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Do you have walls and shelves filled with family knick-knacks and keepsakes? Do you have attics and closets with heirlooms preserved with bubble wrap and specialty boxes? It’s time you spend a little time thinking and recording the meaning behind each family treasure before they become clutter and junk.
Heirlooms have the power to bind families together across time. But when the details regarding the objects are forgotten, the family treasure often heads into the trash pile. Prevent legacy loss by recording the unique stories behind the household items in your collection.
In my video, Where is Family History Hiding, I mentioned the four places where your genealogical clues are hiding. Warning: they’re usually not online! If you missed that video, check it out here:
Watch this video on YouTube.
Once you have collected, discovered, and corralled your family treasures, you’ll want to record the stories, memories, and information so that it won’t be forgotten. However, many people, perhaps you, experience writer’s block. What should you record?
Let me demonstrate what you should record with two examples:
BOY SCOUT MEMBERSHIP CARD
If you have a Boy Scout of America membership card that mentions your father or grandfather and dated in the 1930s, what information should you record?
First, extract the information from the card and then expand upon that information. Include any stories you’ve heard or were told about your Boy Scout’s experiences. Do a quick Google search to find the requirements, ranks, and advancement requirements were for a Boy Scout from that time period. See if you can track down information about the council or the troop your ancestor was a member of. See if the council listed on the membership card has a current office that might have chapter histories. So, record what you know but expand upon it.
Then write a blog post, create a scrapbook page, write a photo journal entry, or record a video about the discoveries.
Photographing family treasures helps you preserve your family history when you’re facing downsizing situations. Read and order your copy of Downsizing with Family History in Mind.
EASTERN STAR RING
Perhaps you inherited jewelry from a mother or grandmother and discovered an Eastern Star ring. What should you record? If the ring's owner is still alive, ask them about their participation in the group, why they joined, what offices they held, what events they enjoyed attending, and who their friends were from the group.
If the ring’s original owner is deceased, learn what events the Eastern Star chapter hosted when your grandmother was a member. You may not know for certain if she attended the events, but you should record what was available.
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5 Steps To Record the Story Behind a Family History Treasure
I have five quick tips that will help you record the stories behind your family heirlooms:
Be Obvious: Who did the item belong to? What is the object?
Identify the Significance: Why do we still have it? What does it tell us about the original owner?
Trace the Inheritance: Who were the curators of these items throughout time?
Explain the Traditions: What traditions were the items involved in? What is the tradition of who owns the item?
Detail the Unknown History: Record if the item was saved from destruction or the funny stories related to this item.
The best way to ensure that your family treasures are honored and cared for in the future is to record the stories behind the pieces. Then use the stories about the keepsake and photos of the items in family history projects such as written histories, scrapbooks, or video documentaries. You increase the value of your treasures by showcasing and preserving their stories.