Jim Nolan's Blog

Tom Wolfe Photo from 1956, aboard the M.S. Kungsholm

Photo credit: Christa Paul Nolan

My father, James Nolan, met Tom Wolfe in 1951 when Tom was starting graduate school in American Studies, and Dad was beginning to study medicine. They were across the hall from each other at a boarding house out by the football stadium (Tom's roommate at the time was a German engineering student who had been in the Luftwaffe). Later they'd rent an apartment together. Here Tom is in New York on the boat that took my parents back from their wedding in Stockholm. He and Don Dock had been trusted with Dad's Plymouth to pick them up from Connecticut. They were supposed to wash it, but they ended up in a bar instead. Mom and Dad say that Tom was a quiet Southern gentleman, and an all-around great guy. Dad also says that Tom wrote his Ph.D. thesis in his unique style—and was forced to rewrite it in a more conventional manner. Fortunately, he didn't give it up.

Seasickness Directions in English and Swedish, 1955

My mother included this in her scrapbook. I suspect she, and a lot of other people, needed it. 

M.S. Kungsholm Embarkation Card, 1955

From a 1955 scrapbook of my mother, Christa Paul. She was returning to Sweden at the beginning of December from New York City.

1950s Suitcase Key and Airlines Luggage Tag

These keys are for one of these "white suitcases." I love the dynamic American Airlines logo and name in italic type. Mom tells me that the suitcases were lightweight, and some of the first designed for air travel, vs. ocean liners. She spent a lot of her own money on them, she told me, and her mother "thought she was wasting her money." 

New York City Docks, August 1,1956

A photo of a porter with my parents' luggage on their return from their wedding in Sweden. You can see the stickers on the luggage here. 

MS Kungsholm Postcard

 

A postcard from my mother, Christa Paul, to her grandmother Natalie Paul. Mom and Dad had just returned to America via the MS Kungsholm after their wedding in Stockholm. Natalie had moved from Berlin to Säffle, Sweden. I wonder if she had the bust with her. Her husband Adolf had been dead since 1943 and the money was gone, too. The card reads, "Dear Grandmother and Aunt Hedda, heartfelt greetings after a rather stormy crossing. All is well. Love, Christa." If you look closely after Mom's signature, you'll see a plus sign. She had meant Dad to sign the card as well, but he forgot. 

MS Kungsholm Luggage Stickers

Stickers on the luggage my mother took on the MS Kungsholm after her wedding in Stockholm in 1956. The last sticker is from SJ, Swedish Railways.

Friend's MS Kungsholm Ashtray

Photo by: Hans Baldauf

Upon learning that my great friend Hans's son was interested in ocean liners, I mentioned this blog's posts about the Swedish ships MS Kungsholm and MS Stockholm. Hans mentioned that he had an ashtray with what he believed to be the Kungsholm on it. I'm pretty sure it is. Compare with the postcard photo below. What do you think?

Boarding the MS Kungsholm, 1955

Christa Paul Nolan's first trip to America in 1955. Shots taken by her father Bengt "Benekiki" Paul and mailed to her in the U.S. Here she is waiting to get on in Gothenberg, Sweden. Click on image to enlarge.

Onboard the MS Kungsholm, 1956

August 1. My mother coming back from Sweden after getting married. Love the 1950s style. Click to enlarge.