|
- Hazel Briggs-Gotis
-
- Hazel Briggs-Gotis,
born April 13, 1902, was the oldest of eight children. Her family
owned a farm in Bennington, Vermont. When she was a teenager
she was unhappy with her life on the farm and left Vermont to
live in Manhattan, NY. There she met and married a handsome greek
restaurant owner, George Gelagotis.
Hazel had always wanted a daughter but as the years passed, doctors
said she would never conceive. So they adopted George's nephew
from his family in Greece. Miracuously, soon after, at age 36,
Hazel gave birth to her daughter Joan.
The pictures on the next page were
made between 1939 and 1945 in NYC and in Vermont during summer
vacations. Indoors she used a Brownie box camera and flood lights.
She hand colored special enlargements and wrote on the back of
each picture turning each photo into a treasure.
Hazel passed away in June of 1963 at age 61. I was four years
old. She was my grandmother. My mother Joan, gave me the photo
albums. I've seen these pictures occasionally while growing up,
but after a closer look at the many pages it wasn't hard to realized
the passion Hazel had. As a photographer (and a mother) I understand
the inspiration that motivated her to make such wonderful images.
Although I never really knew her, I feel as if I do have a link
to her through photography and also from stories my mother has
told.
I have created this part of my website in dedication to my quite
deserving grandmother, Hazel. ENTER
|
-
|