Aunt Annie (Derr) Van Sant and Uncle Homer Derr Across the Years
18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, November 22, 1913: Nothing of importance.
Annie (Derr) Van Sant and Homer Derr (circa, 1955)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Today I’m sharing a photo of an aunt and uncle of Grandma’s that was taken years after this diary was written. In the process of doing research for yesterday’s post about the funeral of Grandma’s maternal grandfather, I came across the picture and thought you might enjoy seeing what they looked like in their later years.
The picture is of Annie (Derr) Van Sant and Homer Derr. Homer died in 1958, so It probably was taken in the mid- 1950s. They were the two youngest children of John and Sarah Derr. I’m also including the group shot of the Derr family that was taken around 1900, so you can see what they looked like when they were young.
John and Sarah Derr Family. Taken about 1900. L to R. Front Row: John, Annie (Derr) Van Sant, Sarah. Back Row: Miles, Fuller, Alice (Derr) Krumm, Elmer, Phoebe (Derr) Muffly, Judson, Homer. Phoebe was the mother of Helena.
Annie is front and center, and Homer is on the far right.
Homer spent much of his career as a college professor at several universities including the school that is now called South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. At different schools he taught different subjects—including math and physics. He even wrote a publication that you can still buy today on Amazon called A Method of Petrographic Analysis, Based upon Chromatic Interference with Thin Sections of Doubly Refracting Crystals in Polarizing Light. (I would appreciate it if someone could explain to me in plain English what it is about.)
Annie was the widow of a doctor and lived in Turbotville, Pennsylvania (which is just a few miles from McEwensville).
It’s interesting to see how much the brother and sister look alike as they aged! I love those old titles that just went on and on–no idea what this one means, though!
I think they aged gracefully, they look so relaxed and confident in that photo. I have a soft spot for that bow tie too. Thanks again for sharing such great history with us!
I love old pictures! I always wonder what they are thinking and how they are doing during that time of their life. I always try to see more behind the image!
Well, I can’t help you with that title, except to say that it seems a useful thing to be able to do.
I agree. . .The publication is apparently about something useful since it’s still available.
Homer looks like a professor; obviously a brilliant man.
(Love Gallivanta’s comment!)
He does have a professorial look. 🙂
It’s interesting to see how much the brother and sister look alike as they aged! I love those old titles that just went on and on–no idea what this one means, though!
It sure sounds academic.
I think they aged gracefully, they look so relaxed and confident in that photo. I have a soft spot for that bow tie too. Thanks again for sharing such great history with us!
They do look like they are comfortable with themselves and with each other. I hope I age as well as they did.
wow amazing info!
I love old pictures! I always wonder what they are thinking and how they are doing during that time of their life. I always try to see more behind the image!
I also try to see more than just the image. . . and often create whole stories in my mind.
I love that you have these two different eras of photos of the same people! 🙂