STERLING, Va. -- A Virginia woman whose hobby is collecting antique photographs has been consumed with a new passion -- reuniting the memorabilia with family members.

But she's reached a dead end in her search for descendents of a once-prominent Washington family.

Mel Gamertsfelder, of Sterling, has brought countless strangers into her home over the years -- in the form of antique photographs.

"These are two brothers in the World War I uniforms with their grandmother from Mechanicsburg, Pa.," she said.

Photos are scattered across her dining room table and stored away in boxes. She picks up most for a dollar or two at flea markets, antique stores or at estate sales.

"It saddens me to see these things in boxes tucked under a table in a dusty shop or something," she said "Perhaps there is somebody out there looking for them."

Consequently, Gamertsfelder's interest in antiques, coupled with an interest in genealogy, led to a new passion -- reuniting old photos with their families.

Internet research has enabled her to return dozens of photos, baby books, family bibles and the like to descendants.

"It is very rewarding when I track someone down and they're just thrilled to get a picture of their great-grandmother or something," she said.

But one item has her stumped -- it is the baby book for Warren Wilson Christian, who was born in 1900 at a whopping 10.5 pounds.

"Once I started poring through it, I realized it was the son of President Warren Harding's secretary," she said. "George Christian was his secretary."

It's not every baby book that lists a gift from a future first lady. And on the page about his first steps -- Mrs. Harding was listed as a witness.

Photos in the book document Warren Christian growing up and heading off to West Point. There are clippings about President Harding, with quotes from Christian's father upon the president's sudden death in 1923.

"I have lost the best friend I ever had, and so has every American," the quote said.

And at the back of the baby book, the closing chapter is a letter sent to Warren Christian's wife and then onto his mother about his death at age 45 in Europe, where he was serving.

"To me, this book represents this individual's life from birth to death," Gamertsfelder said. "I just want to make sure this book finds a home with a direct descendent."

Gamertsfelder has her next challenge waiting -- the baby book for Helen Wardman.

Her father, Harry, built the Wardman-Park Hotel, Hay-Adams and many other D.C. landmarks.