Photo #20 Young Josephine

H. Josephine Barber, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Photo # 20 Young Josephine

My grandmother's first name was Hannah. She hated it and made me promise not to name any children or grandchildren after her. Everyone called her Jo or Josephine.

This photograph taken in 1912 is one of my favorites. There are so many photos of her! I don't think she enjoyed having her photo taken. In 1912, she graduated from high school. 

By 1914, she and my grandfather were married. He was older and had an established business. Her brother, Harold married about the same time and that left her sister home with the parents.

In 1926, there is this photo of her in what I can only describe as a "flapper" dress. This photo was never displayed in her house or my mother's because I don't think anyone liked it. Watching the program "Downton Abbey" made me go look for this photo because it is my grandmother's generation in that time period.

My grandmother was a joiner of clubs. She was a gifted artist and could play the piano by ear. She could paint designs on furniture and metal trays. You can't imagine how much of this"stuff" I inherited and had to give away or sell with the contents of my parent's house.

Josephine belonged to The Handicraft Club and the Providence Plantations Club. Most of my grandmother's friends were older than she. 

My mother kept mentioning this over and over and really didn't grasp the concept that those women were not her friends too. I have met mothers whose daughters wanted to be their mother's best friend. My mother gave birth to me hoping I would share what she liked. I really don't think she gave any thought to what I might like to be.

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