One day while researching my Jeancons I discovered that the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati Ohio holds a collection from the Eclectic Medical Institute in it’s Archives and Special Collections. This is what I read:
Collections within the Lloyd archives include manuscript collections, some unique collections containing pharmaceutical and horticultural pamphlets and catalogs, and the ephemeral holdings of the library. Manuscript collections include materials from John Uri Lloyd, Curtis Gates Lloyd, the Lloyd Brothers Pharmacy, other Lloyd family members, the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, the Walker papers, Varro “Tip” Tyler papers, as well as others. The special collections contain drug price lists, seed catalogs, drug price lists, and other similar items. Ephemeral holdings include photographs, medals, pharmacy paraphernalia, bottles of Lloyd Brothers Specifics Medicines, and other related materials.
Photographs! The last sentence said photographs! Could there be a chance that they may have a photograph of my Jeancon ancestor. I knew that Jeancon was a major person in the history of the Eclectic Medical Institute. Could I be that lucky? So I searched the archive listings and found this:
Gift of the Lloyd Brothers
Collection No. 106
The collection consists of photographs gathered largely by John Uri Lloyd. Included are numerous portraits of John Uri Lloyd from childhood through his years as pharmacist and author. Represented also in the collection are pictures of Curtis Gates Lloyd, Nelson Ashley Lloyd, and other family members and places associated with them. Photographs of approximately 135 eclectic physicians are also contained in the collection.
My excitement grew as I read again, in the last sentence “Photographs of approximately 135 eclectic physicians are also contained in the collection.” I quickly went to the collection listings, and there it was…Box 5 Folder 7, – John Allard Jeaneon. They misspelled the last name, but who cares, I hit a genealogy jackpot! I immediately contacted the library archivist, gave them the information as to where the photograph was located, and requested information on how I might obtain a copy. The archivist was quick and efficient with her response and here is the result:
Prof. Jean Allard Jeancon 1898
What a thrill it was to see clearly and for the first time, what my Jean Allard Jeancon looked like. I’ll admit that my eyes got a little wet as I gazed upon the photograph.
There is a thing that happens to you when you research your ancestors and begin to gather together information about them. They seem to come to life. You begin to feel, in a way, as if you know them personally. My hubby said to me regarding this particular Jeancon, “Pam, you’ve raised that man from the dead.” And in a way I have. It’s interesting to think of how this man might have felt, if he knew that one day, long after he was gone, his great great granddaughter would endeavor to know him and honor his life.
I too am a Jeancon decendent. My mother is Jeanine Jeancon daughter of Donally Jeancon who is son of Otto Jeancon brother of jean Allard Jeancon and so on. This is true from what i have heard about Count DE LA PARAL, something about taking on Jeancon a maiden name to help hide them due to the family being on the court of king louie and Marie anntoinette, as my mother was named for the counts wife Jeannine Jeancon. My mother was told this story from her Grandmother, Emma dibold who was married to Otto Jeancon, they were Opera singers and helped open the Star light opera house in San Diego. They moved to and lived in San Diego since the 1920s until their passing. I too have a great passion for my family tree in the name of Jeancon. Not sure who has gatherd all this information, just to let you know we are related.
Hi Sabrina, so nice to hear from you. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I’ll be sending you and email shortly so look for it in your spam blocker.
Pam