Tracy Has Changed His Color

Often, my favorite part of a postcard is the message written on the back. And sometimes, if I have a  number of postcards to and from one person or a family, I start to think I know them. But there are always so many gaps. You wonder what they looked like and what became of them. Did they have children? grandchildren? There is always an element of mystery. And so it's been with my most compelling postcard character, Tracy Graham, whose postcards really stood out with their humor and inside jokes.

If you've been following the Tracy Graham story and all of his postcards, you may be curious to know what Tracy looked like. I know I was. Thanks to his daughter, Bernice, I now have some xerox copies of photos. Please welcome Tracy Graham, born Jan 20, 1885:

This picture was taken in 1906. He looks so serious, but we know better!
Here's a card he received in 1908.

Tracy must not have been feeling well in early December of  1908.

Here's the back of the card:

The message reads:

I hear you have changed your color. But I hope you will soon be better.  W.M.

c/o L. Graham

I will be post some of the other photos Bernice sent me along with other postcards. Be sure to check out the other Sepia Saturday posts today for an interesting collection of old photos and stories.

Little Edith Bee

I wonder whatever became of Edith Bee of Edinburgh, Scotland. Edith appears to have been the youngest child in the Bee family.

Here's the back of the card, sent in 1917:

The message reads:

Dear Edith

Do you like this little dog. How many days have you been at school. I hope you have a nice teacher and that you will soon learn to read and write and count and ever so much more.

With love from A.M.

You can go online and look at the Rosemount Buildings where Edith and the her family lived. The buildings are still there and are listed with The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The building is a three-story industrial tenement building, built in 1860 and designed by William Lambie Moffat. It was built around a quadrangle with corner towers. Click here to see a nice aerial view.

And here's what it looks like from the street.

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To Mrs. M.J. Bee

This card was sent to Mrs. M.J. Bee in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1917 by an active serviceman in WWI. Active servicemen didn't need to affix postage, so there is no stamp, but it does have a stamp showing it was passed by the censor.

And here's the back of the card:

The message reads:

Dear Mrs.  Bee,

Just a P.C. at present. You will have heard from Mother by this time, what kept me so long in writing. Well I am pleased to say that I have got settled down again, and also that I am getting on alright. How are you all at Home, remember me kindly to everyone, With love to all, I remain your Sincere Friend Dod

Write Soon

XXXXX