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Missing, Found & Everything In Between
Welcome to our little corner of history, where family stories, forgotten artifacts, and the past all come together.
Each story begins with an antique photograph, letter, family Bible, document, or heirloom that somehow became separated from the family it once belonged to. Our mission is to research the people behind these artifacts, share their stories, and—whenever possible—find their direct descendants so these pieces of family history can find their way home.
Along the way, you'll discover the lives of the people featured here, the world they lived in, and the history that shaped their journeys. Some of these stories end with a happy family reunion. Others are still waiting for the right person to come along.
If you recognize a familiar face, surname, hometown, or family story—or if you believe one of these artifacts belongs to your family—we'd love to hear from you. Every message brings us one step closer to reuniting another piece of history with the family it was meant to find.
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The Milkman of Montreal: William Fraser Little (1865–1947)
Sometimes an entire life story begins with a single photograph. In this case, it was a photograph of a man with his horse-drawn milk wagon. There was no detailed family tree attached, no lengthy biography, and no collection of records explaining who he was. Just a name and location: William F. Little, Montreal, Quebec. William F. Little and his milk wagon in Montreal. Back of photo details. What began as a single image sparked a journey through historical records that gradual
Amy
Jun 243 min read
Steel, Stamps, and Service: Remembering the Grau Family of WWII-Era Gary, Indiana
I've had a War Ration Book in my collection awaiting return for quite some time. The Ration Book, issued during the final phases of World War II, opens a window into the life of one American family—the Graus family of Gary, Indiana. More than just coupons and stamps, this humble booklet belonged to John Floyd Grau, his wife Corrine Edna, and their two children, who lived through the sacrifices and strength required of families on the home front. The booklet is War Ration V bu
Amy
Jul 12, 20253 min read
A Diploma, A Dream, and a Town Called Wyomissing: Reuniting Helen Dries' 1924 Graduation Keepsake
Tucked into the folds of a century of history, a 1924 high school diploma from Wyomissing High School has emerged—weathered by time, yet rich with personal and local significance. This diploma was awarded to Helen Dries on June 19, 1924, marking her a proud graduation from a Pennsylvania school rooted in a growing and optimistic community. Though the document bears water damage on one side and some fragility from having been mounted to a backing board, it remains entirely leg
Amy
Jul 12, 20252 min read
From Buffalo School No. 16 to California Dreams: A 1914 Tennessee School Certificate Seeks Its Family - Virginia L Boston
A piece of Tennessee’s educational past recently surfaced: a 1914 Certificate of Promotion from Buffalo School No. 16, District No. 9 in Davidson County. Issued on May 7, 1914, in Belleview, Tennessee, this certificate was awarded to a young student named Virginia L. Boston—promoting her to the eighth grade. But there’s an unexpected twist that makes this already-rare document even more intriguing. Virginia L. Boston's Promotion to 8th Grade in 1914 A Curious Pencil Correctio
Amy
Jul 12, 20252 min read
A Piece of 1931 Kennebunk History: Help Reunite This High School Certificate with the McConnell Family - Chester Cecil McConnell
We recently found a piece of New England history: a beautifully preserved 1931 Certificate of Promotion to High School, awarded to Chester Cecil McConnell by the Kennebunk Public Schools. Dated June 5, 1931, and signed by both Chester’s teacher and the superintendent. This large, ornate certificate marks a significant academic milestone—a young student’s passage from grammar school into high school. But this isn’t just a piece of paper. It’s a fragment of someone’s family sto
Amy
Jul 12, 20252 min read
Lost Faces, Forgotten Stories: Can You Help Solve the Mystery of This Vintage Photo Album? Tommy Seay
Tucked inside a timeworn photo album are a handful of unmarked black-and-white photographs—each one quietly holding onto a story. There are no names, no dates, just faces staring back through the decades. But one newspaper clipping may hold the key to uncovering who they are. The photo album was made by Harlich. It all begins on the first page: six photos of women dressed in fashions that hint at the early-to-mid 20th century, and one image of two men standing in front of a t
Amy
Jul 12, 20252 min read
Exploring 101 Postcards of Mahala Leeper: A Glimpse into Iowa's Early 1900s
A Rare Find: A Postcard Album from the Early 1900s Every so often, we come across something truly special—an unexpected window into the past that feels as though it was meant to be found. This week, that rare find came in the form of a modest-looking postcard album that turned out to be anything but ordinary. When we first spotted the book, we assumed it might contain a few postcards, maybe even none at all, as is often the case with old albums. But when we opened it, we were
Amy
Jul 7, 20252 min read
From Pennsylvania to Paradise: The Journey of Ernest Young and His Family Across the U.S.
Genealogy often leads to unexpected discoveries, and that’s exactly what happened when I came across an old photograph from 1876 of Ernest Young and his four sisters—Margaret Young Reichley, Mary Alice Young Malick, Sarah Young, and Kate Young. Taken on their family farm in Blue Hill, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, this photo sparked my curiosity. I felt compelled to dive into their story and see if I could track down a direct descendant to return the photo to. Ernest W Young a
Amy
Mar 30, 20253 min read
When the Water Rose: Margaret Farris Farr's Family and the Impact of the 1938 Chickamauga Dam Cemetery Relocation in Chattanooga.
Margaret Farris Farr was a woman of about 32 years old when the Chickamauga Dam was being built to control flooding in Harrison County, TN. Through her family photo records, I was able to discover the impact of the Dam on her family. Both of Margaret's maternal grandparents and other family members were laid to rest in the Harrison Cemetery which would soon be underwater from the new reservoir created by the dam. In 1938, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) surveyed all ceme
Amy
Mar 30, 20253 min read
Chattel Mortgages and Farming in late 1800's Iowa - Albert and May Ludwig
When I acquired two mortgage documents from 1900 and 1901, I had no idea what a Chattel Mortgage was. Naturally, I had to do some research on the nature of these mortgages as I was curious. A bit about the Ludwigs and the satisfied mortgages they filed during the turn of the 20th century. Albert and Mary "May" Ludwig were farmers in Woodbury, Iowa at the end of the 19th century. Both were born in Iowa and married in 1882. They had at least three children and farmed in Iowa un
Amy
Jan 25, 20251 min read
The journey of a WWII solider in occupied Japan - Watson Lamar Davis
Let me start this post by saying this is the largest collection of personal artifacts I've acquired and I'm rather sure I won't find another this extensive. This past summer, I had the opportunity to purchase hundreds of letters, photos, and documents from an antique's dealer. It took me months to sort through everything and discover that I had a very large collection from (Watson) Lamar Davis. What makes this collection so special, aside from the volume of artifacts, is the
Amy
Dec 28, 20243 min read
A well written will from 1839 with ties to a Baronet / Baroness. Richard Eaton had no question about who would receive his wealth.
Old wills make for interesting reading. You can learn a lot about a family in a few pages. Who's in favor, who's not, and sometimes the...
Amy
Dec 27, 20242 min read
A very old album full of prominent Tennessee and Kentucky families - Draper, Parker, Bruce, and Phipps
Old photo albums are beautiful in their own right but, when full of photos, they become a true treasure. Most of the time, there are only a few photos and the albums aren't in that great of condition. And, often times, the photos are not marked in any way that makes it easy to identify the faces looking back at me. I acquired several this past Summer and it's taken me awhile to go through them all. Here's the latest album that I've been researching. It's truly a gem. I recent
Amy
Nov 18, 20242 min read
The Photo Gives a lot of Clues. Little Red School House in Riverside RI
Usually, I only need a bit of information to find enough information to identify the person and or family in artifacts. This one has me scratching my head. Image my excitement when I noticed this picture is marked with the location on both the front and the back as Little Red School House Riverside, RI. And, there is a name written on the front. It looks to be T. Mahoney Mother. I took this information and went to work to see if I could find anything about the school or the t
Amy
Oct 20, 20241 min read
Joe Eks knew found his calling early and spent a lifetime making music. Joseph Ekstowicz (Joe Eks)and his 1930's Radio Orchestra
When I first came across this photo, I didn’t think I’d uncover much about it. But, to my surprise, diving into the history of the J. Ekstowicz Radio Orchestra turned out to be pretty fascinating. Source: Original photo by the J. A. Ribinshi photo studio Joseph Ekstowicz, born in Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1914, was a musical talent from a young age. By 16, he was already making waves, and just a year later, he started his own orchestra. Over the years, he became a local fixture
Amy
Sep 15, 20241 min read
A Gentleman by Nature, Despite His Humble Beginnings. T. B. Larimore - Artifact Return Search
A Gentleman by Nature, Despite His Humble Beginnings. This is how Theophilus Brown (T.B.) Larimore was described in a printed booklet celebrating his life. A pioneer of Tennessee, T. B. Larimore was born on 10 Jul 1843 in what he described as a hovel in East Tennessee and had to quit school to find work so he could help provide for his family. He worked in a brickyard and plowing fields. He had to walk a mile at dawn and worked until dusk, when he walked back home. He fought
Amy
Aug 4, 20241 min read
1909 Marriage Certificate of Frankin Shiffer and Daisy May Killian - Artifact Return Search
There is something about antique marriage certificates that speaks to me. Perhaps its because they are so beautifully designed or perhaps it's knowing that it's the day two people began their lives together. Whatever the reason, I can never seem to pass up the opportunity to imagine what the bride and groom were wearing, what the ceremony must have been like, and what was awaiting the couple in their years together. This particular marriage certificate has a lot of detail and
Amy
Jun 19, 20241 min read
Texas Justice of the Peace, Freemason, public surveyor, coroner, and historian with ties to the 'Black Bean Episode'. Esquire E. R. Vogt - Artifact Return Search
The book from Ernst Rudolph Vogt's funeral service makes it clear; he was a respected member of his Texan community. The book is filled with friends, family, floral donations, and those who spoke at his service. It's a beautifully preserved artifact that tells a portion of this man's story. My research shows: Ernst's father immigrated from Germany in 1849 and was a pioneer of Fayette County and his mother immigrated in 1847, also from Germany. He was born 9 may 1832 in Fayet
Amy
May 21, 20241 min read
The Great Plains in 1945, Electric Bills, a Fish Camp, and a Business Listing. Dudley Snider - Artifact Return Search.
Who knew electric bills could be so inexpensive? In 1945, Dudley Snider paid $7.69 for his home and $2.00 for his fish camp for the months of January, February, and March. These electric bills are stamped paid on April 10, 1946. Included in the original envelope, is a pamphlet containing various businesses located in Rulo, Nebraska. My favorite listing? F. L. Marsh Fancy and Staple Groceries Cut-a-corner from Garage Rest Room for Ladies Pretty smart marketing, if you ask me.
Amy
May 20, 20241 min read
Dear Sir, it wasn't a gift! James Bateman of Charlotte, TN - Artifact Return Search
This is my favorite find so far. I do love the 100+ year old marriage certificates but this document makes me smile every time I look at it. An urgent letter dated March 13, 1893 informing a gentleman named James Bateman of Charlotte, Tennessee that whatever he was given was not a trade, and the Misters expect payment soon. Even better, it's written by an F. C. Morris - clearly a third party in the misunderstanding. My limited research has not yielded any clues for the indivi
Amy
May 19, 20241 min read
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