Keepsakes

In amongst the items in a box of Zinn ephemera, is a small box marked “Ivan.” Ivan refers to Willis Ivan Zinn, the father of Everett Zinn, and my great-grandfather. This worn cardboard box contains a collection of small items that were amongst Ivan’s possessions at the end of his life. They had been placed in this box sometime after his death.

Varied pieces of memorabilia are within the box; a small Baptist hymnal where “Amazing Grace” was marked by an old newspaper article about the origins of the hymn, a recent photo of him and his half sister Eliza Cox whom he lived with in Carnegie, Oklahoma the last few years of his life.

Because Ivan had moved away from his home in Kansas after his wife, Ruah, died to live with his sister, the box also held a small bundle of cards and letters. One of the letters was written on December 27, 1936 by Ivan to his son, Everett. It was one of the last letters that Ivan wrote to Everett. Listen to an excerpt and then read the whole letter here.

One of my favorite cards in the box is a valentine my mother sent to Ivan, her grandfather. I don’t know the exact date, but it was between 1931-1936.

These next two are unsigned with no envelope attached. Both are beautifully intricate and elaborate.

Three Christmas cards were in the box. The first has such a cozy picture. If you like cats, you’ll love this one.  It’s from Zora Zinn.  She was married to Bruce Zinn, another son of Ivan’s, who passed away in 1932.  He was putting up hay on a record setting hot day in July and died from a sunstroke.  Zora and Bruce had been married five years when he passed. This card was sent in 1935.

Another card sent in 1934 was from Perry Zinn, a cousin, who was living in Buffalo, Oklahoma near the panhandle. Ivan was living southwest of Oklahoma City.

The last Christmas Card was actually sent to Everett and Ursula from Ivan and Aunt Eliza in December of 1936. Ivan passed in March of 1937.

There are so many things that I love about these cards.  I love the old graphics and the sentiments written in rhyme.   I love seeing the hand-writing and reading the personalized notes which always brings such a connection to the people we have loved and to ones that we have never known.  Most of all I love these cards because they were cherished and special enough to be saved through the years. They surely brought with them such great gifts of love, joy, and comfort.

Learn more about Willis “Ivan” Zinn here.

To see the Zinn Family Tree click here.