Wordless Wednesday (February 18, 2015) -- A 60-Year-Old Connecticut Driver's License

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Scanned image of my father's 1955 Connecticut driver's license from the original in the author's collection. The paper license measures 2.5 inches by 3.75 inches. The paper wallet only 2.25 inches by 2.875 inches.

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (February 11, 2015) -- The Hospital Birth Announcement

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Images from originals in the family collection.

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (January 28, 2015) -- Medical School Graduation Portrait Of William Henry Maines Jeffs, M.D.

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Image scanned from original portrait in the family collection. William Henry Maines Jeffs (1864 - 1933) is the maternal great grandfather of Molly and the great great grandfather of our sons.

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (January 14, 2015) -- The O'Kane Family Begins The Sabbatical Year (1955)

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Images scanned from the original post card and photograph in the family collection. 

In 1955, my father-in-law, a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was granted a sabbatical year, which he spent teaching and doing research at Oxford University in England.  The family traveled "across the pond" aboard the Queen Elizabeth (then the largest liner in the world) and arrived in Southampton on August 23, 1955 -- five days before my wife Molly's third birthday. The family is pictured on deck taking in some sun on what was obviously a rather cool August day. [Front to back: Patrick with Molly standing, Doreen with Kathy on her lap, and Dan sitting close to the rail.]

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (January 7, 2015) -- A Shore Pass For Yokohama, Japan (Sept. 1952)

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Images scanned from original Shore Pass in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (December 10, 2014) -- Ruth Ann Carpenter And Her Horse "Jerry"

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Scan of an original photo in the collection of the author.  Ruth Ann Carpenter (1889 - 1920), sister of the author's maternal grandfather (Everett S. Carpenter) with her horse "Jerry" in front of the barn at 551 High Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Nearly Wordless Wednesday (November 12, 2014) -- Guarding The Shovels In Salem Depot, NH

There is a well-known story in our family about the time my father came home from work one evening when we lived in Salem Depot, NH. He was the Assistant Manager at the Sears store in Lawrence, Massachusetts just across the state line from Salem. It had been snowing all day and he anticipated that he was going to have to shovel snow from the steps, walks and driveway when he got home. When he went to shovel after grabbing some supper, he found that the shovels were nowhere to be found.  Apparently, there was telltale evidence that some shoveling had taken place earlier in the day in the back yard where we often made snow forts or cleared an area to spray with water and create a rink -- but the snow had gone on all day and the shovels could not be seen. My father rousted the three kids and we had to don our snow gear and trudge around the backyard feeling for the shovels that were buried in the late-accumulated snow.

For years I have teased my siblings (particularly my brother Peter), by insisting that he/they were to blame and that I was innocent in the Great Disappearing Shovels caper. 

Recently a trove of lost snapshots was discovered and amongst the treasures is the proof of my innocence!

As can easily be seen in the photograph above (taken in January 1960), all three shovels were in the front yard of our home on Joseph Road in Salem Depot. My maternal grandfather's Packard is at the head of the driveway and the family Scotsman station wagon is sitting behind it. I am leaning against the lamp post holding one shovel and guarding the other two that can be seen leaning against the Packard and the Scotsman respectively. The depth of the snow can be gauged by the untouched accumulation on top of the Packard.

I take this snapshot as belated proof positive that not only was I not involved in the loss of the shovels in the back yard under late arriving snowfall -- I was actually trying to make the shovels easily available and noticeable for my father!  

Case closed.            

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January 1960 snapshot from the family collection.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (October 29, 2014) -- Margaret [Conner] Tew and Her Grandson in 1929

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Scan of an original snapshot recently discovered.  The photograph was taken in 1929 on the side porch of the Tew home at 435 South Main Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  My father, Arnold G. Tew, Jr. (who turns 92 years old next month), is seen sitting beside his paternal grandmother, Margaret [Conner] Tew (1860 - 1935).

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (October 22, 2014) -- Ruth Ann Carpenter

Ruth Ann Carpenter (July 21, 1889 - September 24, 1920)

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Scan from the original photograph in the author's collection.  This 1907 photograph shows the author's maternal grand aunt, Ruth Ann Carpenter, at age 17 in her high school graduation dress on or about Graduation Day -- June 27, 1907.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (October 15, 2014) -- Happy Birthday Grandpa Tew!

Arnold G. Tew, Sr. (October 15, 1896 - February 28, 1958)

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The photograph above is a newly discovered portrait of my paternal grandfather, Arnold G. Tew, Sr. It is now in the personal collection of the author. The date of the portrait is unknown, but today -- the 118th anniversary of my grandfather's birth -- is a most appropriate day to post it for the first time.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (October 1, 2014) -- Minnie [Brown] Jeffs (1862 - 1950)

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Scanned from the original photograph in the family collection.  Minnie Brown was born in February 1862 in Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Thomas Brown and his wife, Ann Parry. She married Dr. William Henry Maines Jeffs on Christmas Day 1890 in York, Ontario, Canada. Minnie [Brown] Jeffs died in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 25, 1950 at age 88.  She is the great grandmother of my wife and therefore the great great grandmother of our two sons.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (September 3, 2014) -- Von Hasselbaum

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The above photograph is said to be the father of my paternal grandmother's father.  Anton Hasselbaum, the father of my grandmother (Huldah [Hasselbaum] Tew), was born in Germany and the man depicted above is said to be Von Hasselbaum, his father. The date of the photograph is unknown and was kindly provided by one of my Hasselbaum relatives.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (August 20, 2014) -- Pop Eye's Lunch, Woonsocket, Rhode Island (March 1933)

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Scan of original newspaper clipping from a scrapbook in the family collection.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (August 6, 2014) -- Elisha Tew

Elisha Tew (July 30, 1856 - April 9, 1936)

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Scan of photograph and newspaper obituary from copies generously provided courtesy of cousin Don Benoit.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (July 9, 2014) -- My Grandfather's Graduation from Cumberland H.S., Cumberland, Rhode Island June 27, 1907

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Program for the Graduating Exercises of Cumberland High School, Cumberland, Rhode Island on June 27, 1907.  Original in the collection of the author, grandson of Everett Shearman Carpenter one of the two valedictorians for the Class of 1907.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (June 18, 2014) -- Andover Beats Exeter, June 8, 1912

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Andover victory postcard from June 1912 in the personal collection of the author.  This baseball victory notice belonged to my paternal grandfather, Arnold G. Tew, Sr.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (April 23, 2014) -- What Is This?

[Posting resumes today after the longest hiatus (10 days) since The Prism began in December 2012.  I was away on an extended visit to my parents in New Hope, PA.]

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Scan of originals in the possession of my cousin, Bruce Marquardt.  Thank you Bruce!

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (April 9, 2014) -- D.J. O'Kane, Jr.'s 1936 Diploma from Great Neck High School, New York

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Scan of the original high school diploma of Molly's late father, our sons' maternal grandfather.  The original is in the family collection.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (April 2, 2014) -- A Group Portrait Pursuant to G.A.R.P.

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The author's final group portrait of Jonathan's grade school trophies deemed worthy of mere digital preservation according to G.A.R.P.  [See post of April 1, 2014]  Individual portraits not shown. 

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew
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Wordless Wednesday (March 26, 2014) -- Our Home In Cinnaminson, New Jersey

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Photograph of 505 Lexington Drive by the author (circa 1971-72). 

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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