Favorite photos

 The theme for this week's #52ancestorsin52weeks is "Favorite Photo." Looking through the family photos I've been lucky enough to acquire over the past few years I've come up with a few favorites. Most of these have been graciously shared with me. I very much appreciate the generosity. 

The first photo I really like is one of my grandmother and grandfather when they were dating, and my grandmother's older brother. On the left is Howard Strand, my granduncle. Kneeing is my grandmother, Viola Strand. Standing on the right is my grandfather, Raymond Henrickson. The photo is dated August 11, 1939. I love this photo because I think all 3 just look really cool. They're young and look like they're ready for an adventure. Grandma is even wearing pants and heels. Very fashion forward for the day. Howard was 18. Viola was 16, one month away from turning 17. Ray was 26. Viola and Ray would get married April 20, 1940. 

Moving back in time, another photo I really like is this one of my great grandfather Carl Strand, circa 1917. He's about 16 years old and he's leaning against a plow in the field. I like this one because I think the expression on his face seems to capture his personality. I only remember meeting him once, but from what I've learned about him, he seems to have been a serious, hard working man. Not that he didn't have faults, we all do, but he seems to have tried to do the best he could with what he had. Life wasn't easy for him, but he tried his best. Carl is Viola and Howard's father. 

Going back in time again, this time to about 1903. It's a picture of the Strand and Pulsipher families. My great, great grandmother Mary Elizabeth "Matie" Strand is in the dead center of the photo. Her husband, and my great, great grandfather William Strand is on the extreme right. The small boy beside him is my great grandfather Carl Strand. I like this one because it has Matie right in the middle of the picture. Everyone has their eyes on her. What is she going to do? What is she thinking? She's the star of the show! The other people in the picture are members of the Pulsipher family, and the Strand family. 

The last favorite photo I'm going to show today is another one of Matie and William Strand. This one was taken with them and their first child, daughter Eva Wilhelmina. Eva was born April 20, 1899, so I'm assuming the picture was taken a few months later that year. Once again, it's a picture of a young, happy couple. They have their first born child and the whole world is open to them. Eva Wilhelmina also happens to be named after both of her grandmothers. Matie's mother was Eva Brownell, and William's mother was Wilhelmina Gley. 

I'm always looking for family photos. Sometimes the people in them are known, sometimes not. I've actually been able to solve a few photo mysteries by comparing known photos, looking at dates and places, and by documentation. 

What are some of your favorite photos? Leave a question or comment below, or email me.