The Importance of Old Photographs

[1938 Observer]

Thanks Alastair, I forgot about the comments details, I spent so much time sorting which photographs to put on and making sure they stayed there.. ,last time I tried I deleted everything by accident.

[Rick]

Well said all. My mother became the repository of most of our family photos and artifacts, which as her world becomes increasingly "fuzzy" are now passed on to me . These go back to Forfarshire (Angus) in the 1890s and carry on through Ontario and Saskatchewan. A cousin and I are actively working to locate any other photos and to get them all organized, annotated, digitized and circulated on CDs as widely as possible within the family to ensure that they are not lost to future generations. It's a big job, but the difference between "Ho Hum" and history is one generation, so acknowledgements to all who are working on the same sort of projects.

[FriedaKateM]

I had met my mom's cousins in Aberdeen, Scotland, many years ago when I was a teenager. However none of them ever bothered to keep up with us USA cousins. So, a while back, I got in touch via email with a library in Aberdeen, & requested info in re: my cousin Richard. They advised me initially that it might take a long time to get together information. I think about 6-8 months went by, & lo & behold, I got a huge envelope of stuff, with some information printed out on Richard's business career, plus a page out of a phone book (copied), with names all through it. I debated about this but, perused that page, & discovered someone who sounded right. I called long distance to the number, getting a woman, who obviously didn't know anything about me. I finally convinced her of my being related, & she said to call back later, when R was home. I did, & that began my entire trek into the genealogy of those relations, plus some more I didn't know I had. And...many pictures have evolved from this beginning. I would like to advise, to go ahead & step out on that limb, & find the families, because it's really a satisfying thing to do for yourself, and some of the others as well. I have loads of pictures, more than I could ever post on our site, but I can look over the computer screen, & see my grandfather when he was about 10-12, in his family of origin. I see faces that look like some of my family of origin!!! It is truly amazing. Joan PS: Those two phone calls I made, amounted to approx. $82.00, which I could ill afford, but it got the ball rolling!!!!

[Glesgalass]

I think it's so sad that you didn't get know at least some of those relatives personally, but I guess that's what happens when people emigrate.
I was very fortunate that even though I emigrated to Australia, I was able to visit frequently as my husband worked for an airline and therefore my children were able to meet their grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins many times while growing up. My son is in touch now via Facebook with his cousins in Scotland and a few here in Oz too. He probably wouldn't even have known their names if it weren't for the fact that we were able to visit Scotland (and Germany) so frequently. I doubt that the next generation (my grandchildren) will still mainain contact with their cousins but I'd like to think so.

Elda

[FriedaKateM]

Elda, My maternal grandparents were the ones to emigrate in 1907. My grandfather was hired, from Sussex, by a rich guy to come to America, to aid in getting a hydroaeroplane in flight. I have some pics on my profile of this. However, I've been in touch with a younger cousin in southern England, & she has provided some of these pictures for me. My granddad as well worked in Dayton, OH, for the early development of airplanes, I think as a mechanical engineer. When I knew him, I didn't understand all of this great history, & he died at 79 years. The grandparents spoke with a British accent, though. Joan