Dad was a bit flustered. He’d spent much of his day looking for a small spiral notebook, the index to his 1,000-plus collection of slides he’d taken between 1959 and 1974. It wasn’t with the slides and he can’t remember where he’s put the projector. Oh, well, he said, it’ll turn up later.
Of that, I’m certain.
Mom and dad are preparing to move from the home they built with their own hands 60 years ago and into an apartment. Although the apartment is good-sized, it won’t handle all they have accumulated in their 66 years of marriage. We’ll be searching and sorting through everything in their home over the next few weeks. As the family historian, I’ve offered to scan in the slides and albums of photos and will share them with other family members.
While searching for the missing notebook, Dad also found two reels of Super 8 movie film. He’s not sure what’s on them, but chances are good they contain sound, too, since they were shot with a pricey camera that has also been misplaced.
That’s the way it is with family history, it gets tossed in a drawer or stuffed in a closet, sometimes forgotten until it’s too late. Although frustrated by the loss of his notebook, Dad is grateful for the search.
“People just don’t think about these things,” he told me. “They’re always there and that’s it. I’m glad you’re doing this.”
What remnants of family history are lurking in your family’s closets?
Larry Lehmer is a personal historian who helps people preserve their family histories. To learn more, check out his web site or send him an e-mail.
Flickr photo courtesy of psmphotography - Go 'Canes!!.
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