My first thought when I examined a photo postcard of my grandfather that a relative sent me was, “Wow, he had hair!” The photo, taken about 1916, showed my grandfather in front of his Newark, NJ, grocery. But this turned out to be no ordinary postcard, and to be more important for my family history than simply proving my grandfather once had hair.

The penciled message on the card read, “From Mr. Krasner, 65 Boston St., Newark, NJ.” It was addressed to “Miss Belous, 142 E. 112th Street, New York, NY.” The relative who gave it to me said it was a matchmaker's card to introduce my bachelor grandfather, who was then approaching middle age, to a prospective bride. I didn't think much of it and figured my grandfather must not have been interested in this particular match.