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Preserving Family History - Why is it Important?
from:By Janet E. Nugent
Have you ever had to clean out someone's house after their
death? It can be quite a chore, and very overwhelming. In one
way it's a fascinating inside peek into someone's personal life.
Or, it might feel more like a treasure hunt. The only problem
is, will you recognize the treasure when you find it? I'm not
talking about the money stuffed under the mattress, but all the
little things that, if put together properly, would tell a story
about that person's life. And, if the deceased was a family
member, that in turn would add to your knowledge of your family
history.
After my father's death, my mother decided to move into an
apartment, which meant cleaning out the house. We found a number
of items that we kids had never seen before. My
Great-grandmother's china and my grandmother's china. My mother
was able to tell us which were which. We also found a cute
little coverlet, hand-embroidered, that turned out to be our
grandfather's baby blanket, made by his mother. Our grandfather
died before my mother's 2nd birthday, but evidently the coverlet
was passed on to her, along with the history of it. If she
hadn't been around to tell us, we would probably never know who
it belonged to, or who made it.
One day I gave some of my nieces a pile of stuff to sort
through. When I returned, they reported that there were only a
few things to keep. I sorted through their "discard" pile, and
came across a framed photo of our cousins. Since we seldom saw
those cousins, my nieces didn't realize who they were, and
figured it was a generic photo that the manufacturer placed in
the frame. A piece of history almost lost. And the recipe book
with the name "Esther Black" in it meant nothing to them. That
wasn't surprising, since she died before I was born, and they
hadn't grown up hearing stories about her. Another treasure
almost lost.
The point is that unless the older generation tells the younger
family members who their ancestors were, and what items belonged
to them, your history, and the history of your family, could be
lost forever. Why is that so important? Everyone is somewhat
curious about where they came from. Did the stork really bring
me? How did I get into Mommy's tummy? How did I get out? (That
one usually isn't answered until high school health class!) As
they get older they may wonder what country their ancestors came
from. Are they Italian-American on both sides of the family, or
only one? Where is the other side from? Their curiosity may wane
over time, until the day their own child comes home from school
with an assignment to do their family history, and bring in
something that has been passed down in the family. Now what to
do?! If only they had listened more to Aunt Mary's boring
stories about her youth, and all the family she could talk
about. If only they had asked their grandmother why she kept
that black covered bowl close to where she always sat in the
living room. Wouldn't it have been nice to know that her fiancée
bought it for her in Japan, when he was briefly stationed there
at the end of World War II?
Many people think that history is boring; trying to remember all
those dates and famous (or infamous) people. But I've always
believed that those dates and battles and historical events are
only the hook to hang the real story on. So what does it matter
now which battle was the turning point of the Revolutionary War?
Would it be more interesting if you found out that one of your
ancestors fought on the winning side of that battle? Would you
then be more interested in that battle, and learning more about
the life of those solders? And, more importantly, why your
ancestor was on that side of the conflict: what drove him,
inspired him to take up arms?
History is the story of mankind, and all the individuals who
have lived and died. Their stories go towards the making of the
larger picture. Do you remember where you were and what you were
doing on September 11, 2001? Do you remember what you felt? Now
imagine how your parents or grandparents felt when they heard
about the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Do you
think they were as stunned as you were, or as angry, sad, or
confused? Times and situation change, but people are still
people, with the same feelings.
Now is the time to start recording your family history, starting
with you and your ancestors. Make sure that your descendants
remember your family's part in the overall story of history.
Names and dates are fine, but try to bring them more alive by
finding and preserving their possessions.
About the author:
Janet Nugent holds a MA in Historical Administration and worked
at local history and living history museums for a number of
years. Genealogy is one of her passions, along with preserving
the more tangible aspects of family history, and using these
heirlooms to tell the story of family members. Get more tips on
preserving your family's history when you sign up for her
newsletter at her website, www.PreserveYourFamilyHistory.com
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