Jim Nolan's Blog

German Biedermeier Dress, 1919

My German grandmother, Hildegard Koenig Paul, future journalist. I have her portable Erika typewriter. My cousin Veronica Stolt has translated the back caption for me.

Veronica writes: "I asked my mother [Birgit Stolt] about the scribblings on the back of the picture of Hildegard in front of the wallpaper. It says, "Ich in meinem goldgelben Biedermeier zu unserm Maskenball 1919," which means "Me in my golden yellow Biedermeier for our Masquerade Ball, 1919." (Biedermeier was a style that developed right before the industrial revolution.) My mother is puzzled by the comment 'Robert' and 'Morgan Koenig.'"

Now that I know the dress is in yellow, I wish even more that the photo were in color. You can read more about Hildegard here. 

Random Bengt Paul Photo

I recently sent off a few randomly chosen medium format black and white negatives shot by my grandfather Bengt Paul to ScanCafe in California ($2.49 per scan). They did a really nice job. I like the fact that these images have not seen the light of day in at least 80 years. I'm pretty sure the subject here is my grandmother Hildegard Paul. Love the light through the curtained window. I have thousands of Bengt's negatives. 

Hawaii Surfing Postcard, 1957

A postcard to Hildegard Paul from her daughter, my mother, Christa Paul. Mom and Dad were living in Honolulu while Dad was serving in the Navy. Who knew there was a market for Hawaiian postcards aimed at Swedes in 1957? Click to enlarge. Postcard by Watkins & Sturgis, Ltd., Honolulu. 

Great-Grandchildren of Bengt and Hildegard Paul

My Swedish cousin Mikael Paul recently celebrated his 60th birthday by visiting New York and Buffalo with his wonderful family. Here they are being observed by Pterodactyls at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. From left, Mikael's wife Agneta, my son George, Mikael, and their kids Lind and Thang. Bengt and Hildegard would be pleased to know their family is still getting together. Mikael is in a characteristic Paul pose, taking a picture of someone taking a picture.

Japanese Shoes from 1905

An email from my cousin Veronica: "The pictures from Japan are amazing. In the first their shoes are in front of them and I recognized them as the pair I got from Bengt and have on display in my living room cabinet with glass doors. They are really small - always wondered where they came from. The women in the pictures are Dita, Kahte and Hildegard. Auguste is not in the picture according to my mother." Click on photos to enlarge.

German Family Photos, 1907, 1937. Boston, NY Family Photo, 1968

Top photo with my grandmother, Hildegard Koenig Paul, third from left. Middle photo: Hildegard's children Christa, Birgit, Heye, and Hildegard. Bottom photo: Hildegard's grandchildren Tom, Chris, Lisa and Jim Nolan, and Tim Urban, Jim Nolan, King, and Larry Urban. Click any image to enlarge.

Bengt Paul Photo, Berlin, 1935

Photograph of my grandmother, Hildegard Paul, and my mom Christa Nolan. I love the way the light hits the balloon. Click to enlarge.

 

September 13, 1942, Berlin

Birgit Stolt, Christa Nolan, Bengt Paul, Heye Paul.

Hildegard Koenig Paul, Christa, Bengt, Birgit. Soon after, my mother was sent away to live with friends and relatives in Austria and Sweden for the remainder of the war.

Beach Ball, 1937

I love this photo. It's of my grandmother, Hildegard Koenig Paul, and my mother, Christa Paul Nolan. I presume it was taken by my grandfather, Bengt (Benekiki). Click photo to enlarge.

Home from China

Harry and Auguste Koenig at home with their four children, years after their stay in China. Hildegard, my grandmother, stands in front of her father. Her brother Robert, second from right, was killed in WW1.