Queens Amateur Athletic Club

I learned that your grandfather James Coffarelli was a World War I soldier in the US Army and that his brothers John and Phillip also served.  James took many pictures during his service in Italy and they are very carefully placed and labeled in a precious album that was found in the attic.  His careful notes and thoughtful pictures paint a picture of a man who cared very much about the world around him and the people in it.  I'm certain we will learn a great deal from these records so lovingly kept.

This is from a notebook kept by James Coffarelli probably during his time of service in World War I when he was just about 21 years old!  First of all, note the address for M. Disabto whom I believe to be his oldest sister Marguerite (the only sibling born in Italy)

Perhaps this was well before he met his bride as I see several young ladies listed here along with his sister's address, but no Marguerite Manzelli!  What great handwriting he has.

Now here's a letter sent from a lawyer to someone named HA Kellum in 1886

This obviously has nothing to do with your grandfather James as it was written 12 years before he was even born.  But as it was in your uncle's treasured possessions, we can conclude it meant something to someone in the Coffarelli family over 100 years ago!

This is another item in those treasures and here we see H.A. Kellum again.  I've done a little bit of research and discovered that the Queens Amateur Athletic Club at that time was a raceground for bicycles--thus the two mile handicap.  H.A. Kellum's name appears as a participant in several such races of the time period but I have NO idea what the connection to the Coffarelli family might be.  From bicycles in the 19th century to Mustangs in the 20th!

So we have a bit of a two mile handicap of our own here to figure this out--any thoughts?