I am sorely lacking in old family photos. My mom doesn't really have that many and she is estranged from a lot of her family...so I don't know if she'll ever have access to many. I think my grandmother on my dad's side probably has some; I should ask her next time I see her (which is uncertain). I'm not really into collecting things - I hate my husband's packrat behavior - but pictures are an exception I make. I recently obtained some old photos of hubby's family and was absolutely thrilled. As my tree has grown, I've found myself more interested in family history as opposed to compiling a list of names. The names don't seem to matter as much without the tidbits into the lives behind them. Pictures just seem to add to that.
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I can follow up on that...I was raised by a foster family (not adopted, just raised in 'the big city'), and didn't really see my real mother and father. They are both deceased, so the only thing I have to remind me of them is the photos which other family members had fortunately kept (well, a mini-bible my father received during WW2). And...older members of the family don't seem to mind when shown an old photo (or scan), and asked who or what the picture is of. The names are important, but as both you and Shannon say, it's that little bit of background history that really makes genealogy fun. Francis |
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I too was seriously lacking on family photos and still have met resistance to this day from my one line of family (my dad's). The family has been fighting amongst each other since the 1960's. But by chance by posting to genealogy websites and forums and doing searches, I've been fortunate enough to connect with 5 cousins, 4 of which had photos and weren't involved in the family drama. They were kind enough to scan them and share them with me, and even meet with me in person. One met me out in Las Vegas last year, another came here to my city and met with me, 2 live just a few miles from me, and another regularly corresponds with me from Arizona. Oh thank heavens for the power of the internet and genealogy sites such as this!!!! Linda |
I totally agree.....pictures give so much more life to those that have gone on before us!!
Shannon09:42 PM EST