Have you ever said, “We should get together!” or “I’d love to see your old photos!” to a relative, only for life to get in the way? I’m definitely guilty of this. But recently, I actually followed through, and it turned into a genealogical treasure hunt, leading to a real “Happy Dance Pic” moment in my family history journey.
It all started with a visit to my cousin Gary’s house, prompted by the thought of seeing the photo collection he inherited from his mother, my Aunt Catherine. My cousin Karen kindly picked me up, and the hour-long drive to Gary’s was filled with anticipation. Gary is older than me, and Karen is younger; our mothers, sisters Catherine and Delores, were incredibly close, meaning we cousins spent countless childhood days together. I knew whatever Gary had from his parents would hold significance for me, a family history enthusiast since Aunt Catherine sparked my interest at age 12 with her captivating stories and historical tidbits.
Sadly, Gary shared that much had been discarded over the years. Aunt Catherine passed away first, and then when Uncle Eddie moved later, some of Aunt Catherine’s treasured keepsakes were lost during the downsizing. Despite Gary’s efforts to save valuable items, the move was rushed.
So, when Gary placed boxes and a bin overflowing with photos and albums on the kitchen table, my heart raced. Gary and Karen suspected there were valuable finds, but they weren’t sure about the identities of the people in the pictures. That’s where our collective memories came in. Karen, having spent considerable time with her parents and relatives, was a whiz at recognizing faces. I, on the other hand, was better at identifying the familiar homes, furniture, and even the delicate doilies – many lovingly handcrafted by Grandma and Aunt Catherine (Karen and I are fortunate to have a few of these heirlooms ourselves).
And then, we found it – the gem pictured below! A photograph I had never before seen of my great-grandmother, Louise Villeneuve Elliott, in her later years. I possess a family group photo from around 1914, featuring 13 of her 16 children, showing Louise as a younger woman. But this newly discovered photo, of the older woman seated in a chair, adorned in a patterned dress, captured her at a different stage of life. By 1919, she was a widow, having raised her large family, with her elder daughters playing crucial roles. Later in life, she suffered a stroke and relied on her daughters’ care, living with them in rotation, perhaps six months at a time, as they supported her through declining health. She passed away at 60, making this photo a poignant glimpse into her later years.
Louise Villeneuve Elliott in her later years, a precious find from family photo albums.
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 uncovered and filled a gap in my visual family timeline. I have images of her from her younger years, perhaps in her 20s, and again in her 60s, but this photo likely captures her in her 40s – a busy mother of five, my mother being the youngest.
Among the other delightful photos was a baby picture – of me! Aww! And nestled between Grandma and Great-Grandma in another snapshot are Aunt Catherine and her brother Doug, the “little rascals,” clearly up to some mischief. My Uncle Jerry is also there, lounging on a picnic table bench, radiating youthful joy. He was my mom’s youngest brother. Finally, 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 deeply. A quiet Finnish man, this picture likely dates back to around the time he married my Grandma Elsie after her first husband, Warner (Waino), succumbed to tuberculosis. Grandpa Bill became a loving and steadfast presence in our lives.
Family treasures from Aunt Catherine's Bible: Villeneuve-Elliott family history.
Tucked inside Aunt Catherine’s beautiful commemorative Bible, we discovered this piece of paper, filled with familiar notations to any family historian – dates of family and extended family connections and births. But at the top right, some amusing annotations caught our eye: “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 interesting family trait also surfaced – most women in this lineage had dark brown or black hair that retained its color until their passing. Karen, from my matrilineal line, still has undyed brown hair, mirroring her mother who passed with nearly black hair, and my grandmother who also kept her dark hair. My mom and I, however, seem to have inherited different hair genetics, both going gray quite early. :::::::::::grin:::::::::::::
For genealogists and family historians, discoveries like these are more valuable than any material wealth or fame. They enrich my understanding of my family, placing them in new contexts and timeframes, giving me a more complete picture of who they were. The conversations with Gary and Karen about these photos were incredibly enjoyable and insightful. We each brought unique pieces of the family puzzle, sharing stories and memories. This shared time, reminiscing and connecting with our family history, is a treasure I will cherish. This whole experience truly felt like a genealogy “happy dance pic” come to life!
