Dad’s Ratty Sweater

Mom and Dad – when the blue sweater was new and still respectable enough for photographs.

Dad had a favorite blue sweater that he wore in the morning to  keep off the chill.  The problem was that he wore it for years and it got quite worn.  A few holes, some unravelling.  And he didn’t want it washed or cleaned because that would damage it more.

Mom found it appalling.  Shabby.  But she kept quiet unless he wanted to wear it on errands to the grocery store or go next door to the neighbors.  Or could he please change it when folks dropped by to visit.  Dad rarely gave in.

After he died mom slowly sorted his clothes.  Special things were saved for family.  Some of the nicer things were given to friends.  And Mom wore the shabby sweater for a few evenings.

I guess she finally discarded it.  I wish we had kept it.  I have one of his more acceptable sweaters, but I don’t remember him wearing it.  I do have Mom’s gaudy pink and blue plaid fleece shirt which is well worn and has lip balm, change, and mints in the pocket.  I wear it on chilly mornings.

Amos Claycomb’s Grades University of Illinois Urbana

This is a fine little folder of the grades received by Amos Claycomb at the University of Illinois.  He graduated in 1909.  Please note this should be left on file in the Registrar’s office when not in use by the student.  A duplicate will cost fifteen cents.

 

 

This is about 6″ x 16″
This is part of it enlarged.

Grandma’s Tiny Books

The Norka Series of little books was printed in the early 1900s “bound in Ooze leather, printed in two colors, cover stamped in gold, 25 cents.”  These are two that my grandmother, Ruth Bressler Claycomb, received from her parents.  They are about 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches.

Norka Series books, John T. and Julia Fair Bressler, parents of Ruth.

 

O. A. Harker Letter 1929

Oliver Albert Harker, better known as O.A. Harker, married my grandmother’s sister, Maude Bressler.  My grandmother, Ruth, was visiting the Harker’s in the Texas panhandle where she met my grandfather-to-be.  So Harkers are responsible for a lot!

 

This is a letter that O.A. sent to my father when Dad’s steer won grand champion at the Wayne County (Nebraska) Fair.  Dad was 14.
It would be nice to have someone in Harker’s lineage have this letter.

Quiz Kids on the Radio

Mom was a writer – short stories, jingles, slogans, and it seems, Quiz Kids questions.  This is a postcard she received in the early 1940s (I can tell from the address) in response to a question she submitted for use on the Quiz Kids radio show.  I think the question was never used.  There was no Zenith portable radio in our house.