This article is reprinted with permission of the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) and first appeared in Crossroads, Vol. 6, No. 3 (September 2011): 12-19. To learn more about UGA, please visit www.infouga.org. Sources Philatelic Genealogy in Utah: Family Postcards by James R. Miller Many genealogists enjoy seeing picture postcards of places where our ancestors lived. In addition to photographs of cities and towns, postcards can be a source of genealogical information and a glimpse of our ancestor s daily life. The first places to look for old postcards are in your family papers and the papers of your relatives. The next places to look could be the postcard and manuscript collection catalogs of the local and state historical societies where your family lived. The names and places written on old postcards and envelopes may give you clues on where to research your family s history. This article presents six old postcards from Utah found for sale on the Internet with basic genealogical details on the sender and recipient (when avail- able) to introduce the Philatelic Genealogy website and database (Philgen.org, at http://philgen.org). The website was launched in March 2009 to begin building a digital archive of envelope and postcard images with genealogical value and to promote an exchange between postal historians, postcard collectors, and genealogists. The site has grown to more than 1,600 envelopes and postcards. Every item includes a photograph (used with the owner s permission) and U.S. census or similar details on the sender and/or recipient. All of the postcards in this article come from a postal history vendor who has given Philgen. org permission to use his photographs. 1 As with any source of genealogical information, postcards must be studied in combination with other sources before reaching a conclusion. 1. Jim Forte Postal History (http://www.postalhistory.com/: accessed 24 June 2011). This website can be searched by U.S. state and then by a county from which a postcard or envelope was mailed. At the time of writing, all six postcards shown in this article were for sale for $10 each (4 postcards), $15, or $40, and could be found by using the county of the postmark, and then browsing Utah by County. The author has no financial interest in this website. The postcard fronts shown in the article and on the cover are not from the same postcards whose texts are shown. 12 ~ Crossroads ~ Autumn 2011
Mrs. John A. Strong Mrs. John A. Strong of Springville, Utah received a postcard from Cedarview, Utah in August 1913.[Figure 1] The text begins Dear mother and is signed Luella. A Sarah J. (Mrs. John A.) Strong is in Springville in the 1910 U.S. census, and this couple is shown in Springville with a daughter Sarah L. in the 1880 U.S. census. 2 An online family tree shows that Sarah Luella Strong, daughter of John Albert and Sarah Jane (Hutchings) Strong, married Joseph King in 1898, and this marriage appears in an online database. 3 Sarah L. (Mrs. Joseph) King is in Cedarview in the 1920 U.S. census. 4 Luella asks if peaches in Springville are ripe and how much peaches and a can of honey will cost. Figure 1 1913 postcard from Cedarview, Utah to Springville, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 2. 1910 U.S. census, Utah County, Utah, population (pop.) schedule, Springville, ward 2, Enumeration District (ED) 200, sheet 5B (penned), John A. Strong, dwelling 84, family 92; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 June 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication (NARA) T624, roll 1610; 1880 U.S. census, Utah County, Utah, pop. schedule, Springville, ED 82, sheet 47C (penned), John A. Strong, dwelling 427, family 455; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T9, roll 1338. 3. Marsh Family Tree, owner: AngelaMarsh88, sources shown as a U.S. census and online family trees, Ancestry.com; Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/: accessed 24 June 2011), entry for Joseph King and Sarah L. Strong, married 1898 in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah. 4. 1920 U.S. census, Duchesne County, Utah, pop. schedule, Cedarview, ED 60, sheet 10B (penned), Joseph King, dwelling 158, family 160; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T625, roll 1862. Autumn 2011~ Crossroads ~ 13
Mrs. Henry Simonsen Sources Mrs. Henry Simonsen of Ephraim, Utah received a postcard from Centerfield, Utah in May 1912.[Figure 2] The text begins Dear Aunt Zoa and is signed Lucy. A John Henry Simonson of Ephraim married a Zoe Childs of Centerfield in February 1912, and a J.H. Simonsen of Ephraim registered with Selective Service in 1917 and listed a wife and child as dependents. 5 Zoe Childs and an older sister Clow (Chloe) are in Gunnison in the 1900 U.S. census, and Chloe Childs married Albert Thompson in 1905. 6 An Albert and Chloe Thompsen, with 8-year old daughter Lucy, are in Centerfield in the 1910 U.S. census. 7 Lucy writes that she has passed into the fourth grade, and would thus be about 10-years old in 1912. Lucy Thompson may have sent this postcard, but other possibilities may exist. Lucy writes that she would like to stay with her aunt during the summer. Figure 2 1912 postcard from Centerfield, Utah to Ephraim, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 5. Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for John Henry Simonson and Zoe Childs, married 1912 in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, digital image, Ancestry.com; J.H. Simonsen, Ephraim District, Sanpete County, Utah; citing World War I Selective System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA M1509; no roll cited. 6. 1900 U.S. census, Sanpete County, Utah, pop. schedule, Gunnison, ED 124, sheet 9B (penned), William Childs, dwelling 176, family 178; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T623, roll 1686; Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for Albert Thompson and Chloe Childs, married 1905 in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah. See also Jones20100911 family tree, owner: spencerjones43, sources shown are online family trees; Ancestry.com. 7. 1910 U.S. census, Sanpete County, Utah, pop. schedule, Centerfield, ED 148, sheet 3B (penned), Albert Thompsen, dwelling not indicated, family 60; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing T624, roll 1608. 14 ~ Crossroads ~ Autumn 2011
Mrs. Amy Smith Mrs. Amy Smith of Salt Lake City, Utah received a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year postcard from Liberty, Utah in December 1918.[Figure 3] The text begins Dear Aunt Amy and is signed Nellie and Sadie Wade. An Amy H. (Mrs. Henry) Smith is in Salt Lake City in the 1920 U.S. census, and Henry J. Smith is in the 1917 Salt Lake City directory at the address written on the postcard. 8 Amy H. Smith s maiden name is shown as Harrop in her husband s 1943 burial record. 9 A Nellie E. and Sadie L. Wade are in North Ogden in the 1910 U.S. census and in Liberty in the 1920 U.S. census, and their mother s maiden name was Mary Gosling. 10 The details regarding the Wade children s relationship to Amy (Harrop) Smith are still to be found. The postcard text refers to flu (influenza), which was most severe in November 1918 and March 1919. 11 Figure 3 1918 postcard from Liberty, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 8. 1920 U.S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, pop. schedule, Salt Lake City, ward 2, ED 116, sheet 1A (penned), Henry Smith, dwelling 6, family 6; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T625, roll 1866; R.L. Polk & Co., Directory of Salt Lake City, 1917, digital image, Ancestry.com, 800, Henry J. Smith. Henry Smith s occupation is shown as dentist in both the 1920 census and 1917 directory. 9. Utah Deaths and Burials, 1888-1946, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for Henry Smith, died 1943 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. 10. 1910 U.S. census, Weber County, Utah, pop. schedule, North Ogden, ward 8, ED 216, sheet 7A (penned), Chas. F. Wade, dwelling 128, family 132; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing T624, roll 1611; 1920 U.S. census, Weber County, Utah, pop. schedule, Liberty, ED 145, sheet 6B (penned), Mary G. Wade, dwelling 101, family 101; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T625, roll 1869; Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for Charles F. Wade and Mary Gosling, married 1904 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah. 11. Wikipedia, 1918 flu pandemic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic: accessed 24 June 2011). Autumn 2011~ Crossroads ~ 15
Mrs. Jefferson Bradley Mrs. Jefferson Bradley of Sterling, Utah received a postcard from Standardville, Utah in December 1919. [Figure 4] The text begins Dear Aunt and is signed M C Jensen. An Ellen (Mrs. Jefferson) Bradley is in Sterling in the 1910 U.S. census. 12 An online family tree shows that Jefferson Bradley had an older sister Mariah, and Mariah Bradley married Joseph Jensen in Sterling in 1890. 13 They had a son Mc Cune Jensen, who is with the family in Sterling in the 1900 and 1910 U.S. censuses. 14 A Mc Cune Jensen registered with Selective Service in Standardville in 1918. 15 M C Jensen writes that he will be visiting the following week. Figure 4 1919 postcard from Standardville, Utah to Sterling, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 12. 1910 U.S. census, Sanpete County, Utah, pop. schedule, Sterling, ED 152, sheet 2A (penned), Jefferson Bradley, dwelling 24, family 24; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing T624, roll 1608. 13. Beverly and Cliff Bradley Family Tree, owner: beverlybradley39 (sources cited are a U.S. census, Utah State burial database, FamilySearch, and online family trees), Ancestry.com; Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for Joseph Jensen and Mariah Bradley, married 1890 in Sterling, Sanpete County, Utah. 14. 1900 U.S. census, Sanpete County, Utah, pop. schedule, Sterling, ED 122, sheet 7B (penned), Joseph Jenson, dwelling 123, family 125; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T623, roll 1686; 1910 U.S. census, Sanpete County, Utah, pop. schedule, Sterling, ED 152, sheet 1A (penned), Joseph Jensen dwelling 11, family 11; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing T624, roll 1608. 15. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, digital image, Ancestry.com; Mc Cune Jensen, Price, Carbon County, Utah; citing World War I Selective System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA M1509; no roll cited. 16 ~ Crossroads ~ Autumn 2011
Miss Sine Moss Miss Sine Moss of Richfield, Utah received a postcard from Vermilion, Utah in September 1911.[Figure 5] The text begins Dear Cousin Sine and is signed your cousin Mary. A Sine Moss is in Richfield, Utah in the 1910 U.S. census. 16 Mary, who is not yet identified, writes that I guess you have begun to think that I am never going to answer your card. Figure 5 1911 postcard from Vermilion, Utah to Richfield, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 16. 1910 U.S. census, Sevier County, Utah, pop. schedule, Richfield, ED 163, sheet 13A (penned), Sine Moss, dwelling 249, family 259; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing T624, roll 1608. Autumn 2011~ Crossroads ~ 17
Mrs. Lillian Green Mrs. Lillian Green of Clover, Utah received a postcard from Gold Hill, Utah in February 1921.[Figure 6] The text begins Dear Children and is signed mama. A Lillian (Mrs. Ambrose L.) Green is in Tooele, Utah (about 14 miles northeast of Clover) in the 1920 U.S. census. 17 An online family tree shows that Lillian Green was born Lillian Afton White, and her maiden name is shown in her 1915 marriage record. 18 Her mother, Elizabeth Amanda (Kearney) White, remarried Charles Edward (also shown as Edward Charles) Rowland. 19 A Leyde (Mrs. Edward C.) Rowland is in Gold Hill in the 1920 U.S. census, and she is shown as Elizabeth A. Rowland in the 1930 U.S. census. 20 Figure 6 1921 postcard from Gold Hill, Utah to Clover, Utah (Photograph courtesy of Jim Forte Postal History) 17. 1920 U.S. census, Tooele County, Utah, pop. schedule, Tooele, ED 184, sheet 24B(penned), Ambrose L. Green, dwelling 475, family 515; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T625, roll 1867. 18. Melvin E Weight family tree, owner: mel_weight, (no sources cited), Ancestry.com; Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch. org, entry for Ambrose L. Green and Lillian A. White, married 1915 in Salt Lake, Utah. 19. Utah Marriages, 1887-1966, database, FamilySearch.org, entry for Edward Rowland and Elizabeth A. Kearney, married 1906 in Willow Springs, Tooele County, Utah; Ancestral File, entry for Elizabeth Amanda KEARNEY, FamilySearch.org. 20. 1920 U.S. census, Tooele County, Utah, pop. schedule, Gold Hill, ED 179, sheet 1B(penned), Edward C. Rawland, dwelling not indicated, family 30; digital image, Ancestry.com; citing NARA T625, roll 1867; 1930 U.S. census, White Pine County, Nevada, pop. schedule, McGill, ED 17-10, p. 2B (penned), Edward C. Rowland, dwelling 39, family 41; digital image Ancestry.com; citing NARA T626, roll 1297. 18 ~ Crossroads ~ Autumn 2011
Other postcards and envelopes illustrate our ancestors work, military service, travel, political and social interests, and may reveal where they lived before emigrating to the U.S. or Canada, and even their photograph (as a real photo postcard). 21 Many more envelope and postcard photographs involving Utah residents are available. Online auction sites such as ebay may be searched under the category Collectibles (and then limiting the search to Postcards ), or Stamps, and by entering a place name of interest (such as Provo), but the likelihood is small of finding an item connected to your family. Postal history vendors have given Philgen.org permission to use thousands of photographs from their websites and archived philatelic auction catalogs but most have not yet been placed on Philgen.org. 22 At present, genealogists cannot easily locate an envelope or postcard sent or received by our ancestors. Envelopes and postcards for sale and in postal history collections are classified by stamps, cancellations, and other postal markings. The inclusion of personal and place names of the sender and recipient in an item s description will make searching more productive for a genealogist. The purpose of Philgen. org is to classify envelope and postcard photographs by who wrote and received each one to make them accessible to genealogists. Anyone interested in adding Utah envelopes and postcards to the website is invited to contact the author. Photographs and data posted for each item will be credited to the person and/or their genealogical or philatelic association. Acknowledgments The author thanks Jim Forte Postal History for the use of postcard photographs, the genealogists who posted online family trees and responded to email and message board queries, and Lisa Birsinger for database and website support. James R. (Jim) Miller is a genealogist and postal historian and is the founder of Philgen. org. Jim lives in Haguenau (Alsace), France and Caroga Lake, New York. He can be contacted at jim@philgen.org. 21. For examples of other types of genealogical information available from postal history, please visit http://philgen.org, and in the Main Menu click on NEA, American Ancestors, Michigan, Minnesota Case Study, Nebraska, or North Dakota for examples showing immigrant origins; on Central NY, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, or Western Pennsylvania for Civil War service; on Kansas for examples of real photo postcards; on Iowa WWI or NGS for First World War service; or one of the other state names for a general survey. Each article provides source information for the postcards and envelopes discussed in the text. 22. Online philatelic auction catalog collections include Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries (http://www.siegelauctions.com/), Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions (http://www.rumseyauctions.com/), and Matthew Bennett International (http://www.bennettstamps.com/). Autumn 2011~ Crossroads ~ 19