On Jan. 23, 1943, my uncle, Frank Ebner Gartz, (photo in uniform, above) reported to the draft board in Chicago to start his training for WWII. So began the correspondence between him and family & friends, comprising almost 300 letters going both ways. I’m posting many of these World War II letters, each on or near the 70th anniversary of its writing. To start with his induction, click HERE.


This blog began in Nov., 2010, when I posted a century-old love note from Josef Gärtz, my paternal grandfather, to Lisi (Elisabetha) Ebner, my paternal grandmother, and follows their bold decision to strike out for America.


My mom and dad were writers too, recording their lives in diaries and letters from the 1920s-the 1990s. Historical, sweet, joyful, and sad, all that life promises-- and takes away--are recorded here as it happened. It's an ongoing saga of the 20th century. To start at the very beginning, please click HERE.

Friday, July 6, 2012

The moment that I knew...

May 15, 1911: L-R Katarina Gärtz, Lisi
Ebner, a cousin
This photo of my grandmother, Lisi Ebner, and her future sister-in-law, Katarina Gärtz, dated May 15, 1911, was in our family photo collection for decades. 

Only when I was able to decipher and translate a letter my grandfather had written that same month, did I realize its significance in my grandparents' long distance relationship and how he persuaded her to leave her family to join him.

It's one of the many ways I've been rewarded by delving into the past. How did it come about?

This summer, The Armchair Genealogist, by Lynn Palermo, is posting the stories of when fellow family historians knew they wanted to pursue learning more about their family history. Today she's posted my story.

See The Moment that I Knew at the Armchair Genealogist.

To learn the story behind this photograph go to:
If you love me...
Posted by Linda Gartz at 10:08 AM
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2 comments:

Sandy Arnone said...

Hi Linda, The photograph is amazing a great showcase for the beautiful traditional dresses.
I've found that revisiting family documents and letters years after a first reading can put a different slant on my original assumptions.
In your case it was in the translation. Your ancestor was very brave to face a long journey into the unknown to be with the man she loved. A strong character. Thank you for stopping by my blog so often.

July 9, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Linda Gartz said...

Thanks, Sandy.
The deciphering of those old family letters has given me an insight into my grandparents I would never have known had they not been saved and had I not found my Rosetta Stones, first Uli, then Meta. Your blog is awesome, chock full of great info, and fascinating.

July 9, 2012 at 1:29 PM

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