A Closer Look (Part 82)

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1932. This is my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Here's the original post.

Classmates

Kedainai, Lithuania, May 28, 1932. The girl in the bottom row, on the left, is the Mother of my friend Nijole. The students wear the identifying uniforms typical of that era.

Thanks to my friend Nijole for making this photo available to us.

Class Notes (Part 9)

Kaunas, Lithuania, December 12, 1932. On this Class Notes page, my Mom's friend wrote:

For Memories.

I am not a princess, I have no riches
I have one heart, and that I gift to you.

Irene, your friend from school.

Family Resemblance

Lithuania, about 1932. My friend V made available this photo of her Mom and her maternal Grandmother, Antonina. Was it customary to pose children by propping them up closer to the mother's height?

Thanks, friend V!

Class Notes (Part 5)

Kaunas, Lithuania, June 1932. On this Class Notes page, my Mom's friend wrote a poem:

For Memories!
I love one, I love two
I love the one that's pretty
But most of all I love you

Exchanging Portraits (Part 31)

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. I don't know the identity of this fellow; his image appeared among the "new batch" photos I received from my Kaunas Cousin.

Thanks to my Kaunas Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 30)

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. A friend of my Dad's older cousin, Henry, sits for a formal portrait.

Thanks to Henry's Granddaughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Fencing

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1932. You'll warm up once you get inside.

Snow-Tracks Reunion

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1932. Sometimes we make it through without a plow.

We had a dusting this morning.

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. Soon it will look like this. Here are Suzanne's father and nephew.

Thanks to Suzanne's Granddaughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

November Nears

 

Vilnius, Lithuania, about 1932. Suzanne—the wife of my Dad's cousin, Henry—readies for winter.

 
Thanks to Suzanne's Granddaughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 1)

I've noticed how many friends gave me portraits of themselves—most often from high-school-senior sittings—as mementos. I run across them periodically when I'm scouring for photos for the blog. I'm charmed by the tender, young sentiments my friends wrote on the back of those images.

It's also charming that earlier generations engaged in the same ritual of friendship. I'll be posting some of the images in this new little series I am starting today.

Kaunas, Lithuania, April 1, 1932. This fellow is a friend of my Dad's older cousin, Henry.

Thanks to my Kaunas Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Grouped

 
Probably near Vilnius, Lithuania, about 1932. In this group, Suzanne—the wife of my Dad's older cousin, Henry—is the woman sitting next to the priest. I don't know whether this was Suzanne's extended family, or if she was a teacher joining colleagues and students at a school's entryway. 

Thanks to Suzanne's Granddaughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Greying

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. This is my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas. He was in his late thirties when he sat for this photo. People used to remark how prematurely his hair had turned grey.

Based on the style of the photo, I believe Vytautas sat for this portrait on the same day that a photographer took pictures of my Dad and his twin sister, Jonė.

Jonė, brimming with hope.

I am fond of this photo of my Dad's twin sister, Jonė.

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. This photo was taken at the same time as this photo of my Dad.

Broad Shoulders

My paternal Grandfather, Vytautas, was a career officer in the Lithuanian Army. As a result, he appears in uniform in most snapshots.

Here is an unusual photo of him in civilian clothes:



Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932 to 1936. I suspect Vytautas may have sat for this photo when he prepared his documents for the trip to Belgium. Although Vytautas traveled to Belgium on a procurement trip for the Lithuanian Army, he did not wear a uniform while he was abroad.

Keep the stroller handy.

And make sure Raphael's adorable angels watch over you:

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932 or 1933. Mom sits on the edge of her bed with a favorite doll. The screen, featuring swans, seems to be a different one than the screen that appeared here.

Scout

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. Dad wears his scouting uniform. He must have been proud of the uniform because at around this time; he wore it—or part of it—to dinner.

Can you give me a lift?

A boy gets the attention he deserves from the older, paternal cousins:

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. My Dad gets carried away by Vytas (on the left) and Henry.

Holy Communion (Part 2)

My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, celebrated her First Communion in the spring:

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1932. Jonė's family commemorated her First Communion not with a formal portrait, but rather with a photograph staged among the Irises.