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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Elsinoe on Thursday 14 January 16 02:41 GMT (UK)
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I've been staring at these for several years now and still no joy! I wonder if any eagle-eyed people here can help me decipher them.
This is a photograph sent in 1947 by my great Uncle (Arthur Johanson) who was a British Home Child in Ontario, Canada, to his mother who was still in London. We know so little about him that I am intrigued who this woman and her son are and how they are linked to him.
Judy and Glenn? But what is that last name...?
Thanks for any help!
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It looks like whoever wrote on the back of the photo had a bit of trouble with the spelling of the surname, as they look to have made changes to the word. Maybe sounding it out phonetically will make more sense.
The image is not very clear for me on an ipad. See what others think - they may request a clearer scan.
The surname does not appear to be English, and looks a bit like Viar?fl?ar. French maybe? :-\
You should be able to work out Glenn's month of birth as he was 17 months old when this photo was taken in 1947. Searching some indexes for him might help find the surname.
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Via??? You could try a wildcard search just using the first 3 legible letters.
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Perhaps Judy ViaFloria?
James
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Perhaps Judy ViaFloria?
James
Steven age 17 months, Judy ViaFloria 1947
(Could be Lady or Judy VidaFloria?)
http://vidaflores.blogspot.co.uk/
(under)
'to her son Steven ~~~~ to and of your ~~~~'
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Lady Vidaflora/Florian?
Carol
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Could the surname be Viar Flores? ???
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Could the surname be Viar Flores? ???
Well it is a surname.
https://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/viar+flores
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Thanks for all the ideas! I went to a Canadian phone book and started skimming through the VIA names and came up with a new idea. There are a lot of names that begin with VIAU (space) SOMETHING. That makes sense to me.. but I can't find anything with an 'f' in the middle! That really does look like a 'fl...'. Hmm.
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I've also been looking at this. Can't offer anything different on the surname beyond what the previous commenters have said :P
But I did wonder if the last few words at the bottom of the card said ".....of yours & cousin."
sami
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Streatched
Regards
Malky
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Thanks everyone. I was getting pretty excited there but s far I've struck out on any names that could fit. I've had some fun though in the Canadian voter lists. Some amazing incorrect transcriptions there. I fixed a few and feel I've done my duty ;)
Sticking point is that 'fl' in the middle. I can't find any name that would work with.
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Can't make it out either....
Just wondered that I think the spanish tradition is to give people their other's maiden name as either middle name or surname..so that name lives on for at least one more generation. So a Viar ? married to a Floria ? producing a Judy/Judith? As Ruuskie says, there are differences in the 2 versions, second one appears to have a 'D' between the Via/Viar & Floar/Floria.
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If it was phonetic it could be Glenn Villaflor. There is someone with that name (and another) in Canada at the moment.
Richard
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Can't make it out either....
Just wondered that I think the spanish tradition is to give people their other's maiden name as either middle name or surname..so that name lives on for at least one more generation. So a Viar ? married to a Floria ? producing a Judy/Judith? As Ruuskie says, there are differences in the 2 versions, second one appears to have a 'D' between the Via/Viar & Floar/Floria.
I thought that, but because it's in Canada I was thinking that it's more likely to be a French-derived name than a Spanish one. Also they are very blonde which makes me think not Spanish...?
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No help with name but could last word be 'country'.
Jennifer
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I wonder if the second letter is not and I, but and L slightly faded in the middle of the stroke. The name could possibly start Vlas, maybe an Eastern European/Slavic name.
Just adding my thoughts to the mix.
ADDED: Or maybe Vlar....
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I know it looks like Viar... but could it be Vanderflear, or something Dutch sounding? Van... or Von..? (They certainly look more Dutch to me).
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Do we know who his mother was?
Could the last part be who is an Aunt of your cousin?
Jennifer
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What about if she was part of the escort party (if they had one) on the ship?
Jennifer
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Do we know who his mother was?
Could the last part be who is an Aunt of your cousin?
Jennifer
His mother was Emily (or Georgina.. she changed her name a lot!) Johanson. There were no other relatives in Canada :(
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What about if she was part of the escort party (if they had one) on the ship?
Jennifer
Good thinking, but Arthur was shipped out in 1910 and Mary in 1923. This photo is 1947 :( Lateral thinking is good! We do know that Arthur didn't communicate much with his mom, so sending this was a big deal. So who?!
Loving all this help, thanks everyone!
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What about if she was part of the escort party (if they had one) on the ship?
Jennifer
Good thinking, but Arthur was shipped out in 1910 and Mary in 1923. This photo is 1947 :( Lateral thinking is good! We do know that Arthur didn't communicate much with his mom, so sending this was a big deal. So who?!
Loving all this help, thanks everyone!
Who is Mary?
What do you know of his life in Canada after he left the orphanage? Some of these places have re-unions. I know a little about BHC through doing some research many years ago.
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Could it say after Stephen ..."which is Ant of yours & Cousin"? Could it be an attempt at Villaflores?....The Villa pronounced as "Via" French Canadian.
Carol
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I tweaked the picture again but I don't think it makes much difference :(
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Could it say after Stephen ..."which is Ant of yours & Cousin"? Could it be an attempt at Villaflores?....The Villa pronounced as "Via" French Canadian.
Good call on the surname & relationships - but isn't the forename Glenn?
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Could it say after Stephen ..."which is Ant of yours & Cousin"? Could it be an attempt at Villaflores?....The Villa pronounced as "Via" French Canadian.
Good call on the surname & relationships - but isn't the forename Glenn?
I think Glenn. The last part I read as "her son Glenn asked to ... of your ... ...." Bleh!
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Oh dear....must not try to do two things at once ??? Glenn....of course...I don't know where Stephen got in on the act ::) ;D ;D ;D
There is a Judy with the surname Villaflores on Ancestry.
Carol
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Presumably the mother on the postcard would have been born ca 1920?
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Who is Mary?
What do you know of his life in Canada after he left the orphanage? Some of these places have re-unions. I know a little about BHC through doing some research many years ago.
Sorry I missed this! Arthur was on a farm on Gray, Ontario for several years. Then we think he worked for the railroad. There's a note that he 'went west' in 1920 and the next we 'see' of him he's back in Ontario, married to Mary Pierce Wilson.
He certainly didn't tell his second family that he was a home child.