Recently, a simple visit to my cousin’s home turned into an unexpected treasure hunt through family history. Going through his collection of photos inherited from his mom was more rewarding than I could have imagined! It’s one of those moments that makes you want to do a happy dance – discovering pieces of your past that bring your family story to life.
How often do we casually say, “Let’s get together!” or “I’d love to see your photos sometime!” to relatives, only for life to get in the way? I’ve been guilty of this myself, with good intentions but lacking follow-through. However, this time was different, and I’m so glad I made it happen.
This delightful discovery was made possible thanks to my wonderful first cousins, Gary and Karen. During a cherished afternoon of catching up and reminiscing, we delved into a box brimming with old photo albums, loose snapshots, carefully preserved locks of hair, and even an incredible, aged Bible filled with hidden mementos. The joy started the moment Cousin Karen picked me up, embarking on an hour-long drive to Cousin Gary’s – her older brother. Gary is older than me, while Karen is considerably younger. My late brother Mark was between us in age. Growing up, the four of us were inseparable, a testament to the close bond between our mothers – sisters Catherine and Delores. They were the tightest of sisters, so I knew that whatever Gary had inherited from his parents would hold significant meaning for me.
Sadly, Gary shared that much had been discarded over the years. Aunt Catherine, the beloved aunt who ignited my passion for family history at the tender age of 12 with her captivating stories, notes, and pictures, passed away first. Years later, when Uncle Eddie moved, he had to clear out their home and, unfortunately, disposed of items Aunt Catherine had carefully kept. Gary was there to help, but it was a struggle to convince Uncle Eddie to preserve some of what Gary intuitively knew was valuable.
So, when the boxes and a bin overflowing with photos and albums were placed on the kitchen table, and we began to sift through them, my heart raced with anticipation. Gary and Karen suspected there were treasures within, but they weren’t always sure who the people in the pictures were. Together, we embarked on a journey of identification. Karen’s close relationship with her parents and the relatives in these photos made her the most adept at recognizing faces. My strength lay in identifying familiar homes, furniture, and occasionally, the beautiful doilies – Grandma and Aunt Catherine were skilled doily makers, a craft Karen and I both inherited a few pieces of.
Older Louise Villeneuve Elliott in a patterned dress, a happy dance find for family history buffs.
The picture above showcases the real gems we unearthed! Among them was a photo I had never before seen of my great-grandmother, Louise Villeneuve Elliott, in her later years. I already possessed a group family photo from around 1914, featuring 13 of her 16 children, depicting Louise in her younger days. But this new photo, from the collection, of the older woman in the chair, adorned in a patterned dress, captured her at an older age. She became a widow by 1919, left to raise her large family (where the elder daughters played crucial roles). Later in life, she suffered a stroke, becoming dependent on her daughters who cared for her in a rotational system, perhaps spending six months with each as they helped her manage her declining health. She passed away at the age of 60, suggesting this picture was taken not long before her death. Discovering this image felt like a small happy dance moment, filling in a gap in my visual family history.
Another remarkable find was a colorized image of my grandmother, Elsie Elliott Sutinen (later Niemi), Louise’s fourth daughter. This was the largest colorized photo we found, and it represented a period for which I had no existing images. I had photos of her in her younger years, perhaps in her 20s, and another from her 60s, but this one likely captured her in her 40s – a vibrant mother of five, my mother being the youngest daughter. This picture, too, sparked a little happy dance of genealogical joy.
The baby picture at the top is, believe it or not, me! Aww… The “little rascals” sandwiched between Grandma and Great-Grandma are Aunt Catherine and her brother Doug. I can only imagine what mischief they were plotting when this picture was taken – they certainly look like they were up to something! My Uncle Jerry, seen lounging on the picnic table bench as a young man, exudes youthful joyfulness. He was my mom’s youngest brother. The handsome man in the black and white photo below great-grandma is my step-grandfather, William “Bill” Niemi – the grandfather I knew and loved. A quiet Finnish man, this photo probably dates back to around the time he married my Grandma Elsie, after her first husband Warner (Waino) passed away from tuberculosis. Grandpa Bill became a loving and constant presence in our lives.
Villeneuve-Elliott family dates and notes, a genealogy happy dance discovery from Aunt Catherine's Bible.
Tucked inside Aunt Catherine’s beautiful and precious commemorative Bible, we found this piece of paper! This paper, filled with notations instantly recognizable to any family historian, contained dates of family and extended family connections and births. But at the top right – some rather humorous notes! “Aunt Eugenie – old maid – never had a hair on head ever” and “Mary Laura died of Black Diptheria hair was so long had to pull it out of…”. An intriguing family tidbit also emerged – most of the women in this family had dark brown or black hair that never turned gray until they passed away. Karen, from my matrilineal line, still has undyed brown hair, unlike my white hair. Her mother retained nearly black hair until her death, and my grandmother also passed with dark hair. My mom and I clearly inherited some different hair genetics, as we both went gray… well, let’s just say quite some time ago! :::::::::::grin:::::::::::::
For genealogists and family historians, finds like these are more valuable than money or fame. They enrich my understanding of my family, placing them in new timeframes and giving me a deeper sense of who they were. The lively conversation with Gary and Karen about these photos and memories was incredibly enjoyable and enlightening. They shared stories and details I was unaware of, and vice versa. This shared time, filled with family memories and discoveries, is something I will truly cherish. These “Happy Dance Pics” aren’t just images; they are keys to unlocking our family narrative and strengthening our bonds.
