Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Cathy and her Daddy

Most years, the #52Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge includes the prompt "FAVORITE PHOTO." While I don't think I've specifically written about my favorite, I have often posted the photo on Facebook.


Cathy and her Dad - George Robert Martin, 1952?

This is a photo of me and my daddy, George Robert Martin. The date is cut off, but I estimate it was taken sometime in 1952. 

My dad joined the Army in May 1951. When I was born in August 1951, he received a telegram informing him of my birth. 

Telegram announcing birth sent on August 29, 1951


At some point, he came home on leave, likely when the photo was taken. I have another picture taken on the same day. I'm wearing the same outfit, minus the groovy hat. 


Cathy and grandparents, George Michael Martin and Florence Halliday

It, too, is undated, but in this photo, I'm being held by my grandfather, Mike Martin. You can see the same house across the street as in the first photo, so I suspect the picture was taken at my grandparent's house in West Frankfort, Illinois. 

There are leaves on the trees, meaning the photo was likely taken in spring or summertime. By my apparent age, I am not even a year old, so the picture would have been taken in the spring or summer of 1952. This may well have been the first time my dad and I had met, and it was probably the first time I met my grandparents. It would be the first of many trips to visit with them.