This weekend, while Mom and I were browsing through an antique shop in Old Town Glendale (AZ), I happened across a booth with shoeboxes full of old postcards. Tucked into the very back were four old photographs. Two were of First Communion for different girls, another was a little boy, and the fourth was of an infant sitting in a chair (above). This one caught my eye because on the back was written:
"Hattie M. Harned, Born June 26 - 1888"
I couldn't believe it! It's quite uncommon to find such detailed information on old photos, especially if they're in some "junk" shop collecting dust because the family who had it didn't want it for some reason.
So, I paid $4 for the little picture (yes, I wondered why that much, too), and yesterday posted a message on Ancestry.com's boards for the surname Harned. I got a reply THE SAME DAY!!! Someone had taken it upon themselves to search the genealogy sites (subscription, which I can't afford) and matched the infant to a website setup by her descendants! I sent an email to the person who put up the website, and hope to hear from him soon as to whom I should send the photograph.
The picture WANTED to be found, I'm sure of that. I had put the picture back in the shoebox while Mom and I continued wandering, but kept thinking, "Someone out there may be looking for this." I went back to the box and said to myself, "I hope I find your family, Hattie."
If the person tells me that no one wants the photograph, then I will send it to the LDS genealogy records center in Utah, and maybe copies to the historical society in the state she was from. Either way, Hattie's baby picture -- which could easily be the only one ever taken -- will be preserved for the future!
Practice Random Acts of Kindness! It will make you a better person!
Delphia
p.s. Can you believe this was also for sale at the same shop:
That's my mom imitating the polar bear. The plaque on the display case says that the bear weighed 1600 pounds and, at the time (1965) was the 2nd largest polar bear. Leave it to stupid humans to take the prime specimens, completely against Natural Selection!! -- DJ
