Home

The Beginning

Once upon a Christmas, Santa brought me my first camera, a Kodak Brownie Starmite. I’m not cer…

Why Instagram?

New Year’s Day 2021 marked the beginning of a family history experiment on Instagram. I had tr…

Follow Me

Follow me on Facebook

Instagram – Latest News

artofrecollection

🕵️‍♀️Family History blogger ~ 2009
👩‍💻 WordPress web design/support ~ 2017
🔎Encouraging you to find & share your family's story

Finishing the first pass through this fresh-to-me

Finishing the first pass through this fresh-to-me stack of Daddy's photos. Even though there are some that I can't immediately identify, there are plenty I can.

When I encounter the inevitable "I don't know"' photos, I put them in a separate envelope to revisit later. I've found that sometimes other photos provide clues that help you identify the unknowns.

Next pass through will be a finer sort prioritizing those with captions written on the back.

I'm always looking for stories and even which photos end up in which box tells a story. There are photos that are clearly valued and are placed in albums or displayed in frames. Then there are photos that haven't seen the light of day in years. These would have been boxed up after Daddy died in 1999 and have been hidden away all this time.

They are once again seeing the light of day and are already whispering their story. You just have to be patient and quiet enough to listen. ❤️

#telltheirstories #familyhistorian #savefamilyphotos #memorykeeper #familiesareforever #familyhistory #familystories #familyhistoryresearch #oldphoto #familysearch #ancestors #vintage #vintagephoto #artofrecollection #genealogyphotoaday #myheritage #research #genealogyresearch #genealogyphoto #heritage #familytree #ancestry #memorykeeping #familyalbum #photomemories

My sister recently mailed a surprise package to me

My sister recently mailed a surprise package to me filled with never-seen-by-us snapshots, newspaper clippings, and seemingly random odds and ends. I put other projects on hold - just couldn't wait to dig in.

So as I sipped my morning coffee, I sorted. I was almost finished with the first pass through the stack-o'-photos when this one quietly invited me to pause and remember.

I'm guessing Grandpa took this picture of Bessie (Grandma) making sure he included the framed picture of our family on the dresser. In a way, this photo reminds me of a screenshot we might capture during a modern day virtual meeting. We have an in-person-person along with people in frames who are virtual attendees.

It never fails. I'm always surprised at the power of photographs - even simple snapshots - to transport you to another place and time. As I hold this photo, I hear the sound of the venetian blinds hitting the door that went from this bedroom to the front porch. I smell the cedar furniture that filled the room. I smell Grandma's buttermilk biscuits which were always served with Log Cabin syrup, sorghum, and a jar of blackberry jelly.

What I would give to meetup with Grandma again. I would love to hear her laughter and the cadence of her voice. I wouldn't mind eating a biscuit or two either. 😋

As I finish my coffee, I am happily sitting in the midst of memories of Grandma. Always the nostalgic, I find myself once again immersed in sweet recollections. 🥰

It's gonna be a great day! ❤️

#telltheirstories #lifestories #denney #cooper #savefamilyphotos #memorykeeper #familiesareforever #familyhistory #familystories #familyhistoryresearch #oldphoto #familysearch #ancestors #vintage #vintagephoto #artofrecollection #genealogyphotoaday #myheritage #research #genealogyresearch #genealogyphoto #heritage #familytree #ancestry #memorykeeping #familyalbum #photomemories #familyhistorian

This surprise package made me laugh - at myself.

This surprise package made me laugh - at myself.

Recently received an envelope of photos from my niece. I couldn't figure that out how she wound up with them. I assumed her mother (my sister) had bundled them up with other memorabilia and from there, my niece had possession.

Nope. False accusation. 😂

I was ME! 🤦‍♀️

Years ago, I sent a package to my niece containing a bunch of photos of her from when she was a little girl. Apparently, I unintentionally and unknowingly had included these in the package.

Hey, nobody's perfect. 😄

(But I sure do have a sweet niece to take the time to repackage the photos and return to sender.❤️❤️❤️)

#telltheirstories #familyhistorian #savefamilyphotos #memorykeeper #familiesareforever #familyhistory #familystories #familyhistoryresearch #oldphoto #familysearch #ancestors #vintage #vintagephoto #artofrecollection #genealogyphotoaday #myheritage #research #genealogyresearch #genealogyphoto #heritage #familytree #ancestry #memorykeeping #familyalbum #photomemories

Surprise!!! Just when I thought I was finished sor

Surprise!!! Just when I thought I was finished sorting and scanning photos from my side of the family, this arrives in the mail. One of my sisters was cleaning out a closet and came across this box filled with photos, newspaper clippings, and other paper-memorabilia.

Eager to get started sorting to see what treasures we will find.

There are always treasures in a stash like this. There are always clues into the personality and thoughts of the individual who saved the "stuff".

Excuse me - gotta run. Time for treasure hunting! 😄❤️

#telltheirstories #familyhistorian #savefamilyphotos #memorykeeper #familiesareforever #familyhistory #familystories #familyhistoryresearch #oldphoto #familysearch #ancestors #vintage #vintagephoto #artofrecollection #genealogyphotoaday #myheritage #research #genealogyresearch #genealogyphoto #heritage #familytree #ancestry #memorykeeping #familyalbum #photomemories

Sometimes, even after becoming old enough that you

Sometimes, even after becoming old enough that your Memory Lane is miles long with dozens of twists and turns, you will round a new corner and encounter a sweet surprise.

I have been working with several classmates on our upcoming class reunion and one of them recently messaged this to me. We had just graduated high school and were attending a junior college. I have no recollection of this photo, this moment, of feeling relaxed or happy during those early days of college, or of my hair being this long!

He and I had been messaging one another about a project for the reunion. I sent a photo to him that he didn't recall but that jogged memories and conversation. He responded with this one. Both photos were unexpected. Both saved by sentimental teenagers. Both containing glimpses into a spot on Memory Lane that has been completely unattended.

Most of us have faded and damaged photos, scraps of paper, odds and ends that we think no one will care about. We can't quite bear to part with the memorabilia, but at the same time we don't know what to do with it.

Share it!!!

"Stuff" sitting silently in boxes and envelopes is of limited value. Create a digital version - even if, like this photo, it is just a quick phone snap of a old, old snapshot. Share it and watch as it takes on a new life. ❤️

PS. For quick on-the-go digitization, take a peek at Google's Photo Scan app. It is free and although it isn't a substitute for a high-quality scan, it is often "good enough" and is always better than nothing.

#telltheirstories #lifestories #reunion #savefamilyphotos #memorykeeper #familiesareforever #familyhistory #familystories #familyhistoryresearch #oldphoto #familysearch #ancestors #vintage #vintagephoto #artofrecollection #restoration #photorestoration #genealogyphotoaday #myheritage #research #genealogyresearch #genealogyphoto #heritage #familytree #ancestry #memorykeeping #familyalbum #photomemories #familyhistorian

Load More... Follow on Instagram

RECENT STORIES

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More