Diana Lewis...."My Life Journal" final photographs

By now if you have been following my blog posting on Diana Lewis and her "My Life Journal" then you are aware of some useful information that's been found. Some of that information is easy to locate, "in your face" information is what I like to call it. But not all information, trying to answer some questions and find some of those answers you have to put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and pick up that magnify glass. Take a look at some of these photos and you might see what I mean. Items in the photos and information written on the back plus the stamped information from the companies that print the photographs.     

(Loose photograph in the book)

The back of the photo doesn't have a name noted on it but I'm sure you can tell that this is Diana Lewis, especially when comparing this photograph with others she is named in. The stamp on the back reads;

PETER PAN PRINT

JUL 21 1948

ALVES PHOTO SERVICE, INC.

She seems to be enjoying her time playing outside and by the looks of those buckets they were played with a lot. One has what appears to be a young boy dressed in a sailor outfit blowing a horn, the cation above reads; "For the Red". The sandbox looks to be handmade. From the print date on the back of the photo this would make Diana four years of age.

(Loose photograph in the book)

The back of this photograph I'm happy to say does offer some information written in ink.

Diana's Fifth Birthday Party. What a racket they made with those horns!

From the comment on the racket the horns made that might be a good reason the celebration was held outside. A nice size group of friends come to help celebrate Diana's fifth birthday with floral center pieces, horns, party hats, cake, ice cream. It was a nice sunny warm day, you know this just by looking at the clothing the children are wearing.  

(Loose photograph in the book)

The back of this photograph has some information written in pencil.

5th Birthday Party 1949   

Another fun photograph of Diana's party and what is interesting with this one is you get a feel for what the view was like from the back yard to the street. The home's appear to be nice with well maintained yards. You have two ladies that are helping with the festivities, possible serving cake and ice cream. The family did enjoy the outdoors because place under the window in the back of the home is a sitting area. 

(Loose photograph in the book)

Unfortunately there isn't any information on the back of this photograph of Diana. With no writing on the back I had do compare previous photographs to verify this was Diana. You can see she is staring in a direction with in interesting look on her face. Upon closer look you can make out there is a cat sitting on what could be a bench next to a doll. Looking closer sitting behind the doll, and possibly what both Diana and the cat are looking at are presents. The dress she is wearing looks to be one for special occasions with a pin under her chin. 

(Loose photograph in the book)

Unfortunately once again there isn't any hand written information on the back, but there is a stamp;

THIS IS A 

KODACOLOR PRINT

MAKE BY

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY

T.M. RESIG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

WEEK ENDING NOV. 10,1956

Two girls getting ready to go out and enjoy a bike ride stop and pose for a picture. I believe the one in the striped shirt is Diana Lewis and not sure who the other young lady is. This was developed in 1956 which would make Diana twelve years of age . The photograph looks to have been taken in a back yard, possible the same back yard she celebrated her fifth birthday, the white fence in the background could be the same white fence in the first birthday celebration photograph. 

I hope you enjoyed looking at the rest of the photographs that were in Diana's book. I pointed out some things that you might have missed when first viewing the photographs. I did this as a reminder to look at the background, compare your photographs and you might find something your weren't expecting. The next post I will share with you the wedding announcements and invitation. Please feel free to share with others and I look forward to hearing your feedback.  

"My Life Journal"....Diana Lewis her story continues.

In reading some of these letters from Diana's great aunt, grandfather and father you can't help but hear the love and strength in their words. There was a war, WW II, going on at the time and for a new father to be apart from his daughter and wife is difficult. All three, great aunt Mahl, grandfather Robert A Lewis and her father, Robert A Lewis Jr. try their best to explain, daddy's absence and express their support and love. In the pages showcase on this post you will get a chance to see her grow, read some birthday wishes, read a Western Union message from her father and see a photograph of the first home she lived in. I so look forward to hearing your thoughts especially after reading some of these letters. 

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT CHART

                                        Age                     Feet       Inches    Pounds      Ounces

                                  At 1 month                               18             6               9

                                  At 2 months                              19            8               2

                                  At 3 months                              23          10               8

                                  At 4 months                              24          11             12

                                  At 5 months                              24           Weight should double

                                  At 6 months                              25           15              2

                                  At 7 months                              26           17

                                  At 8 months                              27           19              4

                                  At 9 months                              28           20

                                  At 10 months                            28           21              1

                                  At 11 months                            21             8

                                  At 12 months                                           Weight should double 22

                                  At 13 months                                            22             6

                                  At 14 months                                            23

                                  At 15 months                                            23             8

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT CHART

                                    Feet       Inches     Pounds   Ounces

                                 At 2 years                            33 ¾        28

                                 At 9 years              4             3             72

                                 At 10 years            4             6             83 ½

                                 At 11 years            4            11 ½        96           8

 Photographs of pages 18 and 19

‘Cause, darn it,

HE BROUGHT YOU!

Happy Birthday!

X Ronald Edward Anderson

Dear Diana:

One year old – and off

To a wonderful start in

life! Healthy and happy

and handsome – that’s

what they all say about

you. I hope before your

next birthday rolls

around your daddy

and a lot more of your

relations will have

finished up the war

and he’ll be around to

 help you blow out

your birthday candles.

Tell your mother I hope

she has a delightful

vacation and when

you and she come back

I’ll be out to see you.

Happy birthday,

Diana, and a big

kiss to you from your

Great Aunt Mahl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

There’s a reason

To address you as I do;

SUGAR’s scarce

and so are people

Who can measure

up to YOU!

Diana dearest-

Although you are just one

year old, & though you cannot

read quite yet, I know that

later on in life you’ll say

“my folks try to treat me

Just right.” As I

Write this, I’m at sea aboard a

ship hoping that what little I

am doing in this war effort will

 be justified in that when you

grow up to be twenty or so

you can know that your friends

won’t have to go to war.

I miss you & your mom ever

so much and believe me I’ll

be home real soon and take

 good care of you both.

Sleep tight dear heart and

do as your mom says, and

you’ll always do right.

As always from your Daddy

affectionately

Dad

WESTERN UNION

     LD 163 IK INTL DUP OF TEL TEL

CD SANSORIGINE VIA RCA                                                           1945 JUL 12 PM 1  34

     MISS DIANA LEWIS

     MAIL  10 NOB HILL WAYLAND MASS

     LOVING BIRTHDAY GREETINGS YOU ARE MORE THAN EVER IN MY THOUGHTS

     AT THIS TIME MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE EVER WITH YOU

ROBERT A LEWIS

Diana’s first telegram from her Daddy in Ireland.

Miss Diana Lewis-

10 Nob hill – Road

Wayland

Massachusetts

ROBERT ARTHUR LEWIS

July 17, 1945

My dear Diana,

Congratulations to you on

your first birthday from your

grandfather Lewis.

I wish I could see you

today for a little talk, -

about things,- and what may

be going on in the big world

where you live; and it is

a big world with your Daddy

away up in the far North.

But you are not alone with

dear Mother close by, and good

thoughts flowing your way

from many hearts all radiating love and good

wishes to you on your birthday.

The Enclosed is for your bank

account. It will become use-

ful in the years to come-

perhaps when you are ready

for College.

And now good night my

sweet for a few days when

I shall see you down at Cape

Cod – where you grandmother

Lewis is waiting to welcome you

affectionately Grandfather Lewis

Photographs of pages 20 – 23

I know that these pages are blank but I felt as if I should still include them, especially for those who are interested in the style/layout of the book.

Photograph of pages 24 and 25

DESCRIPTION OF FIRST HOME

10 Nob Hill, Wayland

I slept in small front bed

Room. My house consisted of

six rooms,

1 large bedroom, 2 small

bedrooms, both upstairs.

Downstairs – living room

dining room & kitchen

                       and here is the

                        plan of it

                                                 1-wicker wardrobe (white)

                                                 2-rocker

                                                 3-bassinet

                     Coral pink          4-folding crib

                     with                    5-large dresser

                     peasant              6-bookcase & toy rack

                     pastel designs

           Comments Walls were painted pale blue with nursery boarder

                             & blue & pink scatter rugs. White ruffled curtains and dainty flowered over-drapes

                              with pink & blue preponderating. Rocker is covered with same cloths as drapes.

Not all pages in the journal are completed some are blank, with that being said I still feel I should  include them. Tomorrow I will share a dental chart along with some of her school days, newspaper clippings and some more photographs.     

Advent Calendar - The Holiday Happenings!

     Before we commence in the traditional gift giving celebration we have a few more champagne bottles to uncork.  Both a birthday and anniversary are celebrated during the month of December around here.

     A very special, smart, caring and wonderful lady celebrates her birthday during the month of December, my mom. No matter how hectic the holiday season may get, we always wish mom a Happy Birthday. Reminding her how much she means to us, not only as a mom but also as a grandmother.  Since we are a military family it’s not always easy to be home for mom’s birthday. We have a birthday tradition that we do here in the Rodesky household for grandma and grandpa. All of the grandkids report to a central location, usually on the stairs and prepare to entertain. No they don’t do a little dance, or pose for a picture, but instead entertain her with a few bars of “Happy Birthday” with a few “cha-cha-chas” added in. One year she spent her birthday helping my husband and me with a very special event, our wedding. Well actually, that birthday she spent with us and the whole wedding party in a Golden Coral. If I’m not mistaking we had them bring out a slice of cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday. So mom, grandma, have the phone close by again, because we will be calling soon to sing another tone.

     My husband, Terry and I were married just two days after that Golden Coral dinner. It was a perfect December afternoon with all of our families and friends around in a beautiful church. That was one of those days in our lives that I will never forget. That was the day that I married my best friend, the man that I love and continue to love. No matter how many miles are between us we are always together in our hearts on this special December day.   It’s one of those days in your life that you will never forget no matter how many wonderful years you have spent with each other, that day will always stick out.  Happy Anniversary Terry!