While going through the garage determining what items were yard sale items and which were not, I opened a trunk that had been my mother's. I was surprised at what I found inside, mostly because I really thought all her things were packed away in our basement storage. So glad I decided to peek! I am not positive about the history of this doll, but I will tell you what I believe to be true. I remember seeing it at my Great Aunt Marjorie's house when I was a child. I think she made the doll (she was very artistic) and gave it to my mother when she was a child. It's obviously a very old doll.
These are handkerchief boxes. I researched Best's Apparel and found it to be an old Seattle store that merged with Nordstrom back in the day. I don't have the date they merged but they went by the name Nordstrom-Best's so it was definitely before my time.
Apparently handkerchiefs were a popular gift and there were a couple of calling cards tucked in with the hankies. It seems like such a civilized thing to do, have calling cards. I know we wouldn't hand them to the help to be delivered on a silver platter to the person we are calling on, but wouldn't it be nice to have your pertinent info at hand when ever you want to share it with someone? There is a lot to be said for the "old days" in my opinion.
All the handkerchiefs were folded carefully to fit the box perfectly. I love this one on the bottom folded to frame the bottom of the box in lace. Elegant touch.
I also found our Church directory from 1966. This was the directory for the United Methodist Church in Lynden, Washington. I would have been 9 or 10. I think Mom looks really great in this photo, and yet I don't remember her ever being thin when I was a child. I was wrong.
This box is from Frederick & Nelson. They went out of business in 1992. They had the best Santa to visit at Christmas and I was devastated to lose him! They are also the one and only true maker of Frango Mints. In any case, I am not sure what as in this box originally, but it now holds many little cards and mementos. I can't wait to go through them. 
This was on top inside the box when I opened it. I really had to laugh at "United States Army Meal Ticket" because my first thought was that back in those days, a husband was a meal ticket, not the army! My mother really was a pioneer in a lot of ways. Joining the Army was only one of them.
Another box in the trunk was full of letters. I simply cannot wait to get to these. There are so many questions I have about my mother's life and I am hoping some of these letters will have some answers. 
My mother's degree from the State College of Washington which is now Washington State University, of course. I notice she has a bachelor of science degree but was surprised it didn't say veterinary science anywhere. I think she does have another certificate somewhere that indicates that.
Her grades were tucked inside with the diploma. I thought she was a better student, but she did finish college in only 3 years with a vet degree, so I suppose she had a lot on her plate. I miss her. I wish I could ask her about these things that she kept for her entire life.
