This post is part of a series. To start from the beginning, go here. I had the most trouble finding information on Shirley "Jersey" Buhl and her big sister, Marilyn. Marilyn was born in 1932 and though I looked and looked, I couldn't find any record of her graduation from high school or any trace of her as an adult. Marilyn Buhl: Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook

This post is part of a series. To start from the beginning, go here. In researching Shirley Buhl, nicknamed 'Jersey', I also wanted to know more about her parents, Oscar and Clara Buhl. Here is Clara Buhl with her daughters, Marilyn and Shirley Buhl. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Clara was born in 1907 to Theodore and Julia Betzler. She married Oscar Buhl in 1931. The Independent Press newspaper from Bloomfield, New Jersey, revealed that Shirley an

This post is part of a series. If you would like to start from the beginning, go here. I had so much fun uncovering all I could about "Jersey", otherwise known as Shirley Buhl, and her family. With help from my history detective sidekick, Valerie, I was also able to uncover information about her siblings. I found several news items about her brother, Joseph George Buhl. Joseph was born on October 22, 1925 to Oscar and Clara Buhl. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with

This post is part of a series. To read part 1, go here. My hunt for a little girl nicknamed "Jersey" discovered in a collection by Paul Holbrook, a collector of vintage negatives, began with a desire to know the identity of the girl with the big eyes. The pictures were often out of focus, but I didn't care. I simply wanted to know more about her and her family. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Th

My hunt for little "Jersey" and her family was about to get a HUGE boost! Paul Holbrook, the owner of the glass negatives said that he remembered writing on one of the envelopes. He was able to discover that one envelope said "Joe Buhl Newark NJ" Could these be the Buhl children? Perhaps Joe Buhl was the father? Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. A father with one of his girls: Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Unfortunately seve

Although I was instantly enamored with the pouty doe-eyed girl from New Jersey I knew that identifying her would be difficult, if not impossible. But from the moment I first saw 'Jersey' on my friend Paul Holbrook's Facebook page, I knew I had to try. It can be very difficult to identify vintage photographs and I had learned that I needed to collect clues to see if there was anything to go on to uncover 'Jersey's' identity. Picture courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permiss

I don't know what it was about her. Probably those big eyes. Or the sweet baby cheeks. Whatever it was, the little girl from the 1940's grabbed my heart (and a few other's too) after she was featured on my friend Paul Holbrook's page - Camera Americana. Photograph courtesy of Paul Holbrook. Used with permission. Paul has been a great resource for vintage material to research. He collects vintage glass negatives and we have worked together on several projects. I immediately c