 15 years old - wasn't he a cutie?

Here's his discharge papers from the Army.  I requested this information from St. Louis a year or so ago and got something back that I could barely read.  I knew this had to be around somewhere and now I've found it!

And here's Mom and Dad on vacation.  I'm guessing it was about 1960-1965.  I love seeing how happy they were!









These weren't in the box but because I'm being sentimental, I decided to scan them and add them here.




My paternal grandmother

Mildred Loraine Gunzendorfer Levy

March, 1974

My maternal grandmother

Clara Maxine Fitzgerald Martin Hunter

March, 1974

My maternal step grandfather

Sheldon Abb Hunter

March, 1974

My paternal great uncle and his wife
Wilton Louis Gunzendorfer and Natalie Traube Gunzendorfer
1978

What fun this has been and I can't wait to read all of the letters!

Wordless Wednesday: What is this document?

This document is wordless, at least words in English!  I have no idea what it is or where it came from but I do know this - it belonged to my grandfather, Sigmund Levy.  We were recently cleaning out an extra room and amongst all of the photos of our kids, this document emerged.  I have no recollection of how I got it or even who I got it from but I thought it was cool enough to frame.  And my husband has decided that matting and framing would be a good hobby so this was his debut project.  It turned out very nice!

A closer view shows a little more detail.

You can see his name and what you can't see is the date - 1913. 

And off to the side he even signed the document.

Isn't it odd that I have so few memories of my childhood yet I can remember this signature as clear as a bell?

Anyone have any clues about this document?  I don't care what it signifies or what it says, I LOVE IT!

Wordless Wednesday: The McAboy girls



Clara McAboy (left) and Lilly Gay McAboy
circa 1890

Clara McAboy (1872-1960) and Lilly Gay McAboy (1867-1949) were the older sisters of my great grandmother, Mabel Viola McAboy (1883-1966) and the children of Rebecca Moriah Waller and William Warren McAboy. 

Thanks to my "new" cousin, Kris, for sharing this photo with me!