Category Archives: Genealogy

Winter Arrives (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-13-43

Dear Daddy – Our first real winter day – It was 5 above at 7 a.m. in Chi. and not much warmer here. The house isn’t warm enough today. We can’t seem to get the furnace adjusted to this Ind. coal. I had to turn off the coal feed and let the air fan thru the accumulation of coals all morning to get the fire box cleaned out. It is building up again but not enough to get the desired heat. David is toddling around – just turned him loose and he is enjoying it so much. His big act today is saying ooh, ooh, with his mouth all puckered up. He likes to watch himself in the mirror do that. The flu epidemic is still going – I think John said 35 were out of high school today – a little better than Fri., 50 were absent. I don’t know how many are out at the grade school, but I suppose about the same percent. I have a touch of sinus and I am staying in today – The cold always makes it worse. At least it is draining good and that’s something. After all the mild weather up to now this really hurts. The boys dreaded going out to go to school They boys were looking for their letters from you this a.m. but none came. They are anxious to get the money to do some Christmas shopping. I didn’t get any letters either, but got the check last week – thanks again and hope you have a Merry Christmas

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/03/winter-arrives-gladys/

Fashion Moments – Beret

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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 beret with thanks to reader Jackie Dinnis with her question about some 1930s berets providing this week’s inspiration.

Beret

In basic terms, the beret is a round, brimless hat which generally fits around the crown of the head. It is a soft hat without stiffening. Traditional French and Basque berets are made from felted wool, but different fabrics have been used to create a beret like velvet or cotton. The size and shape of this hat has been adapted and refashioned for millennia. According to several websites, the history of the beret is long and its origins are no longer known. Nowadays, most people think of the French when it comes to berets or elite military groups such as the Green Berets.

Some modern berets (Photograph by the author)

1930s

During the 1930s, the French beret became iconic with Hollywood movie starts like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. The beret quickly made its way into popular fashion. While it did not remain in the forefront of fashion, the hat has never completely disappeared in modern times. The style emerged again in the 1950s and 1960s with the beatnik generation.

Marlene Dietrich, 1933

Sears catalog, 1931

Images

Marlene Dietrich, 1933. Image from the German Federal Archives via Wikipedia.

Sears catalog, Fall 1931. Image from Ancestry.com‘s collection of Sears, Roebuck and Co., 1896-1993.

Time and Censorship (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: December 12, 1943 envelope

: December 12, 1943, p. 1

: December 12, 1943, p. 2

: December 12, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 12, 1943

Dear Mother,

Another Sunday almost gone and after it’s all said and done time does pass rather rapidly – not rapidly enough at times but when one looks back he sometimes just wonders where it has gone. Really it has been some time since I’ve left the last station but it doesn’t seem long but add that on to what I’ve had here and it puts things along toward spring – and who knows.

So much for that – I don’t just know why or how I got started on that time business and after all as we have written

[page 2] before – Don’t build too high on any time period and then if things don’t work out the disappointment will not be so great.

I did hear from one of our original group – not a Dr. He has been home and back again and I can’t see too much percentage in that – but here I go again – seems I can’t get off the subject.

I’d forgotten when I sat down to write that this was the day to write the folks so must do that before going to bed. There are other letters to write also – both the Ruths and some of my pals back up the line but it just seems I have a dickens of a time getting started. It’s not nearly so much fun writing to anyone but you as it used to be. Your letters are just natural to write, but

[page 3] I will say I’ve certainly fallen down in subject matter recently, and try as hard as I can I can think of nothing that would be of interest and still be passable. It seems there are more censorable things here than at any previous station. Maybe it just seems that way to me.

If I’m going to get a letter out to the folks I’d better get started. The reason I’m so late is – our orchestra played for a while – Then some old news for about ½ hour and a then long movie, so it’s a little late and good night –

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/02/time-and-censorship-roscoe/

Christmas Greeting (Gladys)

1 Reply

: Card front

: Card interior

: Card back

: December 12, 1943 envelope

: December 12, 1943, p. 1

: December 12, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 12 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Thought I would dash off a note to slip in with my greeting. I went to the Church tonight to hear a Christmas cantata sung by the choir. Mrs. Z. drove her car and I went with her. She had intended to walk (but I hadn’t because of a slight sinus condition) but a lively snow had started and she thought she had better drive. There is such a flu epidemic around now I didn’t want to walk that far thru the cold and get my nose stopped up. So far we haven’t entertained this present flu bug. David still has a little cough from his cold but doesn’t run any temp and so many people have after coughs that hang on. After the service we stopped at Shirks – Sarah is in bed and quite ill with a sinus infection. Terry had the flu and she got it from him. We didn’t see either of them but talked to Chaffe. We wanted to help some way – I thought I could do the washing in the Bendix and Mrs. Z. could help with the ironing, but Mr. Shirk had gotten

[page 2] someone to do the washing and they are getting a school girl tomorrow to help in the house. Before I came back Ruth M. called. She wants to know if we will come there for Christmas. I wrote her we would rather they come here. The way this coal works in the furnace it has to be stirred several times a day or it breaks a pin – We have had three broken pins since using this coal. It seems it clogs up the retort more than the other. At any rate I can’t promise her anything yet. It is colder now than it has been so far and the colder, the more often the furnace needs attention.

The snow tonight was very pretty – the kind we would wish for on Christmas eve. One day this past week we had such a pretty snow – it clung to the trees & shrubs for a while until the sun melted it. I would like to catch a scene like we have around here with a movie technicolor, over on the Kent grounds the snow really makes a beautiful picture. Hope all this snow talk doesn’t make you feel too badly about not getting some under your feet.

It is getting time for us to go to bed. John is practicing. Mark & David are both in bed, and I could use a little extra rest myself – David has such a habit of waking me before I am quite ready – but after all he goes to bed several hours earlier than I do so wants to get up earlier.

Love – Mother

P.S. Mon. Morn – 5 above –

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/01/christmas-greeting-gladys/ ‎

Pictures (Roscoe)

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: December 11, 1943 envelope

: December 11, 1943, p. 1

: December 11, 1943, p. 2

: December 11, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Dec. 11, 1943

Dear Mother,

You will or rather have noted the pictures which were included in yesterday’s letter. The others will follow a few at a time so that they will not be too heavy for air mail. These were taken as you can see – one in a Botanical garden and the other just outside a little hotel where we stayed. That is about all I can say about the pictures for further description and “stuff” might be telling things so we will stop there.

Once before I mentioned about

[page 2] you putting the boys’ ages on the pictures and not putting your own. Of course, I know, so you can’t fool me although that picture would fool me if I didn’t know because you surely don’t look your age – and I don’t mean you look older.

You also wrote in one of those letter about D. & his mother both taking a nap in the P.M. You wrote it as if you were ashamed but I see no reason why you would feel badly about taking a nap in the day time. I sure don’t feel that way and I’m sure some of the other fellows around

[page 3] here feel the same as I on that score.

The Newton Co. E. came today – The first issue in a very long time. It was the issue dated Sept. 30. I’ve read the whole thing and will give it to the Mulligan boy. He told me the other day he had not received any issue and I think he doesn’t receive any letters from there.

If I’ve figured correctly it is just two weeks until Christmas and if I’m going to wish you a Merry Christmas and have it get there in time I should do it now – So Merry Christmas and lots of love

Daddy

[Editor’s Note: I do not believe I have the photographs Roscoe sent home in this letter.]

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/31/pictures-roscoe/

Planes Overhead (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-11-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today but one yesterday of Dec. 3 – also the day before rec’d Dec. 1 & 2. Had a letter from your Mother and she is having flu. Seemed to be having it pretty hard. None of us have had it so far during this epidemic – David has a little cold yet but no temp. Your Mother said Gerdie Harden died. I knew she was ill – had cancer in her stomach or bowels – at any rate I think she was taking treatment from a “quack” – He gave her medicine that was going to remove said ca[ncer] without surgery. I didn’t make any comment on the treatment when I was down there in Oct. but didn’t believe she would recover – from Faye’s account of her condition. John has been listening to opera and Mark has been working on a plane for Bobby. David is in his pen wanting out. I don’t like for him to roam around when I am trying to write – he finds so many things. J. & M. can make out so many words he jabbers – I think they are imagining most of them. It is very cold today. I hung some white clothes out and they hung frozen for a long time, but finally dried. This is hard on our coal pile – just hope more comes in soon. I hear a plane going over – they go N., S., E., and W. every day.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/30/planes-overhead-gladys/ ‎

A Better Christmas Present (Roscoe)

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: December 10, 1943 envelope

: December 10, 1943, p. 1

: December 10, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Fran. Cal.
Dec. 10, 1943

Dear Mother,

Two air mail letters today one dated Nov. 23 & one Nov. 26. The pictures were in one and believe it or not I think you couldn’t have sent a better Christmas present. Those are the first pictures I’ve seen in a long time because the ones you have sent are packed away and are supposed to be sent to me. You see most of my gear had to be shipped because I traveled by air and couldn’t take everything. I sure went round and round there to tell you I didn’t have your

[page 2] pictures with me.

A letter from the folks came yesterday today also. It seems as if they are getting along fine. Mother’s writing has improved lots and I’m sure she isn’t nearly as nervous now as a year or so ago.

When on our trip we had some pictures taken and when they come back I’ll send them to you if they are good. They might be good of the hills, etc., but the subjects in question were both poor so I know they can’t be too good. The pictures I mean – I’m run down –

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/29/a-better-christmas-present-roscoe/ ‎

Lafayette and Back (Gladys)

1 Reply

: December 10, 1943 envelope

: December 10, 1943, p. 1

: December 10, 1943, p. 2

: December 10, 1943, p. 3

: December 10, 1943, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just back from Laf. Took Lucile down to shop and purchased a few things too. John wanted records for Christmas so got him “The Nutcracker Suite.” In case you don’t know what it is, it’s from an operetta. I was going to take David and Lucile was to take Jimmy and we would leave both babies with her sister, but David still had some cold and I didn’t want to have him around Jimmy – so I got Clara to come stay with D. and also she got all the venetian blinds washed and windows while here, so I got some housework down even tho I wasn’t here. I didn’t want to take David away from home while he has any cold. He slept last night without coughing and didn’t run any temp. today but coughed quite a bit all day. He is asleep now and

[page 2] seems to be resting very good. I called Dr. M. wed. about giving him sulfadiazine and he said give him ¼ tablet every 4 hrs. I did that 36 hours then stopped. After I got back from Laf. this evening I went down and talked to him about d. He said if he continues to cough to give him sulfa again in two days. This cough seems to get so many people. I don’t know how contagious it is but know of no one being close to D. that had a cough. Ed Johnson has had it for several weeks but he hasn’t been close to David only out of doors – last Sun. he took some pictures but it was in the yard, I didn’t take D. into their house. At any rate it hasn’t made him feel bad and so far he isn’t running any temp. He is not as bad as he was yesterday, so I suppose I will just have to keep him in and keep him warm. When I came home this evening he was walking around the house having a grand time. I fed him and put him to bed, then I went

[page 3] to see the Dr. Mark said he would go along. After seeing the Dr. decided to get my supper downtown – I was hungry and didn’t like the idea of coming home and frying eggs – (meat frozen isn’t easy to work with) so Mark & I ate at Krulls – the first time I have eaten out for weeks – but eating in Laf. is quite out of the questions with us – We try to eat before we go or after we come back. Sometimes we have stopped at the Triple X on the hill and get a sandwich and drink. The Krull children were going to the ball game at Remington and asked J. & M. to go along. I come home as soon as I finished eating so John could go. I am here with David now, trying to catch up with my correspondence while it’s nice and quiet (except for the stoker).

I saw Phyllis M. downtown and Art is soon to be traveling. He is to go to some eastern port for 8 weeks, then, who knows where. The Emmet Millers have a baby boy. Born just shortly after Emmet was sent out.

[page 4] They were somewhere in the South – he was sent to N.Y. and she came home one day and had her baby the next. She made the trip part way by plane, so you can understand why. James William came 3 wks. early. She was in the hospital in Laf. but I didn’t try to see her today – I figured she would be home by now.

Mr. Z. had been in Laf. attending something at Purdue since Tues. Mrs. Z. was going down today to get him, but Virginia took a cold and Mrs. couldn’t go, so Lucile and I brought him back with us. I was going to take Alma today but she had another one of those terrible attacks last night and wasn’t able to go. She has been doctoring with Rumkorf since you are away. Jack told her to either go see him today or have him over but I haven’t talked to her this evening so don’t know whether she did either.

Yours of Dec. 3 came today – not bad, eh. Just hope you get mine as fast as you have been. If 18 months mean anything – oh well, you know the answer. Thanks again for the check. As I said before it will help a lot, as we are a little low.

Had a letter from Juanita and Ralph was going to be drafted so he joined the Navy, so you see the pre-Pearl Harbor fathers are being taken –

Love Mother

Pounds, Shillings & Sixpence (Roscoe)

2 Replies

: December 9, 1943 envelope

: December 9, 1943, p. 1

: December 9, 1943, p. 2

: December 9, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
Dec. 9, 1943

Dear Mother,

Just received your v-mail of Nov. 28 It sure seems as if v-mail is faster than air mail and eleven days isn’t bad. I hope mine are getting to you in as good time. Some day I’ll write you a v-mail to compare the time – I’ve said that before but never have – when I think of it I don’t have any forms and I can’t remember to get the forms when I’m around where they can be gotten where ever that is I haven’t found out yet.

In your letter today you again wished me a Merry Christmas. Those greetings are sure getting

[page 2] here early but better that way than not all at all.

Got my laundry back today and it was 4/6 which I think figures about 70-75 cents. That was for three shirts and a pair of Pjs. Maybe that isn’t so bad. Really back there I imagine it is higher than that now. That 4/6 is shilling & sixpence. We just don’t try to compare it with U.S. money because it’s too hard that way. It’s all in pounds, shillings & sixpence (or rather pence). I’m not too handy at the stuff yet but a little better than at first. I keep thinking a pound note is the same as a dollar bill but it amounts to about $3⁰⁰ or rather a little more than three dollars. Really

[page 3] they must have intelligent cash registers around here to figure all that business and have it come out right at the end of the day.

The pictures you wrote about haven’t arrived as yet but they should in the next few days because all the letters before and after that one came. It’s been some time since I’ve had pictures but I think you explained that films were a little hard to get back there.

Well, here is wishing you that Merry Christmas to you and –

Lots of Love
Daddy

Fashion Moments – Bishop Sleeve

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Bishop Sleeve

Simply defined, the bishop sleeve is a wide sleeve that narrows at the wrist, typically into a cuff. This particular fashion comes and goes with regularity, so it can not be used solely to date a garment. Other fashion clues must be utilized. Examples of the bishop sleeve can be found throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including the blossoming sleeves of the 1960s hippie peasant dress and the glamorous gowns of the 1930s Hollywood starlet.

During the Civil War years, the bishop sleeve enjoyed popularity along with the pagoda sleeve (the subject for another blog post). However, the bishop sleeve was the more practical of the two. It was much easier to “roll up” a bishop sleeve when there was work to be done. It was possibly more popular with the middle and working classes, but since few of these garments exist today, there is sketchy evidence to support this assertion.

: Unidentified woman, 1860-1865

: Unidentified woman, 1860-1865

: Unidentified woman, 1860-1865

Pleating or smocking was often used to control the fullness at the top of the sleeve and the cuffs, but simple gathering can be found as well. The shoulder seam of a 1860s bodice did not land on the shoulder, but rather on the upper arm (often horizontal to the armpit). The fullness of a bishop sleeve makes its appearance at the upper arm (and not the shoulder!).

Woman with smocking at shoulder cap, 1860-1869

Existing Garments

Images

The photographs of the three unidentified women can be found in the Library of Congress’ Prints and Photographs Online Catalog: LOT 6286, p. 12 (LC-DIG-ppmsca-32291); LOT 286, p. 10 (LC-DIG-ppmsca-32287); LOT 6286, p. 3 (LC-DIG-ppmsca-32244). The women in the first two photographs are believed to have been nurses during the Civil War.

The photograph of the woman with smocked sleeves can be found in the Library of Congress’ Prints and Photographs Online Catalog: LOT 6286, p. 49 (LC-DIG-ppmsca-32397).

The two existing garments can be found on the Metropolitan Museum Art’s Costume Collection online: 1981.49.4a, b and C.I.60.11.1.