High school dance card with tiny pencil, 1938

A homemade dance card with attached pencil found in an old trunk. It looks like she sat out half the dances - at least I assume it's a she. Did men carry dance cards? I took for granted they just remembered with whom they were dancing.

Casper velvet painting

This was one of a series of four velvet paintings of cartoon characters, although only Casper and his...guitar? ukulele? was worthy of serious consideration. However, six dollars was a bit much even for so much awesomeness.

Till next time, Ali A. Age 12

Three halcyon days in the life of a twelve year old. Found in a discarded notebook.

Reasons why I will get rejected

The Ship-Wreck'd Sailors

This is a pencil composition of seafarers in a sad plight. I found this in an old trunk where it had been undisturbed for over 50 years. I was thinking about who the artist might have been, considering the trunk and its contents were acquired from a different homestead by my grandfather. At first glance, I didn't notice a signature on the picture and assumed that the drawing was a copy of an extant painting. But today, while I was taking pictures of it, I found a very small signature to the right of the drowning figure in the foreground, a "Wm Bance." This may not be of any significance, but the drawing could very well be original. Jumping out of the drawing the way it did, finding the signature was a dramatic little moment like in a Josephine Tey detective novel, when the inspector recognizes the man in the portrait and solves the mystery. Except I haven't really solved anything, and the artist remains in the shadows.

Other trifles in the trunk: a red cross button from 1921, a sheaf of letters from 1915 tied with a shoe-lace, a very small key, enamel costume jewelry, old primers, woolen mittens, a Farmer's Almanac, buttons, and a homemade rose-shaped pin made of sealing wax.

Knows Nothing Tells All

This mock-gazette was found in a box of old papers. Written and illustrated by my grandmother and great-aunt in 1936 during a February storm (so they explain within) when the schools were closed for a week, the mimeographed newspaper "reports" on fictitious stories involving immediate family and friends. K.N.T.A, as its authors call it, includes an advice column, advertisements, market report, household hints, book review, a poetry corner, and intelligence tests, all done tongue-in-cheek and rather wittily. It's twelve pages in all. Here are some excerpts.

"LOST: One brother, who used to write a letter once a year, but has now joined the ranks of the unknown. Anyone knowing the whereabouts and whatabouts of said person - please send a photograph of him to me so I'll be able to identify him when I see him - Julien Buckneberg"

"Wanted: A yes man. Marie Buckneberg" [my grandmother]

"Wanted to buy: A parrot (English speaking). Valborg Buckneberg" [my great-aunt]

"The 1936 Emancipation Proclamation to Housewives. NEW PIE PLANT DISCOVERY - Planting instructions free with each order of seed. Lawrence and Thelma Burbank Jacobson. [my great-uncle and aunt]"

"BE PREPARED: What would you do if Tommy fell down the basement steps? Read our new book on Bringing up Children. Agnes and Swede Swenson"

"Grandma's Prize Winning Waffles which seem to say 'I feel like a feather in the breeze.' Light-weight Champions. Mail Orders For Your Convenience."

"Your portraits painted while you wait - or by mail, if you prefer. Just write and let me know how you wish to look - pretty or Natural. Studio - Room 1 upstairs. Ada Buckneberg - artist"

"Kon's Kremey Koconut Kracaroons. Strictly Fresh! More than a Kooky, it's a Konfection. Telephone RU 264281 (get this?) Konrad Isakson - Prop."

"Notice: In case of a misunderstanding allow me to state that the 2 (two) first Leap Year ceremonies will be performed free of charge for nothing. Rev. A. Buckneberg [my great-grandfather]"

"DoReMi Ericksonskavitchski announces a new course which includes lessons in Voice, Piano, Tuba. Private lessons by mail. Hansell Conservatory Studio 7-W, Hansell, Iowa."

"The Book of the week-month-year. Get your copy while they last. The whole town's talking about the latest success of A. Tolstoi Buckneberg: And Why Not?" [a book review of "And Why Not?" the fictitious novel, was included by my ever-inventive great-aunt]

"Mademoiselle Carolina Modista announces the showing of some of her new Parisian frocks and gowns some of which are illustrated elsewhere in this paper."

"NEW DISCOVERY. Heartless Wretches or Broken-Hearted Mortals - No longer need you suffer. New pink hearts installed painlessly. Local anaesthetic. (Ed. note. She talks you to sleep). Offices in Buckneberg parlor, kitchen, dining room, basement and upstairs. Dr. Leenie Buck."

"Let Julien plan your next house. J.F.B. Architect. Farmer school, Fargone, N.D. (pictured, Bungle-owe No. 361)"

Me and my airship, or The Report of 1911

Found these delightful ink depictions of Edwardian Gibson girls in a box of school papers from 100 years ago. The artist was a Canadian girl of sixteen.

"Report of the Weather, different birth-days and what I spend through the year of 1911

Near Monarch, Alta., Canada."

"Me and my airship. What do you think of it?"

"They who wash on Monday,

Have all the week to dry,

They who wash on Tuesday,

Are not so much awry."