LDS Genealogy

I recently acquired this teapot and I’ve been giddy now for days about it.  This belonged to my great-grandmother and it was given to her in 1921.  It was the first wedding gift she received and it was something she cherished her whole life.   It is visible in many family photos that were taken over the years like this one:

Having something that meant so much to my great-grandmother is priceless.  Each time I see it sitting on my shelf I think of her and wonder what her life was like.  I wish I could have known her better.  She passed away when I was 9 years old, and unfortunately, I don’t remember much about her.   I look forward to discovering more about her through my research.

What heirlooms do you have that you treasure?

I have been doing some research on my great grandmother (born in 1890) and I recently came across her autobiography.  I was quite excited to read through it and was fascinated by the details of her life.  There were stories of living through the depression, the world wars, and the deaths of two of her children.  I am in awe of all she had to endure and her strength.   In the midst of her life history, I came across this gem, and it had me laughing for quite some time.

“When I was about seventeen years old, I went to a dance.  It was a “Toe Dance”.  The girls had to stand in line behind a curtain and stick their toes out from under the curtain.  The boys would put their mark on the girls toes and then take the girl they chose to the scale and pay so much a pound for his ticket in to the dance.  I was always some what of a chunky girl.  I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds at that time and the boy that picked me left the dance without paying his ticket.”

Genealogy for me is not just about names and dates and temple work.  It’s about getting to know my ancestors and learning about their lives.  Stories like this remind me that they were real people, not just names on a paper, and that they have very unique and fascinating stories to share!

Meet my  great, great-grandfather.  This is the first picture I have ever seen of him and I had not heard any stories or anything about him until a week ago when my second cousin posted this picture on Facebook.  Immediately after my cousin posted this, other family members began to leave comments about their memories of him.  Things like “he had a big white mustache and every time he ate breakfast he would get oatmeal in it” and “he lived in the house on the highway next to the creek” and “the train went right past his house”.  These are small details, but I feel like I have a small glimpse into his life.  And it is all thanks to Facebook.

Facebook has given my family such a great way to get to know one another and to share stories, pictures, and our family genealogy.  I have never met my cousin who posted this photo, but I feel like we know each other quite well because we are friends on Facebook.  She recently found a lot of old pictures and has been scanning them in and sharing them with us on Facebook.  What a remarkable thing it is to be able to virtually share memories and our family history with each other!

I’d love to hear how Facebook has helped you with your genealogy!

This picture may not capture the attention of anyone but myself, but I absolutely love it, for several reasons.

The first reason is that it has my grandmother’s handwriting on it.  Just seeing her handwriting somehow establishes a bond between her and I.  I can picture her writing those words and reflecting on the many years she spent in this house.

The second reason is that it is a great visual for all the stories that I hear and read about my grandmother’s growing up years.  As I listen to her talk about how she would run around and around the front yard when spring finally came and the snow melted, I can visualize it because of this picture.

The third reason is that it is a snapshot in time and it evokes the simplicity of the era.  There is no driveway full of cars, boats, bikes, and other miscellaneous toys.  There is a porch, with what appears to be a chair, and lots of land where my grandmother and her brother could play.

The fourth reason is that this home was built my by great grandfather.  I only wish I knew what year he had built it.

The last reason I love this picture is because it is a great reminder for me that there is nothing too “boring” to take a picture of.  As I think about my own personal history and capturing my life for those who come after me, I’m reminded by this picture to capture the simple things of life.

I’m so grateful that someone thought to take a picture of this home many, many years ago. What pictures do you cherish from the lives of your parents, grandparents, or great grandparents?