Cameras are time machines. In fact, one camera connected me to my father’s past and our rich family history. Until I discovered an artifact of my family history, I didn’t realize that one camera could connect two photographers, forty years apart. In 1968, my father was serving in the Navy in Hong Kong. While he […]
I am the adult child of divorced parents, and the fact that I come from a broken family is a pretty good metaphor for our family photo archives. My dad had some, my mom had some, I had some, and my sisters had some. They were in albums, boxes, envelopes, and there were even handfuls […]
How many memories deserve to be saved and shared? Thousands of priceless family artifacts are hidden in attics and basements. From family snapshots to rare documents like birth certificates and marriage records, these artifacts are waiting to be discovered. As part of our RootsTech Profile Series, we’re sharing stories of families who collaborated with innovative […]
Family photo galleries are timeless. There’s something special about walking into someone’s home and seeing dozens of family images adorning their walls. After all, photos speak volumes about a family’s story! Each image is a unique piece of family legacy. Here’s how to create a unique family photo gallery in your own home, courtesy of […]
Wandering Montmartre in Paris, I browsed Brocante des Abbesses, an antiques market. As I sifted through vintage accessories, art and furniture, an eclectic mix of bizarre bric-a-brac and common household items emerged. Meandering through kiosks, I saw everything from a bed pan with an eyeball painted on it to tarnished silverware. But as usual, I gravitated toward the old photos. Flipping through stacks […]
For years, Marcel had been wondering how to preserve two photos taken of her grandmother, Cornelia “Neal” Hunt Matthews while working at the Allis-Chalmers Company back in the 1950s. Her grandmother retired from Allis-Chalmers in 1975 after working there for over thirty years. These photos represent a family tradition of working hard that Marcel had […]
A year ago, I knew very little about my ancestors. My grandparents passed when I was very young and there wasn’t much storytelling in our house growing up. I knew a little about genealogy and that some had been done in our family, but I never asked about it. I ask now. I ask a […]
My dad sent me these old photos of my grandfather Gus recently. We all know “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but a picture also raises a thousand questions! My grandfather Gus died when I was in second grade, so I never really got to know him. That’s why we should all consider these ten questions […]
There were always stories. For as long I can remember, there were stories. Every visit to my mother’s hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas was filled with family stories. It didn’t matter what we were gathered to observe, celebrate or honor. Every occasion offered an opportunity to tell stories. Some stories were told so many times that I could tell […]
What does the title “Archivist” mean to you? Wikipedia says an archivist is a “record keeper, surveying an unprocessed collection of materials primarily for conservation or preservation before the archivist begins arrangement and description.” Conservation. Preservation. Record Keeper. Those words all convey a sense of importance, trust and longevity. Here, we begin to uncover my personal […]
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