Steve's Genealogy Blog

I would suppose that all of us have discovered photographs of unknown people among our family photographs. Who are the people in these pictures, and why has this photograph been kept with those of our ancestors and loved ones?

The prompt for this month’s edition of Smile for the Camera is “Who Are You - I Really Want To know!”

Two Girls

SOURCE: Unknown subjects (location unknown). Photographed in 1931 by an unknown photographer.

On the back of the photograph is written:

1937          14
1931            6
0006 yrs . Â Â Â Â  8 yrs old     1931

In the summer
of the year of 1931

Obviously, someone had calculated the age of one or both the girls in the photograph, and was kind enough to leave the message that the photo was taken in 1931. Unfortunately, the person who left this message neglected to tell us who the two girls are.

My mother would have been 8 years old in the summer of 1931, and so I wonder if the girl on the right is my mother . Still, who is the girl on the left? Where was the photo taken and why was it taken?

Originating in a time period when the expense of photographs was reserved only for special occasions, this photo made me wonder what event this photo commemorates.

And, then, I took a close look at the bottom of the photo. Is that snow on the ground? Does the notation on the back of the photo mention the word “summer” to emphasize that this was a snowfall in the summer?

I’ll have to take this photo with me the next time I visit Worcester, Massachusetts and see if the photo rings any bells with my relatives.

Written for the 9th Edition of Smile for the Camera – Who Are You – I Really Want To Know.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

Stanisław Izbicki does not appear in the 1920 Census, but his wife and three children do.

1930 US Federal Census Record for the Stanisław Izbicki Family

SOURCE: “1930 United States Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 09 January 2009), entry for Mary Izbicki, Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.

• Mary Izbicki is listed as residing at 56 Bushnell Rd, Norwich, North London Co., Connecticut, the same address at which the family lived in 1920.
• She was 47 years old, born in abt 1883 in Poland. Norwich marriage records show her name as Mary Krzesiewska, daughter of Thomas Krzesiewska and Anna Zukowska and, at the time of the 1930 census, she was a widow. She immigrated in 1904 and was a naturalized citizen. She was not employed.
• She had a son named Napoleon, age 22, born in abt 1908 in Connecticut. He was single and was employed as a Mill Hand in a Cotton Mill.
• She had a daughter named Regina, age 21, born in abt 1909 in Connecticut. Norwich birth records show that Regina was born 25 Oct 1908 at 10 Golden St, Norwich, Connecticut. She was single and was employed as a Sales Lady in a Department Store.
• She had a son named Edward, age 18, born in abt 1912 in Connecticut. Norwich birth records show that Edward was born 27 Nov 1911 at 158 Central Ave, Norwich, Connecticut. He was single and was employed as a Laborer on a Truck Farm.

Stanley Izbicki must have died between the census in 1920 and that in 1930.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Stanisław Izbicki appears in the 1920 Census as a married man with three children.

1920 US Federal Census Record for the Stanisław Izbicki Family

SOURCE: “1920 United States Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 08 January 2009), entry for Stanley Izbicki, Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.

Stanisław Izbicki is listed as Stanley Izbicki residing at 56 Bushnell Rd, Norwich, North London Co., Connecticut.

• He was 47 years old, born in abt 1873 in Suwalki, Poland. Norwich marriage records show his name as Stanislaus Izbicki, son of Andrew Izbicki and Viktoria Bierdziewska. He immigrated in 1899, had filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen, and was working as an operator in a fire arms company.
• He was married to Mary. Norwich marriage records show her name was Mary Krzesiewska, daughter of Thomas Krzesiewska and Anna Zukowska, and the marriage took place on 20 Feb 1906. She was 30 years old, born in abt 1890 in Grodno, Poland. She immigrated in 1904.
• The couple had a son named Napoleon, age 12, born in abt 1908 in Connecticut.
• The couple had a daughter named Regina, age 11, born in abt 1909 in Connecticut. Norwich birth records show that Regina was born 25 Oct 1908 at 10 Golden St, Norwich, Connecticut.
• The couple had a son named Edward, age 8, born in abt 1912 in Connecticut. Norwich birth records show that Edward was born 27 Nov 1911 at 158 Central Ave, Norwich, Connecticut.

Stanley Izbicki’s year of birth and year of immigration seem to vary considerably from census to census . I’ll have to assemble all the information on Stanley at some point and look at it all at once in order to make sense of it all.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Winter-Dormant Camperdown Elm

SOURCE: Winter-Dormant Camperdown Elm (Woodside, San Mateo County, California). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 26 Feb 2008.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

I received the “Proximidade Award” from my friends, classmates, and fellow bloggers Msteri of Heritage Happens and Dru Pear of Find Your Folks .  I’m so lucky to have friends like the two of you, and you know I really, really mean that!

The details of the award are as follows:

“These blogs invest and believe in PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers, who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

I have placed links to the persons who gave me this award in this posting. Additionally, as a recipient of this award, I am supposed to nominate eight other blogs. Below, is a list of my nominations for the “Proximidade Award.”

1. The Nomadic Researcher

2. Paula’s Genealogical Eclectica

3. Jake Fletcher’s Genealogy Project

4. How to Survive Suburban Life

5. Brenda Dougall Merriman

6. Eboracensus

7. Rootsmithing

8. Al’s Polish-American Genealogy Research

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Stanisław Izbicki appears in the 1910 Census as a married man with two children.

1910 US Federal Census Record for the Stanisław Izbicki Family

SOURCE: “1910 United States Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 04 January 2009), entry for Stanley Biskie, Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.

Stanisław Izbicki is listed as Stanley Biskie residing at 166 Central Ave, Norwich, North London Co., Connecticut.

• He was 27 years old, born in abt 1883 in Russian Poland. Norwich marriage records show his name as Stanislaus Izbicki, son of Andrew Izbicki and Viktoria Bierdziewska. He immigrated in 1890, was naturalized, and was working as an operative in a cotton mill.
• He was married to Mary four years earlier. Norwich marriage records show her name was Mary Krzesiewska, daughter of Thomas Krzesiewska and Anna Zukowska, and the marriage took place on 20 Feb 1906. She was 23 years old, born in abt 1887 in Russian Poland. She immigrated in 1904.
• The couple had a son named Napoleon, age 3, born in abt 1907 in Connecticut.
• The couple had a daughter named Regina, age 6/12, born abt Oct 1909 in Connecticut. Norwich birth records show that Regina was born 25 Oct 1908.

Based on the information in this record, this doesn’t seem to be the same Stanley Izbicki who was enumerated in Norwich in 1900.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Stanisław Izbicki appears in the 1900 Census living as a boarder in the household of another family in Norwich, Connecticut.

1900 US Federal Census Record for the Stanisław Izbicki Family

SOURCE: “1900 United States Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 03 January 2009), entry for Stanley Izbicki, Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.

Stanisław Izbicki is listed as Stanley Izbicki residing as a boarder at 16 Erin St, Norwich, North London Co., Connecticut.

He was 28 years old, born in Oct 1871 in Poland Russ (Russian Poland). He had only recently immigrated in 1899 and was working as a laborer in a finishing company.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

In the 1900 US Federal Census, the family of Andrew Izbicki of Norwich, Connecticut was composed of:

Andrew Izbicki born in Russia-Poland in April 1857 and immigrated in 1867,
Amelia born in Russia-Poland in May 1858 and immigrated in 1889,

Lena (Paulina) born in Russia-Poland in December 1882 and immigrated in 1889,
Stefa (Stephanie) born in Russia-Poland in July 1884 and immigrated in 1889,
William born in Massachusetts in June 1889,
Fannie (Frances) born in Massachusetts in December 1891,
Anna born in Connecticut in January 1892,
Rosey (Rozalia) born in Connecticut in March 1897,
Leo born in Connecticut in May 1899, and

Andrew’s brother Alexander born in Russia-Poland in April 1874 and immigrated in 1894.

1910 US Federal Census Record for the Andrew Izbicki Family

SOURCE: “1910 United States Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 03 January 2009), entry for Anthony Igbitski and family, Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.

The Andrew Izbicki family, as it appeared in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, was composed of:

Andrew Izbicki born in Russia-Poland in 1858 and immigrated in 1888,
Amelia born in Russia-Poland in May 1858 and immigrated in 1890,

Frances M. born in Massachusetts in 1891,
Annie E. born in Connecticut in 1894,
Rosalie born in Connecticut in 1897,
Leo born in Connecticut in May 1899, and
Helen born in Connecticut in 1900.

Paulina, Stephanie, William, and Alexander are not enumerated with the family this time, and Helen is a new addition since the last census.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

• Saturday, January 3, 2009 – 9:00 AM
  Beginners’ Breakfast
  Star Restaurant, 1700 Novato Boulevard, Novato
  Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 3, 2009 – 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
  Introduction to Genealogy
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Sunday, January 4, 2009 – Noon-2:00 PM
  One-on-One Genealogy Session
  Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco
  Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, Janurary 6, 2009
  L-AGS Board Meeting
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, Janurary 6, 2009 – 10:00 AM
  SRVGS Board Meeting
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 6, 2009 – 1:30 PM
  Ken Miller – Introduction to PAF (hands-on)
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Thursday, January 8, 2009 – 1:30 PM
  Jack Seman – Introduction to New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Friday, January 9, 2009 – 1:15 PM
  Seminar Committee Meeting
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, January 8, 2009 – 1:00-3:00 PM
  Membership Meeting
  Auditorium, Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo
  Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
  *
• Saturday, January 10, 2009 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
  City Directory Library Open
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 10, 2008 – 1:00 PM
  Jane Lindsey – CGS Annual Membership Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 10, 2008 – 1:30 PM
  Margery Bell – New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Tuesday, January 13, 2009 – 9:30 AM-3:00 PM
  Bill O’Neil – Book Repair Group
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 13, 2009 – 1:00-2:30 PM
  Publications Committee Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 13, 2009 – 7:30-9:00 PM
  Isabel Nolte – The Early Pioneers in the Livermore Valley, California, Were One Big Family
  Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, January 14, 2009
  Irish Researcg Group
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, January 14, 2009 – 7:00 PM
  Your Family Treasures to Show and Tell
  Citrus Heights Community Center, 6921 Sylvan Road, Citrus Heights
  Sponsored by the Sacramento Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, January 15, 2009 – 10:30 AM
  Jack Seman – Introduction to New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Friday, January 16, 2009 – 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
  City Directory Library Open
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Friday, January 16, 2009 – 10:30 AM
  Ken Miller – Connecting PAF 5 Data to New FamilySearch Using Ancestral Quest
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Saturday, January 17, 2009 – 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
  Tri-Valley TMG Users Group
  7077 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 110, Pleasanton
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 17, 2009 – 10:30 AM
  John Gleed – Databases and Indexes
  Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 1700 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 17, 2000 – 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
  Intermediate Genealogy Class 1
  Susan Goss Johnston – Military Records
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 17, 2009 – 1:30 PM
  Jack Seman – Introduction to New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Sunday, January 18, 2009 – 1:00 PM
  Membership Meeting
  Jewish Community High School, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco
  Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 20, 2000 – 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
  Intermediate Genealogy Class 1
  Susan Goss Johnston – Military Records
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Tuesday, January 20, 2009 – 1:00 PM
  Dr. Stephen Harris – City Directories
  Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 20, 2009 – 7:00 PM
  Richard Ferman – Footnote.com
  Santa Clara City Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
  Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – 1:00-2:30 PM
  CGS Board Meeting
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – 1:00-3:00 PM
  Daytime Workshop
  Clubhouse, Country Squire Mobilodge, 5720 Oak Hill Dr (corner of Esquire Drive and Manitoba Avenue), Sacramento
  Sponsored by the Sacramento Genealogical Society
  * 
• Thursday, January 22, 2009
  Family Tree Software Group
  Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, January 22, 2009 – 7:30 PM
  Kay Speaks – Study Group
  LDS Church, 950 Mocho Street, Livermore
  Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 24, 2000 – 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
  Intermediate Genealogy Class 2
  Marge Bell – Probate and Guardianship Records
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Monday, January 26, 2009 – 5:00 PM
  RootsMagic User’s Group
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Monday, January 26, 2009 – 7:00 PM
  SMCGS Board Meeting
  SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
  Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
  *
• Tuesday, January 27, 2000 – 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
  Intermediate Genealogy Class 2
  Marge Bell – Probate and Guardianship Records
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Wednesday, January 28, 2009
  German Research Group
  Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
  *
• Wednesday, January 28, 2009 – 7:30 PM
  Winning Entries from School Family History
  Marin FHC, LDS Church, 220 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
  Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
  *
• Thursday, January 29, 2009 – 10:30 AM
  Jack Seman – Introduction to New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Saturday, January 31, 2000 – 10:30 AM-1:00 PM
  Intermediate Genealogy Class 2
  Lavinia Schwarz – Land and Property Records, and Gazetteers
  California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
  Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
  *
• Saturday, January 31, 2000 – 10:30 AM
  Jack Seman – Introduction to New Family Search
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
  *
• Saturday, January 31, 2000 – 10:30 AM
  Ken Miller – How to use GEDCOM Files with PAF (hands-on)
  Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
  Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

Each year when I review my progress on the New Year’s Resolutions I made a year previously I find that, while I’ve made progress on all my resolutions, I don’t always complete the resolutions. I suppose that the reason for this situation is that my resolutions tend to have finite goals such as “complete this task” rather than goals such as “make progress on this task”.

With that in mind, I expect that I may not complete all my goals for the coming year. Some are, indeed, difficult:

1 .  Complete the coursework for a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies / University of Toronto. With graduation looming in May, I expect to complete the one final course I need to wrap up this project.
 
2 .  Complete the requirements to become a Certified Genealogist. In reality, everything I do in genealogy helps me toward this goal. I can see the finish line in sight. Will I get there this year?

3 .  Recruit a larger participation in the Danko Surname Study and the Niedziałkowski Surname Study, especially the DNA projects associated with those studies. In March, I’ll be attending the 5th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy for Family Tree DNA Group Administrators, and I hope I will learn how to jump start these projects.

4 .  Visit Poland. It’s been many years since I last visited Poland and I now know a whole lot more about my ancestors than I did when I last visited. I hope to visit archives, wander the streets of the villages where my ancestors lived, and meet my relatives. This project will take a lot of planning, but it should be fun and productive.

5 .  Enter source citation information into my genealogy database. I have been faithful at attaching source citations to the information on this blog, but I’ve been lax at transferring that information to my genealogy software. As part of this project, I intend to set up source citation templates for myself, based on Elizabeth Shown Mills’ Evidence Explained and the Chicago Manual of Style, that reflect what I feel are the best practices for source citation.

Attempting to achieve these resolutions is a challenging goal for 2009, although the work that I’ve already accomplished in the past ten years has well prepared me to achieve them.

Written for the 63rd Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy – New Year’s Resolutions!

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko