#61: Favorite Photo

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2026-06)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of February 2 is "Favorite Photo.”

Scan of a photo of Edward Olsen and his great-grandmother Cecelia Strahle Hillenbrand. From the collection of ©️Virginia Summers Olsen, originally from the collection of Emma Dorothy Hillenbrand Olsen.

#43: Signature Saturday #1 - Cecelia Strahle and Frank Hillenbrand

Signature Saturday

Signature Saturday is a genealogy blogging prompt where you post a copy of an ancestor’s signature.  For my inaugural post using this prompt, let me introduce you to Cecelia Strahle and Frank Hillenbrand, my Great Grandparents.

#36 - Valentine: Emma and Clifford Olsen

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2021-06)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of February 7 is "Valentine." 

#26: Handed Down - Crocheted Crafts

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2020-24)

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a series of weekly prompts to get you to think about an ancestor and share something about them. The weekly prompt is provided by www.amyjohnsoncrow.com. The prompt for the week of June 10 is "Handed Down."  If your keeping track of my blog posts, you will see that I am running late on posting this on time!

So what am I covering in this week's post with the theme "Handed Down?"  I'm writing about the crocheting that my grandmother Emma Dorothy Hillenbrand Olsen did.

Emma Hillenbrand Olsen - Our own Rosie the Riveter

Emma Dorthy Hillenbrand Olsen (1924-2011) and Clifford Olsen (1922-1966) were married on November 28, 1943 at Grace Lutheran Church in Bellmore, New York.  This was one year after Clifford had enlisted in the army.

Edited digital image of framed bridal photograph of Emma Hillenbrand Olsen in the personal collection of ©Virginia Summers Olsen.

Family Recipe Friday #1: Crumb Cake

Family Recipe Friday is a genealogy blogging post prompt suggested by by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist where you share recipes with family and fellow bloggers.

Frank Hillenbrand...The Long Road to Citizenship

Frank Joseph Hillenbrand was born September 17, 1885 in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

In 1885, Ludwigshafen is located on the Rhine River.  To the east across the river was the city of Mannheim.  In 1865 the chemical company BASF made the move across the Rhine from Mannheim to Ludwigshafen.  As a result, Ludwigshafen went undergoing a period of rapid growth as other chemical companies began to make Ludwigshafen home.