Notes for the Descendants of Karl Rechner and Lydia Rechner (geb./née
Böttger)

These German photographs were for the most part, Karl and Lydia Rechner's 
family photograph collection. Karl Rechner died in Santa Barbara, 1935. 
Lydia moved in with my parents, Marvin and Angeline "Peggy" Smoot (geb./née
Rechner). When my parents moved to San Francisco during 1942, Lydia came 
with them as did Lydia's German and other photographs. Lydia died at my 
parents' San Francisco home in June of 1944. Lydia's photographs were added
to my parent's own photograph collection.

Lydia's sister, Frieda Rosa Böttger married Adolf Abicht. Frieda and Adolf
immigrated to the United States, settled in Chicago, Illinois, later to
retire to San Diego, California. Gertrude C. "Trudi" Walters (geb./née
Rechner), Lydia's first born daughter, was the primary caregiver for Adolf
and Frieda during their elder years. Trudi later lived with my parents.
Seemingly, that is when a few Abicht photographic items were added to my
parents' photographic holdings.

Peggy died in San Francisco during 1981. Trudi attempted care for Marvin who
had been an invalid for a number of years. Trudi had turned 81 years old in
late 1981 and it was just too difficult for her to care for Marvin. In
January 1982, I brought Marvin to Newport Washington and Trudi remained to
"close up the house" in San Francisco. 

Trudi discarded or donated most things but kept the photographs. In fact,
she loving annotated many of the photographs. Unfortunately, she also 
misidentified many of the folk in the photographs. Trudi then passed on the 
photographs to me and she moved to Florida to live with her cousin, Polly 
Jones (geb./née Weber). Trudi later moved back to Santa Barbara and spent 
her last few remaining years with her daughter-in law, Dorothy Schauer.

There are no living children of Karl and Lydia so there are no descendants 
who can positively identify the misidentified and unmarked photographs. 
Also, many of the original photographs are in poor condition. I have 
Photoshopped the digital images and removed the tears, folds, and schmutz.

                                                     Fred Smoot, 4 Feb 2011