In almost every home you will find boxes, files, or sacks of memorabilia just waiting to be rediscovered. We all save cards, letters, invitations, certificates, awards, school projects, pictures, newspaper articles, and other documents that have special meaning. Many times they outlive those that saved them and are discarded by others not appreciating their significance. Many memories are lost and opportunities to better understand and connect vanish.
Over the past couple of years I have been the recipient of numerous records that close and distant family members have given to me when they find out I am interested in family history. Usually they say, “I found these and didn’t know what to do with them so I thought I would give them to you.” Initially I looked at the deposit as a burden. However, as I have gone through the records I realize there are many wonderful stories to share and lives that can be enriched by these treasures. Let me give you a couple of examples.
A few years ago a cousin gave me all the letters my grandfather wrote to his family when he was a missionary in New Zealand over 100 years ago. The paper was brittle and discolored. The letters had been in a briefcase for many generations and no one had read them. As I began to read the letters I felt joy in getting to know my grandfather better. I learned about his relationship with his parents and siblings and I could feel the love he had for his family, his fellowmen, and the gospel. I knew these letters needed to be shared with other family members. Luckily, at the Granite FHC we have a book scanner that is perfect for this type of scanning. I was able to digitize each letter and now I can share them with other family members.
When my mother was no longer able to live on her own, we boxed up all kinds of memories she had saved over the years. Again I have found treasures that need to be shared. One of those treasures was a book containing notes from all my mother’s co-workers at a retirement party they gave for her. It was full of well wishes and descriptions of ways that my mother had blessed their lives. Again the book scanner came in handy in preserving this record and making it easy to share with my children and grandchildren.
If you are cleaning out storage areas and come across pictures, books, records or other memorabilia, come and visit us at the Granite FHC and we will help you preserve them in a way that will be meaningful to you and other family members. We have two photo scanners, two flatbed scanners, two photocopy/scanners and a book scanner, all which can be used by the patrons. In addition we have audio/visual specialists that can digitize your slides, audio cassette tapes, reel-to-reel audio tapes, and wire recordings.
Don’t delay! Get started today sharing the wealth!
Dave Castleton – Director, Granite Family History Center