Dear Daddy – Sun. P.M. Have been indoors all day – David didn’t have any temp. today and felt pretty good. Still coughs some but no sign of breaking out with measles. Must have been irritation from his diaper. It was so nice out today I wanted to go out with him. I stood him in the doorway and took some pictures, this being his 16th month – Lucile came out with Jimmy, but didn’t bring him in – just stopped to see about D. She was taking J.E. for his airing. He is fully recovered from his attack of flu. David
[page 2] must have had bronchitis (sp?). That’s what Dr. M. said. John was sniffling this a.m. so he didn’t go out either. I gave him rhinitis all day & he went to bed early. Mark spent the afternoon with Buddy and they came out this evening. Buddy just went home. Dorothy was out early this afternoon to see David. She said Link told Nick the last Dr. in Chi. She consulted told them her ailment was all in her mind. Said she probably had someone in their family somewhere she takes after. Link said she has one such aunt. Mrs. James said one time Irene is like her aunt.
[page 3] I have knitted today and now have a headache from too much. Also my glasses need to be straightened. I want to go to Laf. Tues. with Zells and go have my glasses fixed. David broke one lense – I mended it with airplane glue but it is not straight.
Zells are getting more chickens. They sold off the last batch, cleaned out the brooder house and now ready for more.
Virginia spent the afternoon here helping me entertain David. I think he was tired watching J. & M. build block towers – He seemed to enjoy
[page 4] Virginia’s for a change.
Mark is begging to sleep with me tonight. He got that habit way back when, I really can’t put my finger on the exact date but sometime last summer. I think it all started when he had his tonsils out. Last night I put D. in our bed because he was so restless and coughed a lot, I knew I would have to be up all night trying to keep him covered, so to save the getting up & down, didn’t put him in his own bed. I didn’t sleep much so am going to turn in now & try to catch up.
Welcome to my weekly fashion blog post. Each week I will discuss a female garment, fashion trend or influencer from the age of photography (1840s through the 20th century). My goal is to educate family researchers and genealogists about the clothing worn by our ancestors. Dating photographs is an issue we all struggle with as family archivists. Additionally, anyone who writes about their family’s history should be aware of the environment in which their ancestors lived. Period clothing is an important part of that environment from how it affects a person’s movement to their overall lifestyle. This week I introduce you to the feedsack, or flour sack, dress.
I was inspired to write this week’s post because of a piece which I read last week from the Kindness Blog titled Flower Sack Dresses from the Flour Mills (Historical Kindness). The original article was written in May 2015. The article contains some wonderful information about the history of the feedsack, or flour sack, dress as well as some great historical photographs. (Unfortunately, none of the photographs have source information so it is hard to tell whether they are in the public domain or whether the author has permission to use the images). The article prompted me look again at some of my family photographs from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Without being able to look at a directory of fabric patterns, it is hard to say whether or not a garment was made from a feedsack just by looking at a photograph. I had to put myself in my ancestor’s shoes, looking specifically at my more rural paternal ancestors.
Note: I can hardly imagine my maternal grandmother being in a situation where she would have worn a feedsack dress. She was a pampered only child who lived in suburban San Francisco in her youth and who later moved to New Jersey to attend teaching college. She had little exposure to farm life, despite spending a few years teaching at an Indian Reservation in the southwest in the 1930s before moving to Malaysia as a missionary.
The Yegerlehner family lived in rural Indiana on a fully functioning farm with livestock to feed. My great grandmother Lovina was a hardworking, frugal woman. I can imagine her using feedsack material for clothing or other household items, such as quilts. After my grandparents, Roscoe and Gladys, married in 1929, they lived in Clay County, while Roscoe continued to teach at rural schools. Gladys’ mother, Emma Foster, frequently visited the Yegerlehner farm, so even though she lived in Terre Haute, she had access to feedsack material. She also baked and sold pies, giving her a need for larger bags of flour. Both Lovina and Emma were quilters. I have inherited several quilts which were their handiwork. Below is one of my father’s baby quilts. How many of these scraps originally came from a cotton feed bag?
Baby quilt attributed to Emma Foster from the personal collection of the author
Feed Sack Fabric
Before the 1920s, goods like flour and animal feed were sold in cotton bags. Frugal housewives re-purposed the cotton for various household goods, like towels or children’s clothing. The cotton was plain, but could be bleached or dyed to change the color.
In 1924, Asa T. Bales of St. Louis, Missouri, patented his idea for packaging flour in dress quality gingham fabric. The George P. Plant Milling Company of St. Louis was the first company to print the fabric, and soon Gingham Girl Flour was marketing their product in colorful bags. Other flour companies quickly followed the trend.
Drawing for A.T. Bales patterned feed sack fabric
Gingham Girl Flour company ad from the 1930s.
During the depression of the 1930s and the war shortages of the 1940s, reusing the cotton material from these bags became a way of life for many Americans. The photograph below is from Clay City, Indiana, in the mid 1930s. A rural community even today, the majority of these children lived on farms. How many of these children do you suppose are wearing clothing made from a feed sack? [Note: This was my Uncle John’s class picture, the oldest of Roscoe and Gladys’ children. Can you find him?]
Clay City, c1935-1937 (Photograph from the private collection of the author)
Further Reading
A beautiful example of a feedsack dress from 1959 is owned by the National Museum of American History. The page contains a brief article of the dress’ historical background as well as a photograph of the dress.
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 13
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
1-22-44
Dear Mother,
Sat. P.M. and things more or less on the lazy order. We are still having a slight, fine rain and of course the coldness that goes along with the rain.
I must tell you about the gold brick I bought this morning – a watch. I had gotten along without one for so long but still missed one very much. One of the patients went into town and when he came back had one which he bought for on 5 pounds so I thought if he could get me one for the same it would be OK. That amounts to something around $17.25. I may have gotten stung and it may be a bargain. The only name on it or indication as to the make is that it is Swiss
[page 2] made. It seems to be gaining a little but I can probably get that regulated. Watches are very hard to obtain around here. In fact this is the first time I’ve heard of any for sale.
This is Sat. as you note from the date and I said that at first so don’t know if I’ll mail this today or just combine this & tomorrow’s – depends upon how much I can think of today. It isn’t mail time as yet so don’t know if there will be anything to comment upon or not.
I was able to do Joe R. a good turn the other day. He sent his glasses down with another fellow to have fixed so and he couldn’t go into town with them so I made a quick dash in with them. The other fellow got them, paid the bill and sent
[page 3] them on. Well I’m going to stop this and see if there is any mail later this P.M. and then I’ll decide whether or not to mail it or wait until tomorrow.
Sun. No mail on Sat. and I didn’t mail this as you know. The rain of the past few days has slowed down. In fact I don’t believe we had any rain today unless it was a mere sprinkle early this A.M. but it has been cool. Right now I have the radiator turned on full blast and it isn’t bad.
My watch has been running now for better than 24 hours and seems to be doing OK but that doesn’t mean a thing. I still hope I didn’t buy a gold brick but I have my fingers crossed.
This being Sunday I’ll have to
[page 4] write the folk but I don’t have the slightest idea of what I might write. It seems I have trouble writing to them as well as other folk. However I never have trouble writing you. I mean I always get something written and really I enjoy it but more than to you seems the darndest burden.
Well it’s getting into the evening so I’d better stop this and get going on the letter to the folks, and may I say lots of Love
From Daddy
I have not yet used all the money that you sent me for Christmas. With the stamps I had and with the money I got for Christmas I lack just a dime of having enough to by a bond so that’s what I’m going to use the money you sent me for.
I got exempted in all my exams but Mr. Schurtter made everybody take his exam any [way]. It was in arithmetic. Arithmetic is my favorite subject. We have had some algebra and geometry in our studies. These are what I liked best.
About that song, “Maredoats and doesedoats.” I don’t understand why you can’t understand it. All you do is say “Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, A kid will eat ivy, too, Wouldn’t you?” but you just sluss the words together and it’ll sound like “littlelams edivy a kidill edivy too, etc.” The song says, If the words seem funny, kinda jumbled and corny, say, “Mares eat oats and does eat oats” kinda H.V. Katlenborny. I guess I’ve written a lot of nothing but I want to thank you for the money
[page 2] you sent me.
Love John
P.S. By next Tuesday I’ve got to have a report on some kind of animal such as skunk or weasel. By next Wednesday I have got to have a book read and have a two page review on it, this is Saturday, and less than two weeks from now I have to have an essay written on “Pioneer Pattern for the nation of tomorrow.” I just wanted you to know I was busy
Again, John
[Editor’s note: A further explanation of the song Mairzy Doats can be found on wikipedia. In January 1944, the song was about it reach its height in popularity.]
I want to just drop a word or two. In my exams I got 4 A’s, 2 B’s and one C in arithmetic. I am working on a plane called a “Stintson” Reliant & it has moveable controls but that is too hard for me. It has “17 in.” wing span. I have been skating lately, and have had one bad spill, the way it happened was my skate string came loose and I went over to the bank to tie it. I was about there when I slipped in the air and about turned a figure eigt and came down on a rib and just about nocked the wind out of me.
Dear Daddy – Will just slip a note in with my valentine. It is Sat. P.M. David has been a little cross today. Thurs. he had a temp. Yesterday it was gone but came up again today. I had Dr. M. come out. He examined him and said he has bronchitis. However it may be measles. There are measles around again. Where he could have been exposed to them I don’t know but there are some cases in town. He coughs and I thought I detected a redness like the measles start to break out on his tummy – I just took his temp. and he has 100° rectally which of course is 99 and that isn’t much. We have been keeping him on the couch and that requires someone to stay with him all the time. He seems to feel better now, just had a good nap. Dr M. had a v-mail from Earl R. somewhere in England. He was pretty despondent in his letter. Has been ill and in the hospital. I am inclined to believe he hasn’t the stamina of Joe, or you. I thought his letter sounded like a cry of self pity. Maybe I shouldn’t say that but knowing how long you and Joe have been away and keep your chins up – Well, I think you have the better attitude. Of course you haven’t been ill or hospitalized and that could make a difference.
It is a grey wintry day but not cold. J. & M. have been in all day due to David needing attention. I think D. will be better by tomorrow. Dr. M. ordered sulfamerazine for him and if he doesn’t have measles the sulfa should clear up any infection.
J. & M. have to carry out clinkers so I will have to go see about D. Geo. Monroe came out yesterday and oiled the stoker – He does every 60 days.
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 21, 1944
Dear Mother,
The weather again comes in for the well known beating. It is or rather has been raining most of the time since I wrote yesterday, and it has been rather cold not to – if you don’t have to be out too much but I haven’t been out much just between ward & mess hall and back and forth, etc. I rather enjoy the rain – gives one a real reason to gripe and we always feel better when in that mood. Just by way of example – You remember Mead Johnson sent the vitamins. Well I didn’t take them because I was afraid I’d feel too good and
[page 2] therefore would have nothing to complain about and then I’d feel worse. Figure all that out and you probably will have something to complain about or possibly you have something to complain about because I’d write such stuff – Don’t worry that I might be ready for the bughouse because for lack of better subject matter I’m making poor conversation but I need not write you how poor it is because you have probably guessed it by now.
It sure is funny what one will think while just sitting trying to think of subject matter – Just now a little bird flew by and I wondered if birds ever have diarrhea or sore throats
[page 3] and what they do about if it if so. That last was off the record also. Up to the time that bird flew past I thought I was thru with the nonsense.
This is before mail time and I still have hopes. That picture of D. hasn’t come and I’m real anxious about it for you wrote so highly of it.
Later. The mail came and your v-mail of Dec. 21 and a v-mail from Brewer’s of Jan. 1. Again you wrote of D.’s pictures and I’m gradually getting all the dope on Virginia Zell. I think I now have the whole story – of course that is no fault of yours – It just the way the mail happens to come.
I think I forgot to tell you – yesterday a Christmas greeting came from Sinda Steiner – That
[page 4] was really a surprise. It was postmarked Berne, Ind. and I can’t make out the connection. The folks have said nothing about her being away from home.
I know I’m nuts but it is now 1225 and I’m still not sleepy and it goes that way every night. Seems as if the show, and Acey Ducey game, a bull session and always late to bed – Tonight it was Lentz, last night someone else, but what the ____ What else is there to do? So why not, we used to have fun with the nips and now with friends so what!
Yours of Jan. 6, 7, 8, & 11 came today. In fact I just finished reading them and thought I would answer while things are fresh in my mind. About that tax $6.60 – that was the first quarter last year gross – I quit paying after that. I talked to Agnes a few days ago and she told me not to file even Federal, so will just let it ride. Our present bank bal. is around $70.oo but all bills are paid. The first of Feb. the income will take care of ins. due (J., M. & D.) and current bills and we should have a good bal. Maybe enough for a bond. David got enough Christmas money to get a new bond. I think J. or M. will get it at school to give their school credit during the present Bond drive.
David flared up with a temp. yesterday but now it is gone. He has had a hang-on cough from the flue he had following our visit to Mutchlers and he coughs more now. He had a temp. all night.
[page 2] I put him in bed with me because I figured he would be restless. He had 101 2/5 rectally about 7 A.M. but now 9:45 he is normal. I have him established on the studio couch with a cover over him and toys around him which he keeps throwing on the floor. He doesn’t feel too bad because he laughs & plays. I put his house slippers on him. He pulled them and his sox off, but his feet & legs are covered with the spread. He ate a pretty good breakfast and had two B.M.’s on the toidey. I called the Dr. and talked to him about D. He told me to give him the same pills I gave him when he had the flu. I was going to ask him to come out but he seems so much better I don’t think it is necessary. However, I will watch his temp. closely and if it starts to rise will talk to the Dr. I can’t understand this. D. seemed perfectly well, I had been taking him out of doors, every day, then yesterday he shoots up a temp. and today it’s gone. I am glad it is but would like to know the cause.
Tell Bud Mulligan his aunt came to see me yesterday. She is staying at Zeva Simmons. Zeva works for Mrs. Knowlton.
[page 3] You remember her, don’t you? Jimmy’s mother. I don’t know where Jimmy is now, but Zeva had been to see his wife and daughter not long ago.
I heard that Link quite the stone quarry and is working at the factory. Irene is in the hospital yet – as I understand is taking a rest cure. I wonder when her mother will get to take a vacation – but guess that is none of my business.
It is warmer out today and the sun is shining. I have washing to do and should hang it out but when the trains over by 24 go past they throw out such a smoke screen the clothes have tattle tale grey when they are dry, so the basement is the safest place after all.
The Newton Co. E. is running pictures of service men and they have Art Kenny’s in this week – He is wearing the sailor uniform he had when he entered the service – you know he is now in the Marines – well to say the least the picture isn’t flattering – I wanted to laugh when I first saw it.
I told you in a v-mail about Tommy Britton’s mother calling me. She said Tommy told them you had called from
[page 4] San F. and was on your way home. I told her he was mistaken. He said Mark had told him. I know Mark doesn’t tell things like that. He was so mad when I told him what Tommy had said. He vowed very strongly he hadn’t told Tommy anything like that. Virginia admitted that Tommy told such tall tales they didn’t know when to believe him. I told her I only wished it were true.
J. & M. got their report cards so they should write you and give you their own reports – I gave them in previous letters but think they should write too.
There was a bulletin from the A.M.A. on socialized medicine. John read it over and is going to take it to school. I don’t know that I ever talked to him on the subject, but he was very strong in his opinion about such a thing. He thinks like the A.M.A. – it shouldn’t be.
I have put D. in his bed with toys to amuse him while I go start the washing and he is throwing things on the floor, and enjoying it.
“Love Mother”
P.S. Saw Irene after writing this so her rest cure must be over.
This time of year is always my busy season. However, the season is almost over and I can definitely see the end in the near future. I am starting to look towards my backlog of writing and genealogy projects. My first (and most major) project will be preparing the second volume of WWII letters for publication. I estimate that the second volume will be published in the late Winter or early Spring of 2016.
Dear Mother, Love Daddy
Book sales have been slow and steady over the last month. But of course, as the author, I would love to see more copies sold. On Amazon, the book has 8 five star reviews. If you have read the book, I encourage you to post a review. These help to increase the book’s ranking as well as its visibility by Amazon.
In late September, genealogist Gena Philibert-Ortega posted a review and a Q & A session with me on her blog. Please check out Gena’s blog after you have read the review and interview. As well as being an expert in newspaper research and women’s history, Gena also studies genealogy and social history using cook books.
I currently have a stock of books to sell. Please contact me through the link at the top of the website if you would like an autographed copy of the book. Copies are also available for sale on Amazon using the link on the sidebar.
Sacramento Library
My presentation Why Genealogy? at the Franklin branch of the Sacramento library in late September was wonderful. The audience was very receptive and they asked lots of great questions. Several attendees booked time with me the following weekend during my regular monthly genealogy appointments. As a result, I was overbooked!
At this point, I have volunteered to do two more presentations in the Winter/Spring of 2016. In January, I will present a lecture on the basics of genetic genealogy and integrating DNA with traditional genealogy research. My presentation in April will be about preserving and sharing documents with family members and for future generations.
If you wish to sign up for a free genealogy session with me, contact the Franklin branch of the library to book an appointment. My next session is this coming Saturday – October 24th.
Discovering Your Past
It has been a busy month behind the scenes for Dan and Sue. Between working on the research plan I helped Sue create in episode 2, and an amazing discovery on Sue’s part regarding her French Canadian roots, there will be lots of material to cover in episode 3. Let’s just say that after I watched the Tom Bergeron episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, I predicted that Sue and Tom would have some things in common in their ancestry. Sue wasn’t actively researching this side of her family since she was looking for her Noble family in Portsmouth, but after Dan and Sue participated in the Genealogy Roadshow in Providence, she became inspired to learn more about her French Canadian ancestry. At this point, I am not exactly sure when the next episode of Discovering Your Past will premiere, but in the meantime, feel free to catch up on episodes 1 & 2, if you haven’t already.
Fashion Moments
My weekly Fashion Moments posts are going well. I am consistently receiving many views and great feedback from readers. There are now nineteen posts in this series which cover a range of topics from different types of sleeves and shirts to some well-known designers. I am always looking for new topics to write about so if you have a fashion question, please comment below or send me a private message via the contact form. Several questions have turned into blog posts at this point. Will your question be next?
To find previous Fashion Moment posts, click on the blog tab above and find the sub-tab titled Fashion Moments. I also have a board on Pinterest with links to all the past posts.
In case anyone is wondering, the photograph that I use in my Fashion Moments’ graphic is from my private collection. It is an ambrotype photograph. This type of image was popular between 1854 and 1865. I believe the photograph to be Averick Estelle (Kelley) Boden, my three times great grandmother. She was married in 1864 which would be consistent with both the type of photograph and the fashion she was wearing. I have another photograph of her taken in the late 1880s or 1890s, and even though there is a large time gap between the two photopgraphs, I am reasonably certain that the above photograph is Averick. She was a descendant of Mayflower passengers John Alden, Priscilla Mullins, Myles Standish and Richard Warren.
Personal Research
Since I have been so busy at school this last month, I have not done much of my own research. I have been thoroughly enjoying the adventures of my friend Sue as she has made one amazing discovery after another.
Joseph & Cassandra Lawhead, photograph provided by a long lost cousin (unknown), circa 1860s
The best part of my own research this month has been connecting with a distant cousin on the Lawhead side of my family. She still lives in the area of southwestern Indiana where my three times great grandmother, Cassandra V. (Harding) Lawhead, resided at the end of her life. My cousin was able to access the local newspapers and find Cassandra’s brief obituary.
My dad recently unearthed some more documents to add to the Yegerlehner WWII project. He found some of the missing letters! These particular letters were more meaningful so they had been pulled out of the collection. Some of the letters include the one my grandmother wrote from the hospital after my father was born, describing the events leading up to his birth, and a letter written by my grandfather to my father in honor of his first birthday in 1943.
Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 20, 1944
Dear Mother,
We seem to have gotten into a rainy spell but it sure is good to see it rain – The grass even now looks lots greener than it did just two days ago. One is not as comfortable during weather like this as when the bright sun is shining but it has its compensation otherwise.
This A.M. I censored a Red Cross worker’s letter and she evidently hadn’t been here long for she wrote 13 pages. All about the country and as much description as she could and not be telling. She would have been far wiser had she cut that into several smaller letters because the next time she is
[page 2] going to find it terribly difficult to get subject matter but then maybe she doesn’t write every day. I think I had included every one of here her topics but in numerous letters.
Even on a cloudy day the scenery around here is pretty nice. The shifting mist presents changing pictures as it slides along the green background of treels trees on the mountain sides. Ever so often a sea gull flies along and just seems to vanish as its body either blends with the mist or the green or both. A little farther along the entire mountain is obliterated by the mist or low hanging clouds.
[page 3] Between the mountain and the me there is a river which can be seen only in spots due to the heavy growth of trees and parallel with the river spots of the road can be seen also. From my description I know you must have a picture so clear that you can hear someone standing by saying “too right,” meaning “that is good” or some such other common New Zealand phrase.
This whole country – what I’ve seen of it is really pretty but not my kind of country. I’m willing to let the Indians have the place, possibly I should have said the Maoris for they were to New Zealand as the Indians were to us. I believe they are
[page 4] accepted into society here a little more readily than either the Indians or colored people are at home. However, marriage between a white and a Maori is not considered the best in the world as far as society is concerned.
There are not classes here as in England or at least I have heard about them. I don’t believe there are many rich people and I’m pretty sure there are no very poor. They have state medicine and the people & Drs. neither one think much of the system –
Genealogy Lady 