Amanuensis Monday - Post Card from Inger Tobine Tallachsdatter (1836-1918)

Dear FOLKS,

The transcription project this week is as colorful as it is informative. This "document" is a pretty postcard that Inger Tobine Emerson, who lived from 1836 until 1918, sent to her granddaughter Ruby Della Emerson Baarstad (1899-2000) as a birthday greeting. This card was postmarked 1914; so Ruby was turning a young 15 years of age. We are lucky that this card still exists after all this time.

Inger Emerson was born in Vest-Agder, Norway at the Seland farm. Her name at birth was Inger Tobine Tallachsdatter. Ruby was the daughter of Reinert Emerson (Inger's son) and Dora Nilson.

As small as this post card is, it confirms a number of things. That's what makes it so fun to see and take a close look at its details. Little bits of a family's history can be found in such surprising places.

IMAGE: Front side of postcard sent to
celebrate birthday of Ruby Emerson
(b 01 Aug 1899) from her grandmother.
From the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

-------- Transcription begins --------

[Front of birth post card]

May life's rich blessings,
   Hope and Cheer,
Fill all your Birthday
   hours today;
And may
   they linger through the year,
With many joys
   both sweet and dear,
To scatter sunshine on your way.

COPYRIGHTED 1911 BY G.K. PRINCE, BUFFALO, N.Y.

-------- Transcription ends --------

IMAGE: Backside of  birthday post card with greetings from
Grandmother Emerson to Ruby Emerson on Ruby's
15th birthday. From the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

-------- Translation / transcription begins --------

[back of post-card]

Individuality is the touch that tells.
Price Message Cards

Post Card

Message
Hawick
Minn 29 July 1914
Dear Granddaughter
Ruby Emerson
God's Peace.
How are you all [How live you all]
I live somewhat well.
Hearty greetings from me and mine.
Your Grandmother Emerson

[rubber-stamped postmark]
Hawick
Jul
29
P.M.
1914
Minn

[1-cent U.S Postage stamp still attached]

Address
Miss Ruby Emerson
Grelland ,N.D.
Ward County
Minnesota 

["N.D." likely written by the post office clerk to route the card to the correct delivery location. A different pen is used to cross out Minnesota and write N.D.]

Copyright, G.K. Prince, Buffalo, N.Y. List No.

-------- Translation / transcription ends --------

Points of information found on this card:

1. Proves relationship between Inger Tallachsdatter Emerson and Ruby Della Emerson.
2. Aids in the date of Ruby's birthday.
3. Shows that Inger was still living in 1914, her death was in 1918.
4. Hawick, Minnesota was the address for Inger, matching other records. Today, Hawick remains as a small unincorporated community in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
5. Is this card an example of why we have an old saying, "As pretty as a postcard?"
6. What additional items can you find?

I want to thank the Emerson branch of Ed's family tree for so kindly keeping this postcard safe for the many years since it originally went through the mail. And also let me say thanks for sharing this with my late cousin Ed, so we can see it today.

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as, "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings.Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the flowers," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand. It also gives me a better opportunity to share the document with you.

It was a fun project to transcribe today. Hope you enjoyed it too. Hope your week is starting off well. Thank you for stopping by today.

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Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens