As promised by Aunt Katie, residing in Nashville; "I am going to send you a box of a bunch of photos." And sure enough, a big old square cardboard box was found on our doorstep, stuffed with photos and other items of Sue's, Cook Family History.
For some months now, with a lot of help from Ancestry.com, Sue has been sifting through years and connections, exploring the ancestral past and thinking of the places from which her people have come and places where they had gone. It has been a fun endeavor, and now the dinning room table is spread with photographs, some of which have been in the family for almost a hundred years. A few old fashion photo albums have been purchased to sort the treasured memories.
There is her grandfather's high school diploma, and we now have pictures from the 1950's of the Snohomish County, Washington acreage (which we now own), with the old house and the old barn and lots of big old-growth stumps (long since cleared). There are glaring ancestors that seem awfully put-upon to pose for a photo and a then some nice portraits and some records of casual and some important events. And then too many "photos of some people" (who are they?) - wish someone would have taken the time to write a note on the back.
A few interesting lessons learned so far:
Back in Old Virginia, 17th Century times; one of my Grant ancestors actually married one of my wife's ancestors, and here it comes -- and apparently from the records, it looks like she "step out on him" and ran to live with another man, only to be left "one schilling" in his will for her wanton violation of the domestic tranquility. So, maybe we are not related by marriage only? It gets complicated.
Under the heading, "It's all been done before", or "You think you're the first - think again". Our daughter Inga left Texas to attend college at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Dallas, Texas to Eugene, Oregon, indeed they seem separated by a large gulf, on several levels, but it seemed safe that this was a new direction for the family to be in Eugene. Not so. Some of Sue's people left Iowa and headed west, landing in Eugene, Oregon as some of the early settlers, and they are purported to be buried in the Pioneer Cemetery. Inga lives across the street from the Pioneer Cemetery, a headstone's throw from the final resting place of her great great grandparents. The circle of life you know.
We now have some of the old 20th Century media of black & white photos as links to the past. We wish we had more stories to go with these faces. It makes me fear our text messages and emails with digital attachments will ultimately leave future generations the poorer. But then again, who is to say that those Facebook videos of questionable conduct and frivolous texts won't be accessible to our great great grand kids.
Better smile for the camera (or phone or tricorder) - you never know who will be sifting through your life or your blog, even four score and seven years from now.
For some months now, with a lot of help from Ancestry.com, Sue has been sifting through years and connections, exploring the ancestral past and thinking of the places from which her people have come and places where they had gone. It has been a fun endeavor, and now the dinning room table is spread with photographs, some of which have been in the family for almost a hundred years. A few old fashion photo albums have been purchased to sort the treasured memories.
There is her grandfather's high school diploma, and we now have pictures from the 1950's of the Snohomish County, Washington acreage (which we now own), with the old house and the old barn and lots of big old-growth stumps (long since cleared). There are glaring ancestors that seem awfully put-upon to pose for a photo and a then some nice portraits and some records of casual and some important events. And then too many "photos of some people" (who are they?) - wish someone would have taken the time to write a note on the back.
A few interesting lessons learned so far:
Back in Old Virginia, 17th Century times; one of my Grant ancestors actually married one of my wife's ancestors, and here it comes -- and apparently from the records, it looks like she "step out on him" and ran to live with another man, only to be left "one schilling" in his will for her wanton violation of the domestic tranquility. So, maybe we are not related by marriage only? It gets complicated.
Under the heading, "It's all been done before", or "You think you're the first - think again". Our daughter Inga left Texas to attend college at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Dallas, Texas to Eugene, Oregon, indeed they seem separated by a large gulf, on several levels, but it seemed safe that this was a new direction for the family to be in Eugene. Not so. Some of Sue's people left Iowa and headed west, landing in Eugene, Oregon as some of the early settlers, and they are purported to be buried in the Pioneer Cemetery. Inga lives across the street from the Pioneer Cemetery, a headstone's throw from the final resting place of her great great grandparents. The circle of life you know.
We now have some of the old 20th Century media of black & white photos as links to the past. We wish we had more stories to go with these faces. It makes me fear our text messages and emails with digital attachments will ultimately leave future generations the poorer. But then again, who is to say that those Facebook videos of questionable conduct and frivolous texts won't be accessible to our great great grand kids.
Better smile for the camera (or phone or tricorder) - you never know who will be sifting through your life or your blog, even four score and seven years from now.
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