by bert

My great grandfather Albert ‘Bert’ Shackelton was born May 23rd 1893 in Erie, KS to parents Mayette ‘Romp’ Shackelton and Fremont Bert Shackelton. He attended school in Erie and during his younger years (between 1910 – 1913) he had an interest in photography and managed a photo studio in Erie for a few years. His generation would have been the first to have access to photography equipment – making it a way to document daily life, friends and family. There are hundreds of photos of his that he took during this time period – but hopefully this archive can give you a small glimpse of eras gone by. He would experiment with hand tinting photos and even double exposing some of the negatives.

In 1921 he started work as rural mail carrier. He would work for the postal service until retiring in 1959. He attended Kansas State University at Manhattan and completed a business course in Quincy, IL. He married his wife, Norma Ewing in 1921. They remained married until his death in 1978. They had one child together, my grandmother Jean. Bert had one sister, Lela, and she is seen in many of the photos.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Erie, the Erie Masonic lodge, the Erie American Legion Post the World War I barracks in Chanute, and the rural mail carrier association. He was 85 when he died.

please click an image below to make a selection