Post #3 - Mid, Mom, Grandmom

You know, these first few posts are a little more difficult than I thought they would be to begin.  I mean to try to keep out the emotion of how much we miss those who have passed, but sometimes it just hits home in a big rush (Laura Jane, stop crying this instant!). We were so lucky to have such fine grandparents, kind, loving, generous, always supportive and encouraging,  pillars of their community, role models all. Doesn't mean, though, that we cousins didn't receive holy hell from the grandparents when warranted (and I suspect that was more often than I remember). But honestly, how many grandparents allowed kids to slide down the living room staircase on the barley-bed cushions?

So, moving on, Miriam Bartram Clark was born on March 5, 1905, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  I need to do more investigating on the details of the Clark side, like when exactly they moved to Sewell, New Jersey, where she went to grammar school, stuff like that.  Ann shared a photo of Miriam in her christening dress, she was three months old here:

Cousin Laura shared this one a while ago and I think it's one of my favorites -- that bow!  and also the bare feet. 

This one is undated, but Miriam looks about four or five here, don't you think?

The photo below states on the reverse that she is three years old here:

I knew I wouldn't be able to resist posting a photo of the newest member of the DeHart family, but it just seems so appropriate here.  Audrey Claire DeHart, daughter of my nephew Doug and Heather (Nocella) DeHart is clearly sharing her great-great grandmother's love of big bows:

I really want to put in pictures of all the great- and great-great grandkids as well, but I'm going to need all you cousins to email me some of your family photos.

Okay, back to the 1900's.  This is young Mid at a beach with her younger sister Irene (Aunt Rena) and young brother Bud (and I am embarrassed to admit that if he has another name other than Uncle Bud, I don't have it at hand at the moment -- more research!). Mid is in the middle looking down at Bud.

At first glance, to our modern eyes, doesn't it look as though Mid is sitting on the steps checking out her cell phone messages?  On closer inspection, I believe she is holding a kitten.  Rena is holding on to a parasol. Not sure of this date, but does this look like their home in Sewell?

Now here was a bit of a surprise to me.  Miriam B. Clark, Captain of her Woodbury High School basketball team.  She is in the middle row, second from left.

And she played field hockey - top left in the very back row.

Her high school senior picture.  So pretty.

A clip from her Woodbury High school yearbook. 

 Below is the June 1923 Senior Class Trip photo; they went to Mt. Vernon.  Such ladies and gentlemen, but why is it that Miriam and her good friend Evelyn Harris, the two seated on the ground at far right, are the only young women not wearing hats?  Rebels!

More school chums, Mid in the middle.

 

I just love this photo - I think she looks so pretty.  This is from her Glassboro Normal School yearbook, "The Oak" 1925.  Glassboro Normal School was organized in 1923 specifically to train young people interested in teaching as a career.  I say young people because, though mostly women, I did see a young man or two among the ranks.  In 1927 it turned into New Jersey State Teachers College, then Glassboro State, then Rowan.

Sei Yu Kai was a sort of literary club, it looks like.  Not sure what the photo below is about.  I assume the G stands for Glassboro, but don't know why one would have a bathing suit with a college initial on it.  Perhaps they had a long-distance ocean swim team??  On second thought, perhaps she is wearing a track suit.  I don't know, whatever it is, nice legs there, Granny.

Below is a link to this college yearbook that I found.  I love reading through these - truly a different era.   The Oak, 1925

Okay, I have got to get some laundry done, people!  --cds