Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Mom and the Maternal Grandmothers

Mom Louise Pope (1917-2008) Mom was the eldest daughter of ten siblings. Her family lived in great poverty in New Haven Connecticut. She attended the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore and spent a number of years as head nurse of the psychiatric ward. However, after marrying Dad she never worked as a nurse again. She raised two children, myself and my brother.

My grandmother Louise Jane Bedat (1892-1984) My grandmother gave birth to twelve children, ten of whom lived into adulthood. Can you imagine? She lived to be 94.

My Great-grandmother Susan Jane Tongue (1866-1953). I was named after her. I remember visiting my great-gran. She was blind but nevertheless sat on a porch and quilted.

My great-great grandmother Emily Hull (1844-1882). Emily was the only woman of these five who died young.

My great-great-great grandmother Hannah M. Tongue (1813-1906) Mom spent years doing genealogical research on the family. Alas, I can remember none of what she told me and most of the writings left behind are dates, rather than life stories. Kinda cool to have all these pictures though. I don't have the same for my Dad's family, just back to my great-gram.

16 comments:

ArtistUnplugged said...

That is so awesome to have this information at least. I wish we had recorded mom talking about our family, dad too. Like the new header photo!

Kim said...

Suki,

These are amazing photos! Wow, I can't imagine having all of those to cling to. I have them back to my great grandparents, but that is all. Like you, my families were very large when you get beyond my parent's generation (at that my father is the youngest of 5 and the only son).

I find it so interesting how similar these older photos are with those from my family. It must be the clothing and the stern appearance (hair tightly pulled back and thin faces).

Thanks for sharing these here. I know you wish you had some stories...but I bet you could look at the photos and tell some of your own!

Have a Wonderful Day!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

How wonderful to have photos of some of the past relations. A cousin of my Mother did an extensive family search and we have a book of family genealogy for my mother's side. It is all very interesting. I wish I knew more of the stories of some of these people though.

Lynn Cohen said...

I truly enjoyed looking at your photos and hearing your family history that you have at hand. Wonderful photos...hair styles, dress, picture frames all from eras past. I can't imagine our grandkids kids oggling the same over ours long after we are gone, but maybe...I guess my highschool photos already look a bit antiquated. I can't recall if I've ever blogged my ancestors. My dad is the youngest of nine. I have a wonderful old photo of his family when he was five yrs old, surrounded by grown sisters and brothers in all their finery hanging in our stairwell. We are lucky to have this history! Thanks for sharing yours.

Teri said...

What an interesting post Suki. All those photos of relatives are just great.

Love all your hats in your header-very creative.

studio lolo said...

Wow, I wish I knew even half that about my family roots! I was looking for a resemblance to you as I looked at each photo.

How appropriate that your head-er is now hatted!
;)

Cathie said...

What a nice dedication to your Mom and Grandma, and Great Grandma. I remember my mom saying to me, "Not on your tin type," an old expression equal to "not in a million years," I guess. She said that alot. And that photo with the brass filagree trim - I have one of those too - just like that. The outside case is some kind of black plastic with flowers carved into it - a daguerreotype frame. Very, very cool. I can tell it brings you much joy to discuss your family history. I like that!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

How fun to see all the generations.
I cant go back to far on my paternal Grand fathers side, as he was left on the orphanage step in Italy as a baby. so no records of him. Wish I had writen things down when my parents had told family stories.

patti said...

Photographs had great dignity in those days. More of a true record than they are now, where they are so casual and unposed.

Very precious to have. My mother was interested in geneology also and did lots of research and gathered lots of photos, but she somehow never put it all together in an organised way. I don't have the same zeal for it, so they sit in boxes in my spare room.

Tess Kincaid said...

What a delightful lineage! And amazing photos to tell the story.

Mim said...

That is just amazing info to have, what a treasure!

Anonymous said...

I suspected you had photos of your ancestors. I enjoyed looking at yours. Because of the internet I am able to use Google's Maps to actually see the little town in Ireland where my Dad's Mother's ancestors lived.

marianne said...

Wow so preciious you have all these pictures!
And to have all those stories too!
Lovely pictures

MyCretanlife said...

Wow, to have photos of your family going back so far is great. I only have photos of my grandparents. Lucky you.

Celeste Bergin said...

How did I wind up here on your ancestor's post? Well, don't rightly know now--but must say, I am glad I did. I like everything about your blog. It's all my cup of tea. I too love, old photos..and I was touched by the one at the top of your blog --of the "unknown" tot. Unidentified photos break my heart and, though I never do, I wish to buy them all when I see them in antique stores. Thanks for a great post. I really enjoyed seeing your family.

layers said...

it must be wonderful to have so many photos and deep history of your family-- I don't have any photos- guess I should research more.