History Room 

A Long-Lost Image: Reconnecting Through BHCL Geneology Room Archives

Ella Allen Duncan and Teresa Allen McKinney came into the Bolivar-Hardeman County Library in search of a missing piece of their family. Emma Ruth Allen was their first cousin and Ella's classmate who had passed away over fifty years ago. She had died in her ninth grade year of school.

Her family had only one photo of her. The photo was not a clear image of Emma and they hoped to find a better one; times were different then, photos were more of a luxury and were not common as they are today in our cellphone, selfie, and social media age.

The library keeps all school annuals available to it and after a short search with the help of Library History Clerk, Vanessa Lambert, the two women found a clear and acceptable school picture of Emma. Emma’s cousins quickly and joyfully recognized her image and were delighted that they were able to acquire a copy of the picture for her family, one family member specifically included Emma’s son, Kendall.

Kendall Allen Puckett would soon see a clear image of his mother for the first time, and the Allen family reunion will have one more photo to show this August!