Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner, known as Sally, grew up in Marathon County, Wisconsin. As an adult she spent a short time working in Washington D.C. before returning to Wausau to marry and raise a family. This series of posts takes us page by page through the photo album of her teen years and young adulthood. She was an active and vibrant gal. These photos show her doing things she could no long do when her mobility became limited in the following decades.

She collected photographs. Lots and lots of photographs. She took most of them and posed in many. This series gives us a glimpse of Sally’s young life, through her own pictures.

Sally, circa 1911.

Sally, circa 1921.

Sally, 1933.

Sally, 1940s.

Sally, 1962.

Sally, 1970s.

Sally, 1980.

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  Sally’s Photos – Page #01 – Farm and Family
  Farm and Family Sally’s album starts in about 1920 when she was a teenager. Her early photos show life on the farm, surrounded by family. Sally The first photo in Sally’s photo album is a photo titled, “Sally.” What an appropriate way to start this… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #01 – Farm and Family
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #02 – Transportation, Scenery, Extended Family, and School
  Transportation, Scenery, Extended Family, and School The second page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1920. The dear old … The Aschbrenner family’s first Ford was photographed. Sally captioned it, “The dear old ____, 1920.” Sure wish I… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #02 – Transportation, Scenery, Extended Family, and School
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #03 – Old Folks, Relatives, Soldiers, and the Clover Dairy Farm
  Old Folks, Relatives, Soldiers, and the Clover Dairy Farm Meditating As a teenager, Sally lived with her uncle Edward and Aunt Laura so that she could attend school in Wausau. Uncle Ed was her dad’s brother and Aunt Laura was her mom’s sister. So Sally… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #03 – Old Folks, Relatives, Soldiers, and the Clover Dairy Farm
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #04 – Trip to Laona
  Glimpses of Our Trip to Laona, 1920 The fourth page of Sally’s photograph album was a collection of photos from her trip to Laona, Forest County, Wisconsin. She took the trip in 1920 with her Aunt Laura and Uncle Ed Aschbrenner. Reflections in Stange Park… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #04 – Trip to Laona
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #05 – Girls and Relatives
  Girls and Relatives The fifth page of Sally’s photo album contained shots with friends and lots of extended family. On the bridge at midnight Sally, far left, and two other women stand on a bridge, supposedly at midnight. Pictured: Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner, far left. Others… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #05 – Girls and Relatives
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #06 – Gals and Kids and Relatives
  Gals and Kids and Relatives The sixth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1920-22. Lettes Choice Sally didn’t leave us captions on this photo or others on the page, so we can only guess. Could this have… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #06 – Gals and Kids and Relatives
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #07 – Loved Ones and Friends
  Loved Ones and Friends The seven page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1922. Fun in Wausau The following two photos were taken at the Ed and Laura Aschbrenner house at 922 South 4th Avenue, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin.… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #07 – Loved Ones and Friends
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #08 – Trees and Friends and Friends in Trees
  Trees and Friends and Friends in Trees The eighth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1920-21. Sally didn’t label the photos, but we can safely assume the page was filled with friends from high school. These gals… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #08 – Trees and Friends and Friends in Trees
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #09 – Friends and Animals
  Friends and Animals The ninth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1921. Flowers in the wood pile These unidentified women are enjoying a bouquet of flowers while standing in a wood pile. Pictured: Unidentified. Location: Marathon County,… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #09 – Friends and Animals
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #10 – Picnic and Party
  Picnic and Party The tenth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1921. The photos feature a picnic on the farm and a High School party. Girls in the corn Sally (third from left) and friends pose in… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #10 – Picnic and Party
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #11 – Curtis and Yale Friends
  Curtis & Yale Friends The eleventh page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1923. Sally was a young professional. She had started her career as a stenographer at Curtis & Yale in Wausau. The woodworking company, who manufactured… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #11 – Curtis and Yale Friends
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #12 – Cars and Farm
  Cars and Farm The 12th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1923. The page featured photos of Sally’s car and scenes from the family farm. Picnic in a field Members of the Aschbrenner family are shown picnicking… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #12 – Cars and Farm
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #13 – Farm and Falls
  Farm and Falls The thirteenth page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1923-26. Cement work Sally captured a photo of men doing some cement work. While the photo isn’t labeled, the guys on the far right are Sally’s… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #13 – Farm and Falls
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #14 – Camp Wakanda and More
  Camp Wakanda and more The 14th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken during her stay at Camp Wakanda on Clear Lake (north of Wausau, near Tomahawk, Wisconsin). A few other assorted photos filled the page as well. Sally was involved… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #14 – Camp Wakanda and More
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #15 – Wood for Breakfast
  Wood for breakfast The 15th page of Sally’s photo album featured photos of family and camp. The catchy title, “wood for breakfast,” was added by on the album page by someone other than Sally. The only photo that was labeled was identified only as April… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #15 – Wood for Breakfast
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #16 – Winter in Marathon Park
  Winter in Marathon Park The 16th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in Marathon Park in wintertime. They were most likely taken in early 1924. Marathon Park is large park in the city of Wausau. It has several buildings, and,… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #16 – Winter in Marathon Park
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #17 – Farm, Home, and Service
  Farm, Home, and Service The 17th page of Sally’s photo album featured a random collection of photos. Maybe this was a catch-all or miscellaneous page in the album. The photos were probably taken anywhere from 1923 to 1928. Evelyn. Maybe? Since Sally spent a lot… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #17 – Farm, Home, and Service
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #18 – Scenery, Family, and a Wedding
  Scenery, Family, and a Wedding The 18th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1925. We see some landscape photos, some great family photos, and candid shots from a friend’s wedding. Scenery Country roads and lake views. These… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #18 – Scenery, Family, and a Wedding
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #19 Costumed, Water, and Winter Hiking
  Costumed, Water, and Winter Hiking The 19th page of Sally’s photo album featured photos of Sally dressed up for some special occasion, a couple water scenes, and photos from a winter outing. The photos were likely taken between 1923 and 1925, as a couple of… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #19 Costumed, Water, and Winter Hiking
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #20 Hiking, Kids, and Madison
  Hiking, Kids, and Madison The 20th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1924-25. The first pictures are a continuation of her winter hike with the Y.W.C.A. Live Y’ers group. Next there are some family photos. Then, a… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #20 Hiking, Kids, and Madison
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #21 – Madison Dells Kids
  Madison, Dells, Kids The 21st page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1924 or 1925. There weren’t many pictures on this page. Just four. We see a continuation of Sally’s visit to Madison, a stop in the Wisconsin… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #21 – Madison Dells Kids
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #22 – Spider Lake and Camp Wakanda
  Spider Lake and Camp Wakanda The 22nd page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1926. A caption written on the album page years after the photos were taken says, “Spider Lake.” So, presumably, Sally and friends took a… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #22 – Spider Lake and Camp Wakanda
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #23 – Camp and Damsels in Distress
  Camp and Damsels in Distress The 23rd page of Sally’s photo album continues to show us life at Camp Wakanda. It also shows that Sally and her girlfriends knew how to have a good time. Sally was traveling as part of a trio in these… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #23 – Camp and Damsels in Distress
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #24 – Hollywood and Family
  Hollywood and Family The 24th page of Sally’s photo album featured photos that were sent to her from Hollywood, California. Sally wasn’t in California and did not take the photos, but she put them in her album. The remainder of photos were taken closer to… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #24 – Hollywood and Family
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #25 – Ervin Anklam Wedding plus
  Ervin Anklam Wedding plus The 25th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken on 22 May 1926 at Rib Falls, Marathon, Wisconsin. On that day, Ervin Edward Emil Anklam, one of Sally’s maternal first cousins, married Florence Mary Dern. A few… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #25 – Ervin Anklam Wedding plus
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #26 – Aschbrenners and Water
  Aschbrenners and Water The 26th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos of the Aschbrenner family and then view shots including bodies of water. Ed and Laura Aschbrenner family The Ed and Laura Aschbrenner family pose in front of a car on… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #26 – Aschbrenners and Water
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #27 – Live Y’ers
  Live Y’ers The 27th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken with groups of friends. At least some of these are likely taken at Live Y’ers events. The Live Y’ers was a group through the Y.W.C.A. for young professional women. These… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #27 – Live Y’ers
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #28 – Sally and Friends
  Sally and friends The 28th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken of Sally and her friends in 1928. Fur coats The first four photos on this album page feature Sally and friends donning fur coats. Just what was needed to… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #28 – Sally and Friends
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #29 – Coolidge Comes to Town
  Coolidge comes to town The 29th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around August 1928. One more knicker picture. President Coolidge paid Wausau a visit. Sally was with friends and around water. A couple postcards. Those are the… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #29 – Coolidge Comes to Town
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #30 – Boating and Iowa
  Boating and Iowa The 30th page of Sally’s photo album included pictures of boating and of a trip to Iowa. Ed and Laura and the kids Sally would have been standing on shore when she captured this photo. It seems that Sally was on a… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #30 – Boating and Iowa
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #31 – Eau Claire Dells and Parade
  Eau Claire Dells and parade The 31st page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in the Eau Claire Dells and of a Wausau parade. Eau Claire Dells “Mr. and Mrs. Frank Aschbrenner and children, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Meyer and son… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #31 – Eau Claire Dells and Parade
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #32 – Family Woods and Water
  Family, Woods, and Water The 31st page of Sally’s photo album featured additional photos from the Eau Claire Dells and a few other shots. Milk for the gals In this photo, Sally’s friend Elizabeth Lemke is enjoying some milk as she and three other friends… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #32 – Family Woods and Water
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #33 – Snow and Golf
  Snow and Golf The 33rd page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1928-29. Sally is shown with friends in the snow and playing golf. Fun in the snow Sally, second from right, and friends pose on a winter… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #33 – Snow and Golf
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #34 – Gals and Farm and Family
  Gals and Farm and Family The 34th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in and around 1929. It shows Sally having fun with friends, some time on a farm, and a photo of extended family. Fun with the gals The… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #34 – Gals and Farm and Family
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #35 – An Assortment
  An Assortment The 35th page of Sally’s photo album contained an assortment of photos that seem to have been from disconnected times and places. Moving forward in time, through the pages, we are up to about 1929. Yet, several of the photos seem to be… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #35 – An Assortment
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #36 – Marian in California and Miscellaneous Shots
  Marian in California and Miscellaneous Shots The 36th page of Sally’s photo album included many more photographs from Marian in California. Those were followed by many miscellaneous pictures without any particular date or theme. Marian in California These photos are more meaningful now that the… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #36 – Marian in California and Miscellaneous Shots
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #37 – People and Camp
  People and camp The 37th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken of people and at camp. These pictures were probably from around 1931. She was making a major move in her life, packing up and moving to Washington, D.C. to… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #37 – People and Camp
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #38 – New friends and new sights in Washington
  New friends and new sights in Washington The 38th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in Washington DC as well as some postcards she collected. She arrived in Washington in November 1931 and started exploring on her days off work.… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #38 – New friends and new sights in Washington
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #39 – Washington and Niagara Falls
  Washington and Niagara Falls The 39th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken while she worked in Washington DC and on a trip to Niagara Falls. Post Office and Union Station Sally labeled this photo to show the post office and… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #39 – Washington and Niagara Falls
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #40 – Scenes and People
  Scenes and People The 40th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken while she was living in Washington, D.C. That man again… The identity of this man is still now known. He was featured on the last page of the album… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #40 – Scenes and People
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #41 – The Lodge
  The Lodge The 41st page of Sally’s photo album contained photos of Sally at a YWCA camp called, “The Lodge.” There were also some shots from Washington D.C. and a couple photos of people. Based on their location in the photo album, it seems that… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #41 – The Lodge
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #42 – Washington D.C.
  Washington D.C. The 42nd page of Sally’s photo album takes us back to Washington D.C. Many of the photos are similar to those a few pages back in the album. Sally is seen, in several seasons, hanging out with ladies in Washington D.C. Winter at… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #42 – Washington D.C.
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #43 – DC and a Trip Home
  DC and a Trip Home The 43rd page of Sally’s photo album featured pictures taken in 1931 and 1932 while she lived in Washington, DC. A few photos were probably from her trip home to Wisconsin in June 1932. Back in Wisconsin According to the… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #43 – DC and a Trip Home
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #44 – Wisconsin, Arlington, and Atlantic City
  Wisconsin, Arlington, and Atlantic City The 44th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos taken in Wisconsin, Washington DC, Arlington National Cemetery and Atlantic Cemetery. We possibly get our first glimpses of Norman, Sally’s future husband. One more apple blossom photo There… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #44 – Wisconsin, Arlington, and Atlantic City
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #45 – Mostly Washington
  Mostly Washington The 45th page of Sally’s photo album featured a collection of photos mostly taken in and around Washington, D.C. A few other shots were on the page as well. One more from Atlantic City One last photo of Sally in her bathing suit… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #45 – Mostly Washington
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #46 – Farewell to Washington and Back to Wisconsin
  Farewell to Washington and Back to Wisconsin The 46th page of Sally’s photo album includes the last photos from Washington D.C. and a variety of shots from Wisconsin. Washington D.C. Four more photos of Sally in Washington D.C. were included on this page of the… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #46 – Farewell to Washington and Back to Wisconsin
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  Sally’s Photos – Page #47 – People and Indian School
  People and Indian School The 47th and final page of Sally’s photo album featured many pictures of people. Sally was back in Wausau by then, beginning her life with Norman. Some photos have been labeled (after the fact) as being from “Indian School Tomah Wisconsin.”… Read more: Sally’s Photos – Page #47 – People and Indian School