1950-1954

David, the first baby of the next generation, was born on October 18, 1952. This event caused a lot of photography to happen!

In the 1950s, letters were an important form of communication. They were the primary means of news exchange between various parts of a family. We are blessed to have these letters that give us insight not only into what was going on, but also the character of people involved.

Our family has always loved to celebrate. Anniversaries, birthdays, holidays – all of these are suitable occasions for a family party. This page contains pictures from some family events in the 1950s.

They started life together living in a small rental apartments in Pomona and San Dimas, but in the summer of 1952 they bought a house in Whittier.

In 1954 Harold and Mildred decided to have a custom-designed house built up in the Whittier Hills. They lived there the rest of their lives.

The summer before I was born, my grandparents (Harold and Mildred Votaw) traveled to Europe for a Quaker conference.

Fashions and appearance in the 1950s are so different from today. It’s fun to see how our family looked back then. Left: Mary Martin (my grandmother) with her dad, Henry Reavus Barcus, in 1953, shortly before he passed away.

Harold and Mildred were deeply committed to their Quaker faith, and Dick and Doree followed their example. On this page we see evidence of their involvement in the church. At left: young Dick and Doree dress in old-fashioned Quaker hats and bonnet for an event.

Our family always preferred Buicks. When Dick received one as an early graduation gift in 1950, it changed his life!

The news spread quickly – starting with family and friends, then to the newspapers. And then the parties began!

The story of my parents’ whirlwind romance is a classic. And we have lots of archive material to remember it with.

We have very little in the archives on the college years for Dick and Doree. No cap-and-gown portraits, no certificates. The wedding was more important!

Bert followed in his father’s footsteps; he went to dental school at USC, and became a dentist.

Dick worked at Sequoia National Park during the summer after each of his first two years at Claremont Men’s College. His letters home in 1950 were placed in our archives. They provide fascinating insight into the man he was to become.

These letters were written to Dick Votaw from his cousins on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The letters share memories of early days together.

Newborn version of me

Our family loves to eat out…

This was the first house our family lived in.

…and they stayed married for 59 years, until my dad passed away in 2010.

Best guess: their 40th anniversary, in 1953