Monday, July 23, 2012

Heritage Photos

Yesterday I did something that I have not done in years.  I had some individual pictures printed.  I have been fully engrossed in my family heritage album this summer.  When I start a project, it is hard for me to do anything but that project.  My desk has been covered with family tree, family group sheets, old photos, memorabilia for months and the end is in sight. I have loved every minute of this project and I'm so excited to have this all put together in one huge album.  The other day Amelia asked me "do you like scrapbooking old people".  I had a laugh over it and the answer is certainly "YES".  I love the fact that by creating this album, I am bringing to life people and stories that would have been forgotten.  It feels so good to tell their stories and to have them live on in this manner!

Last week, I went to meet with my mother's brother.  I hadn't seen him in years and he had told me that he had photos that he thinks I would be interested in.  He opened up a series of albums and I gasped when I saw what he had.  So many amazing photos that told the stories of our family's past.  I have had these names on my family tree for years but to put the photos with the names was awesome.  I also discovered so many photos of my mom that I had never seen.  They mean the world to me.  It was amazing and I sat there for hours asking him questions and taking notes.  He then took me out to the farm where he and my mom grew up and to the old country school house.  It was so fun and so eye-opening.  The whole area is filled with Amish farms now. 

The wedding photos that have been shared with me are my favorite.  These are all from my side of the family.

Adolph and Anna - Wedding 1905


Elmer and Ella - 1916

Henry and Rose - mid 1800's

Julius and Clara - 1905

Peter and Catherine - 1905

Wendlin and Helen -1936

Ervin and Mildred - 1937
 Wayne and Eileen - 1965

There is so much history here and I just love what these photos represent.  Throughout this project, I have learned that I need to be printing out more photos and adding names and dates on the back.  I just want these photos to be treasured for generations to come.  I treasure these photos so much and I am so grateful for everybody who has shared them with me.  In my eyes, this is what scrapbooking is all about.

12 comments:

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    1. I completely agree with your conclusions about the essence of scrapbooking - and I love your photographs. What a treasure trove!
      Pam

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  2. You are so right! I work on my heritage photos periodically. It is such a significant project. Looking at those photos I am struck by the resemblance between you and Ella. Are you descended from her?!

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    1. Hi Esther, Thanks for stopping by my blog. I think that is interesting that you think I look like Ella. She is my great grandmother on my dad's side of the family and most people think I look like my mom's side of the family. She lived until she was 98 years old so I'm praying that I inherited her genes!

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  3. I've been digging through my dad's family history boxes lately, I need to do the scanning and printing bit so I can get scrappy without guilt with these old photos - thanks for the reminder.

    P.S. I have loved listening to you on PRT & Masterful Scrapbook Design!

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  4. I can scan, clean up and reprint them but what do you do with the photos after? They have been in boxes for years and I don't know what to do with them post playing with them. It really has me baffled. Who would want them besides me? I have a daughter but she's going to get the deluge I have not counting the ones I took of our immediate family. No one in their right mind would want all of that stuff.

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    1. I would LOVE to have all of the "stuff" that you are referring to. That is why I am so passionate about scrapbooking and preserving memories. I would love to see you in my Generations class!

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  5. Will you be teaching much technique in this class (blending old photos, memorabilia)?

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    1. I'm going to be talking a lot about organization, time savers, page design, and yes, there will be some techniques as well. This class will not have as many "artsy" types of techniques that you have found in my previous classes although I am throwing around the idea of doing an artsy type of heritage page for the second webinar. I will be teaching some basic techniques used for photos and memorabilia.

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