Who is Helen Byam Schwamborn

PeeWee · 07-25-2007, 12:40 AM

In publicastions, websites, and forums there always seems to be a biological mystery to who Helen Byam Schwamborn is.

Loren and Melvina Byam were from Iowa. They had two sons Bertram and Raymond. Bert was 10 years older than his brother Ray. Bert married Carrie Biswell. Ray married Sue Elmore (I'm not real sure of my Grandmother's maiden name, I have it some where filed away).

Bert and Carrie had one child Wallace Merle Byam.

Ray and Sue had two childern Mary and Helen.

This makes Mary and Helen first cousins to Wally.

There is a picture of a vintage Airstream in the 30's. There are two ladies. These two ladies are not Stella Byam, or Helen Byam Schwamborn. Who the two models are remains a mystery. Books, websites, newspapers seem to continue to poliferate this error.

In 1930 my Mother and Father came to Califonia. Wally took them under his wing. As time went by Wally and my Mother became very good friends. Similar friendship that develops between cousins and/or brothers and sisters. From this friendship Wally appreciated the talents that Helen Byam Schwamborn had. When there was an oppourtunity to bring her into the Airstream family he did. This was in 1955. The two became the dynamic duo. Wally the Papa Bear in charge of all aspects of the Airstream world and family; and my Mother delegated to start, watch over, and grow the Caravan Club, which was her baby from the beginning. Through Wally's efforts you have the Airstream, through my Mother's effort you have the WBCCI. Even after after her retirement in 1979 she was soooo proud of her baby, your club. She bled silver and Airstream blue.

If you wish to learn more go to the history section of the Sierra Neveda Unit, I have been working with Diane Liepper to organize and provide history for the WBCCI members.

A strange fact of family history Wally passed away on July 22, 1962 and my Mother on July 22, 2004.

I hope this information clarifies the relationship between Wally and my Mother, they were first cousins. That makes me a second cousin.

Pee Wee

**moosetags** · 07-25-2007, 07:44 AM

Thank you for sharing this story with us.

bobkelly · 07-25-2007, 07:46 AM

Thanks for providing these historical notes and a reference to the larger body of work. Very appropriate and helpful to all of us who love the airstreams and the WBCCI. Keep'm coming.

**Chuck** · 07-25-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeeWee

...I hope this information clarifies the relationship between Wally and my Mother, they were first cousins. That makes me a second cousin.

Pee Wee

actually, it makes you Wally's first cousin, once removed. (If Wally had kids, they'd be your second cousins). Not that it matters. We know who you are!

Great having you here, btw!

InsideOut · 07-25-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

actually, it makes you Wally's first cousin, once removed. (If Wally had kids, they'd be your second cousins). Not that it matters. We know who you are!

Great having you here, btw!

Yikes...I always get confused with this stuff!

Shari

sander17 · 07-25-2007, 09:23 AM

quote: "So what are kissing cousins?"

A song from a 60's Elvis movie!

rickandsandi · 07-25-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sander17

quote: "So what are kissing cousins?"

A song from a 60's Elvis movie!

Hillbillies!

pmclemore · 07-25-2007, 09:40 AM

Yup, Chuck and Shari have it right. Good diagram, Shari.

Cousins, etc, follow generations: Share a grandparent (and you are not the brother/sister), you are a first cousin. Share a great-grandparent, you are second cousins. If you are counting from your parents' relations, then you are once removed from whatever their relationship is.

I remember reading, back in my school days, that FDR was a 5th cousin to TR.

Pat