Marilyn Monroe Childhood Photographs Annotated in Her Hand
These two original photographs date to circa 1942 to 1944, when Marilyn Monroe was still known as Norma Jeane. Both images come directly from her personal collection and are made especially significant by Marilyn’s handwritten annotations on their reverse, identifying the individuals and preserving the moments they represent.
The first photograph shows Aunt Ana standing outside her home at 6707 Odessa Avenue in Van Nuys, California. On the reverse, Marilyn wrote simply, “Aunt Ana,” confirming the subject’s identity. Ana was the paternal aunt of Grace Goddard, who served as Norma Jeane’s legal guardian during much of her youth. Through Grace, Norma Jeane became part of an extended family network that provided care and stability during a childhood marked by frequent moves and uncertainty.
The second photograph depicts a family wedding. Marilyn carefully identified the occasion and individuals in pencil, writing: “Taken at Aunt Alice’s & Uncle Art’s wedding / Aunt Ana, John, U. Art, A. Alice, Opal.” Her annotation preserves not only the event itself but also the identities of the family members present, reflecting her personal connection to them.
Aunt Ana held particular importance in Norma Jeane’s early life. She was part of the family circle that surrounded Norma Jeane during her formative years, and she also gave Norma Jeane a Brownie camera. That camera, now preserved in The Marilyn Monroe Collection, represents one of Marilyn’s earliest personal possessions and connects directly to the same family relationship documented in these photographs.
These photographs are rare survivals from Marilyn Monroe’s childhood. More importantly, they were preserved and personally identified by Marilyn herself, providing direct evidence of the people and relationships that formed part of her earliest life. Through her own handwriting, Marilyn ensured that these individuals and moments would remain remembered.
Collector’s Note
These photographs represent a deeply personal connection to Marilyn Monroe’s earliest years, long before she became a public figure. What makes them especially meaningful is Marilyn’s own handwriting on the reverse. In identifying Aunt Ana and documenting the family wedding, Marilyn was preserving her own history and the people who were part of her life as Norma Jeane.
Aunt Ana was not simply a distant relative. She was part of the extended family network that helped support Norma Jeane during a childhood defined by instability and transition. Her importance is underscored by the fact that she gave Norma Jeane a Brownie camera, an artifact also preserved in The Marilyn Monroe Collection. That camera represents one of Marilyn’s earliest personal possessions and connects directly to the same relationship documented in these photographs.
These images were never intended for public view. They were family keepsakes, handled and later identified by Marilyn herself. Her annotations transform them into something far more significant than ordinary snapshots. They are personal records, preserved through Marilyn’s own hand, that provide a direct and intimate link to her childhood and the people who shaped her early life.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
@mariylnmonroecollection 
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