The Schoolboy

By Eilene Lyon

This “Found Photo” is not likely to find a family home, though it does have a name, date, and location on the back. It caught my niece’s eye when we were strolling through the local antique mart earlier this week.

Maddie has been studying German for the past seven years and will leave soon for a semester in Hanover, Lower Saxony. She blurted out, “He has a schultüte.” A what?? A translation is “school bag” or “school cone.”

These paper or cardboard cones are decorated to reflect a child’s interests and given to them on their first day of school. They are filled with toys, treats, and school supplies. The tradition of giving schultüte began in Germany in the 19^th century and continues today. The practice has spread to other European countries.

The idea behind the gift is to make the transition from home to school an exciting and pleasurable experience for a young child. In Germany, school begins with first grade. In spite of kindergarten being inspired by German concepts, the children there do not attend them. I’ve noticed that in looking at other photos of children holding schultüte that most are wearing a boxy leather backpack.

The date on my photo is September 1, 1950, so the boy, Detlef Wolfgang, would have probably been born about 1944 (and may still be living). The photographer’s stamp on the back has an address of Breitkopfstraße 41, Reinickendorf, Berlin. This is a location in central Berlin, which probably would have been on the west side of the wall.

Wolfgang could be either Detlef’s middle or surname. One other notation on the back could possibly be the surname Grossklaus or Großklaüs. Either way, I have not the slightest clue who he is, or how this photo wound up in Durango.