My Little Sweetheart-The Baker Family 12

This is it. The last of the loose Baker family photo album pages. It's also my favorite of the lot as well as the one that suggests the most questions. I'm still wondering whether or not the Brighton referenced is the one in New York or the one in England. If Brighton, New York was near Passaic, New Jersey, I'd go with New York, but it's a suburb of Rochester near Lake Ontario. And Passaic is in land, not on the ocean, so the beach photo has to be mislabeled. Where are they rowing? And is my little sweetheart a little boy or a little girl? Click on Baker family in the labels section to bring up the whole lot.

Visiting a Son in the Army-The Baker Family 11

In the 1920s when these photos were most likely taken, there was no G.I. bill of rights. There were no educational benefits, no signing bonus, not much of anything other than a pension after twenty years of service. People joined the army for adventure, or to build a career, or for patriotism, or because of poverty. From what I've seen of the Baker family album, poverty wasn't an issue. So why did this young man join the military? As usual, click on Baker family in the labels section to bring up the whole collection.

Hiking in California

When I first saw this photo I said to myself, "Switzers, in the San Gabriel Mountains." OK, I know there isn't enough in this image to give an exact location, but I did buy this in Los Angeles, it looks like it's from the twenties, and weekends in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest was a popular thing to do. After all, it was one of the selling points of the L.A. real estate boom of the era, sun drenched beaches and snow capped mountains. I doubt it was very comfortable for young women to hike in these clothes, but it had to be better than the dresses women wore a decade or so earlier while exploring the great outdoors.

Mrs. Nancy A. Larkins

I wish this one was in better shape. The lady is beautiful. Written in pencil on the back, "Mrs. Nancy A. Larkins, Browns to right of market. 6x8 = Blk frame no 100, New Silver-oval or square which ever will show best. Dec. 19-250 No 136." Stamped in red ink, "DEC 1, 1904" Mounted on card, there is an embossed studio mark, but the name of the photographer has worn to the point of being unreadable. I can make out Blairsville, PA, though.

Aunt Alice From Australia-The Baker Family 10

And finally, the aforementioned aunt from Australia. I like to think that aunt Alice is descended from a London pick-pocket sentenced to transportation for life to Australia. Oh how things have changed. Now, having a few reprobates in the family tree makes for colorful stories. In the 1920s when these photos were probably taken, having a criminal ancestor was a shameful thing. Family shame! As always, click on Baker family in the labels section to bring up the whole lot.

Shooting Up Like Weeds

Now I know the origin of the phrase. I wonder if these two just stood around all day looking ominous and scaring the passers by? Printed on postcard stock.

Masculine Feminine

Baggy clothes, short cropped hair, no make-up, way cool sunglasses in her hand, leaning on a souped up coupe. I can see this girl riding around town in a hot rod, but at the risk of dealing in offensive stereotypes, I have to wonder what was the situation. Was she sitting on the passenger side, feet up on the dash board, lisitening to Chuck Berry on the radio while her boy friend, dressed in chinos, a white tee shirt, slicked back hair, looked for someone to race? Or was she the driver, and was her passenger a nice girl from a nice family, with one of those high pony tails and a poodle skirt, who wondered why she liked spending time with the girl that everybody at school said looked like a guy?