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Lee's Photos: 1938 -1946
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In the novel, Lee recalls many aspects of her pre-war life. The 1930s were golden years for the Iserson family, living in a villa in San Francisco del Monte, with a large pool and yard. Harold managed Iserson Embroideries, and the family was living the good life. By 1940, the family circumstances were much reduced, as explained in the book, but there was still enough money for summer vacations in Baguio. Here are some shots from the photo album Grandma Naylor rescued for them. In Lee's adult handwriting we see "Mommy and Daddy" (she called her mother "Mommy" through college!) Lee did not know Mary Louella Cleland (Lulu) pre-war, but Lulu has contributed some photos of herself when she was the same age as Lee.
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Agnes serves her checkerboard cake with chocolate icing.
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Lee with Max and Betty with Cuddles in Baguio, 1941
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Lee, Agnes, and Betty, months before internment outside Bordner, 1941.
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Lulu (on right) and her sister, Margie, 1938.
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Agnes, Betty, Lee. Baguio, 1941
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Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel. Agnes, front center, Harold, front right. Feb. 24, 1941. Harold died Feb. 24, 1942
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Internees aboard the USS Admiral Capps, watching King Neptune and his court. Betty and Lee circled in white.
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Aboard the USS Admiral Capps, headed to the USA. Lee circled in pink, Lulu is on the right, Nellie (in bandana) on the left.
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Newspaper clipping; Lee named Valedictorian St. Francis de Sales High School,
Utica, N.Y. 1946
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Friends Reunited - 1950-1951
In the epilogue, Lee writes Lulu about her desire to take a trip out west to visit her after they both finish college (Lulu, UCLA and Lee, St. Mary's College). That road trip happened in 1950. By then Lulu, Ellen, Bill, and Paul were all in California. Curtis Brooks was on the east coast, but also made a trip out west to visit. Much influenced by Father Sheridan and the religious she had known in the Philippines, Betty had entered the convent: the Maryknoll sisters in Tarrytown, New York. She later served as a missionary not in the Philippines, but in Chile.
Lee and Lulu, California
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Mary Louella Cleland (Lulu)
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Ellen Spencer Thomas (Nellie) and Lee.
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Curtis Brooks (left) and Paul Davis (right).
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Bill and Nellie cut the cake at their wedding!
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Lee, Betty (Sr. Harold Agnes), Agnes, Fr. Sheridan at Maryknoll.
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