Sepia Saturday provides bloggers with an opportunity to share their history through the medium of photographs.
Last month I noticed that the 120th birth anniversary of someone in my family tree was coming up – the perfect prompt for a blog post! And so I began to look through my files to see what information I have on Thomas Wesley Bryan.
I remembered that several years ago, I did a little research on him and received a few records. I reviewed what I had and decided that I needed to request military records to really be able to complete his story. I wouldn’t get the information back in time to post on his birth anniversary, but I could do it later. I sent off my request, full of anticipation.
I waited expectantly.
I waited some more.
Until at last, I received an answer in the mail yesterday!
Alas. My basket is empty.
Sepia Saturday Theme Image 414
A boy, arms outstretched to hold onto something used to carry other things, a building in the background … and my sad tale of disappointment.
Wheel your hopes and dreams – or your dried fish – over to Sepia Saturday and see what others have offered.
Sorry that you didn’t get what you requested, but sent elsewhere where you’ll have to pay a fee. Those photos of the boy with the bushel basket are really great, and you show a good sense of humor in compiling this post!
I also had to pay a fee for the search for what I didn’t receive. From the rest of the letter, it doesn’t look like I’d get much of anything for the additional charge. 🙁
What a shame those military records were destroyed. Fire wreaked such havoc with archives over the years. I hope you will at least be able to get that pay voucher. Best of luck with this ongoing search!
It’s not the first time I’ve hit a wall because of a fire. 🙁 We do the best we can!
I agree, bad luck about the records that were destroyed. Is that Thomas in those waiting photographs or some other relative of yours? In any event they are a great choice for the prompt.
Not Thomas. Unfortunately, I have no photos of Tom.
Tragic news, but good to know the reason now. Probably a lot of material was stored on microfilm which can be very flammable.
It is frustrating when a question can’t be answered – especially when you had to pay for a non-answer! The little boy with the basket is adorable, however, so at least that part worked out well. 🙂