Tags
Christmas, family historian, family history, Gedcom, genealogy, Hee Haw, inspiration for genealogists, writing
If I were to face facts, I would admit that my little sister kicks my researching rear-end. Daily. On a regular basis. Any day of the week. Hands down, always.Just before Christmas, Sharon hit the Jackpot. She unearthed (pried from the clenched and unrelenting fists of) the tower of family history crowned jewels from another relative. This was one of those “oh sure, I’ll keep that old crap and get to it someday” sort of piles. A burden to some, but to a Family History Hound…food for the soul, ambrosia…heaven on earth.
Sharon has been busy over vacation “Gedcom loading” and sifting like a good genealogist. I ran thru it like a cat in a litter box. I wanted first dibs on all the photos and newspaper clippings. Why would anyone care about the famous “Fat Twins” who appeared many times on Hee Haw (a silly television show where country folk whooped it up and poked fun at themselves), I am not sure, but there was a clipping in box#3. Who was Mildred Ecke ? She died November 15th, 1934 and apparently was someone who Grandpa cared enough about to save her obit.
For my sister the good genealogist, information is what was swaddled in those boxes. For me, it was more like a mountain of questions and riddles.
Titillating.
What an incredible gift at year’s end. We each got what we wanted. In 5 very untidy boxes and one (yes, I am serious) picnic basket, all the sorrow, glory, tattling, whispers, and funkiness needed to keep us both busy for months, maybe years.
Hats off to Sharon, she loaded this all into her little bitty Dodge, by herself, and sped off to the “cave.” That’s what she calls her office / family history library. I get to dig thru it and share the thrill of the expedition vicariously as I listen to her tell the tale of her “score.”
It’s in gentle and capable hands now. And she is a good “sharer” so it will be available and sorted soon. My sister has already put a lot of thought into which local history society will be receiving the original documents once she has processed it all tidily.
Interesting…It would have never occurred to me to share with strangers.
Hmmm.
So I would love to know, how do you feel about sharing your “own” discoveries, clippings, papers, documented photos and the like with an organized (and funded) Society? Have you done this? Considered it?
I have to admit that once again, my sister the researcher has taught me a lesson. Dang it! I think she just kicked my B-Hind again!
Happy New Year!
Mom
I would most certainly pass information on to historical societies! I have been given much information about my own family through the historical society records and have seen their strong dedication to preserving the history of its inhabitants. My own collection goes back five generations from one town alone. As far as originals are concerned, I’d rather they stay in the family and would only pass these on to a society IF there were no longer heirs to pass them on to. I have chosen to carry on the family historian role and am already investigating which heir is most interested and would preserve the collection of our family history. I am so happy that you have acquired this treasure. I too, find the puzzle and curiosity factors most intriguing.
Here’s where I get a bit muddled…you have a great perspective Mrs P, but….
What about dry-rot, and paper weevels, and acts of God and toddlers? I just don’t think about this stuff really when I finally get my lathered paws on a new scrap of newspaper or a photo or etc. A part of me wants to cling to it and be able to touch it whenever I want…but…(there’s that word again)…how much longer will it last if it isn’t in a climate controlled vault like in the DaVinci Code? Or under the careful handling of a real-live Curator?
Honestly, I’m glad my sis got there first. This would be a Gene-dilemma and a half for me. Even just now, my Granddaughter went whizzing by wielding a Popsicle. Hard telling where that’s going to end up (she’s 4). Also, there is my maniacal dog to consider. His name is Levi, but it could easily be Jaws or Chewy Louie.
I’ve asked another reader if she would be kind enough to do a post for us on the practicality of keeping such things on hand. Oh I want them around, oh yes how I want them around. But, I want them to last for others too.
Ergh. What to do?
Preserve what you have as best you can. Use modern technology to help you preserve things you know will deteriorate. For example, I had 50 year old 8mm film transfered to a DVD format. I have pictures that are 130 years old that are still in excellent condition. I have also scanned almost all of the photos in our collection. Part of this was done to create a photographic family tree in book format which I gave to several family members last Christmas. As far as keepsakes and heirlooms, though their value is only of historical value, I just can’t part with them.
I am so, so jealous!!
I have seriously thought about donating my grandparents letters and other papers when I am done with them. I can’t decide though if they should go to an historical society, my grandfather’s university, or someplace like the veterans history project. I think the papers should all stay together so a major library or university is probably best. I don’t know if my children will be as obsessed as I with genealogy but I think since my grandparents collection is so huge that it is worth saving for historians. Kudos to your sister!
Great writing, “…like a cat in a litter box”, I can picture that so perfectly. It sure was great way to end the year, it was like finding the Ark of the Covenant… sending it all to a society that will share it with others… Oh, my, I am picturing the last scene of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and the mountains of boxes kept in a safe place. Oh well, maybe the society that gets your stash will indeed share it with others and not just put it in a safe place. Have a safe and happy New Year.
what a treasure! I begged my dad to bring the box he had kept for years. What a blast – and yes, the photos were stored in a picnic basket!
Good luck with your perusal of these boxes – I just discovered my great-great-great grandfather served in the civil war and there’s a monument dedicated to his regiment. How cool is that?
Happy New years to you-
Sue
Rock n roll!!
As for me… I don’t think I can honestly say I’d donate originals documents. I have so few, and those that I do have — I’m sentimental about them. Maybe it’s silly or selfish but I have to say that while I’d share copies, I do think some things should be kept in the family.
Lucky Duck! That is exceptionally cool!
I have thought about this and have decided that 2013 is the year of organization and of donation. Many of the younger folks in the family aren’t as interested in all my ‘junk’.
Very nice article/post!
I run my local museum so I press people for information/photos etc. But I stress family first. We are happy with copies if people are willing to donate them and often we’ll do the copying for people.
As family historians we all have to look to that ‘after I’m gone’ future. It can be hard to find the right place or person who will keep things safe and together.
If anyone is interested in it, our museum blog is at http://www.marketlavingtonmuseum.wordpress.com . Some articles are abouit family history. It’s a little bit sad that much of our ‘stuff’ comes from childless people with no heirs to pass to.
Thank you for the link to your museum site and thank you for running your local museum. I am very interested to find out how your local museum is run and if it is something that can be replicated.
Would you be willing / interested in writing a guest post for me on this topic? Email me at kassie.aka.mom@gmail.com
Thanks!
By heck. Time is of the essence here. I’ll ponder on that one! Maybe if I write something on my museum blog you could repost it??
Rog
Absolutely! I would really appreciate it. This has become quite the roundtable.
Could you tell a little about ….
We recieve grandma’s letters and teaset and then this is what happens…
I think that would be helpful to us all
What a great post!
Well, I’ve given originals to local museums and historical societies in their relevant counties. I’ve also scanned, photocopied, created endless dvds of family history and photographs, and I just don’t know what else at the moment. It’s endless. Loved your analogy of the litter box…been there, done that…possessed might be a better word for me.
It’s a difficult decision to make about donating original documents to “strangers,” but with careful research into the institution, that decision might be the wisest one. When other family members don’t care about such things, what is a person to do. Actually, I’m also in the process of organizing and sorting my hoards of paper documents, images, and the like right now.
Check out two of my August 2012′s blog posts, “Strangers in a Box” and “Scanning my life…away?” Hopefully, more such posts to be published this year. At least that’s my intention.
Thank you for your nice comment on the current post, “Generation to Generation.”
I’ll be keeping an eye on your blog! Happy digging into the root system…..!
What a thought-provoking post! Thank goodness that it is so easy to copy and scan materials today.
Great news, Kassie! I think my favorite part about your story is that you and your sister make such a good team. I’m still waiting for some of family members to join my team in this monumental life-long project we call family history! Go sisters!
That really is gold, I’ve had to keep my own clippings. Now I just have wait until I’m old enough to have forgotten about them.
What I have… and What I’ve done.
I have my grandfather’s autobiography, recordings of childhood memories I made with my father and 4 of his 5 siblings, some letters written by my Aunt when she lived in St. Petersburg, Fl with her aunt after her mother passed away, letters written to and from my father and his closest brother from their father, family and friends, when they went to Venezuela to work in 1939, the letters my grandfather continued to write to his 5 sons who joined the war effort, ending in 1946. I also have hundreds of photos and memorabilia going back 125 years. I have various diaries of trips my grandfather made around the world, a Christmas Greeting he recorded in 1943 for his sons, and other small packages of material too numerous to mention.
I have made copies of the letters on acid-free paper and put them in plastic acid-free sleeves, then stored them in 3″ binders, one for each year (10 in all), and some extra special-edition ones.
The original letters are wrapped in bundles in acid-free tissue paper, stored in acid-free plastic bins, stored in cardboard boxes.
I’ve scanned many pictures but have hundreds more. I’ve done very little with the memorabilia.
:
My thoughts-
1) The original documents are probably as safe as they can be, here in my apartment, unless I go with climate-controlled vault – which I don’t have room for and can’t afford.
I need to scan all the pictures and store them on CD’s. At least that’s the technology now… but so was 16mm and 8 mm and video in their day.
I want the materials to stay in the family. I also understand that there might not be anyone with the love and passion that I have for this material. By writing my blog and sharing the stories with the 150+ members of my family, (and the rest of the world) there might be some one or two individuals in my grand children’s generation that would be interested. If no one is interested, I’d find the biggest, widest venue so that the greatest number of people could benefit from them… perhaps a State organization or even larger. There are a million lessons to learn from the generation called “The Greatest Generation” and there was good reason for that name.
My grandfather was passionate about the family history and kept all these letters and papers, but none of his children shared that interest. I’m the only one who is passionate about it, although there is one other that shares my interest as it relates to her particular family. When my grandfather died, my father kept the material, after dividing it up among his siblings – but since I didn’t find out about the material until after he passed away 9 years ago, he obviously didn’t have an interest in the material. Thankfully, he must have thought I’d be interested in it, but he never told me about this “Gold Mine”. I’m in the process of trying to get back letters that went to my father’s siblings – or at least copies – so I can compile the most complete story possible.
I certainly didn’t plan on making such a long reply, but once I got started, I couldn’t stop. I would appreciate any other thoughts on this whole matter.
Wow! I bow to your pile
Stay tuned. I have some experts weighing in on this too…
Great. I’d love to know what others think.
I think it is a good idea to share the information with the public here on the blog. There are plenty of people out there who are creating family trees right now and maybe someone in a different branch of the family will take the initiative to copy what you write. You have insight into the life which you can share with others. The material left to you will be enriched by your thoughts and comments. Turning them over to a society for warehousing is okay but don’t do it until you have written about them.
I just got this blog and thought you’d like to see it:
The Maryland State Archives
Brown dirty paper. Covered in attic dirt. Wearing bright blue gloves, I tenderly unfold each piece of paper, scanning its content quickly. I seek key phrases, quickly moving on. It astounds me to hold these in my fingers. A hundred and fifty years old, the details of settlers lives partially revealed in court …
http://seramiller.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/the-maryland-state-archives/
Thank you, Patty. I’ll be sure to check it out later today.
Thanks again,
Judy