Building the Background

So many stories of ancestors and relatives are mentioned in the newspapers of the past. During April 2020 for the A - Z blog challenge, I am listing the types of stories or information I have found in newspapers with examples for each letter of the alphabet. My clippings include a variety of articles about relatives of my children's ancestors.

Births

Newspapers of the past are often an excellent source of birth notices. Birth dates may be the starting point for our knowledge of a person's life.Today many people post birth notices on Facebook and Instagram where they are lost for posterity. It appears that posting birth notices in newspapers became more common in the early 1900s and was dependent on the family having the funds to afford the notice. 

1918 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 14 September, p. 27.
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87553839

The earliest Galvin birth I have been able to find is that of John Dominic in 1918, my husband's father. This notice informs us that he was born on the 31st August at home, 41 Henley Street. Torrensville.

His parents John Michael Galvin and Grace Walmsley Payne had married in November of 1917. A wedding photo is available on this post Dressed for the Occasion.

1921 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954),
 6 August, p. 29. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89251310

The second son's birth notice, Desmond John Galvin, informs us that John and Grace had now moved house to Forestville, and that the birth had taken place in a nursing home.

1923 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 2 June, p. 35.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89242129

So too with Kevin's birth in 1923. Once again not a home birth.

1926 'Family Notices',
The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 8 March, p. 8. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55031571

By 1926 when daughter Kathleen was born, the Register newspaper placed Birth notices in alphabetical order whereas the Chronicle  was still inserting them haphazardly, presumably in the order in which they were received.  Once again we see that John and Grace had moved house, now living in Randolph street at Henley Park.

1936 'Family Notices', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 26 March, p. 25.
 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92334137

In 1936 when their youngest son was born John and Grace were living in Victoria and the birth announcement was published in both Victorian and South Australian newspapers.

Birthdays

1952 'Family Notices',
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 28 June, p. 20. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47402317

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Another form of announcement appears in later years, as people began to insert birthday greetings in newspapers.

This birthday greetng for Colin Francis Galvin, a great grandson of the immigrant Michael, indicates that he was working in the coal fields at Leigh Creek in South Australia. 

Colin was the son of Francis William Galvin and Clarice Rosina Tonkin. In 1952 he would have been celebrating his 24th birthday.

In other families I have also found reports of 21st birthday parties, and celebration parties for those turning 80, 90 or 100.

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Business

John Patrick Galvin, my husband's great grandfather who lived from 1867 -1948 was working as a travelling photographer in 1906. This report appeared in several newspapers. What a lucky escape he had!

1906 'PHOTOGRAPHER DRINKS BICHLORIDE OF MERCURY.',
The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 30 August, p. 6. ,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189356505

Next post C - A Collie's Choice in Court

 This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin