If anyone in the Czech Republic can tell me about these photos,
please email me at

The following images were scanned from old photos sent by family in the Czech Republic to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to George Pelisek, son of Joseph Pelisek. George corresponded for many years to family in the old country. After George's death in 2001 his wife, Lela, gave the photos to George's nephew, Charlie Krizek, who in turn allowed me to scan them. George also had a photo of an old woman in a scarf who he said was Joseph Pelisek's grandmother. I have seen the photo, but do not know what has happened to it.

Because Joseph Pelisek's father died when he was a boy, and his mother remarried to a man named Picha, it is confusing to figure out the relationship between the correspondent(s) and the Pelisek family. According to George Pelisek, his father Joseph did have one full-blood sister, Mary and Joseph's step-siblings were Josephine, Frances, Anastasia and a step-brother, Frank Picha. The correspondent could be either a descendant of Joseph's sister Mary, or a descendant of one of his step-siblings. Perhaps time will tell.

I want to personally thank George Smejkal, who was born in Prague but now lives in the United States, for volunteering to do some translating for me via email. He has translated the writing on the back of these images as best he could. We do appreciate your effort, George!

This is believed to be the "Pelisek House" in Roučkovice.

Addressed to: Mr. Jan ??Hervir??
Praha III
Petrinsko 20

Message: 2/12/1927 (Dec. 2, 1927)
Christmas wishes to you all [from] family Pichova

We believe this is Mary, the sister of Joseph Pelisek.

Aunt from Roučkovic
Cradling Zdenka Slustov
And mother. And Milku Sidlovou and Joseph Hubenyho
[The part that follows is too damaged to read.
Following the damaged part are three proper nouns]

[Bottom right corner] Zdenka, Milka, Josef, Jarka, ?Lojza?]

It is unknown if the text was written by the sender, or if it was copied over to the photo by someone on this side of the ocean!

We believe this woman to be Joseph's niece,
Milka, and her husband.

Father and mother
"x" Both passed away already [literal translation]
Father 16 years ago
Mother this year, 88 years old

We think this is the same couple as on the left, only younger.

This is Milka at her wedding (Favorite daughter of aunt from Rouchovic). Your cousin from both of your parents.

[Note: "from both of your parents' could mean that Milka is the daughter of Joseph's full-blood sister. "Your cousin" would mean that she is George Pelisek's cousin.]

In remembrance from world war presents [free translation "dedicate"]
brother-in-law Jan Cecak.

[Note: Family say that Joseph Pelisek went to the Clutier, Iowa area because a relative, a Mrs. Cecek, lived there.)

We believe this may be a photo of the woman
George Pelisek corresponded with, and that the below are wedding photos of her children.