Homeless heirlooms’
I have been catching up on reading the last few magazines. I have been researching for nearly 20 years and although I am not an expert I have completed a large detailed history of my family, my husband’s family and friends’ histories and written a book about finding all my relatives all over the world. We have also used them as excuses to visit many countries!
I run a free self-help group in my village. Many folk don’t want to know if they are related to Henry IV or Robert the Bruce, they just want to sort out who’s who in their background. ‘Oh, that will be greatuncle Fred!’ when we unearth a name from the depths of the records.
You give much useful advice and I was particularly happy to see in the December issue you making 10 points for keeping records clear and in order for the next generation.
However I would like you to suggest what we do with our physical memorabilia!
Our families do not want Grandma’s wedding veil, Great-uncle Robert’s large book of poems about the countryside, the lovely wood carvings done by Grandfather, the tureens belonging to Grandma-inlaw, the only things she had of any value. We have some beautiful framed sketches done by Great-uncle Albert before he was killed in the war, a rifle from Afghanistan and some huge parchment rolls of the indictment for smuggling big time of Great-greatgrandfather in 1850. There is an engraved clothes brush set presented to a great-aunt by the founder of the National Trust for her good work with the poor of Keswick in 1900. My long pigtails cut off in 1949. We did have a chair of great sentimental value but it had to go when we moved to a smaller house.
I suppose we could pack the small items in a box, but what sort? Cardboard which lets in the damp, metal so the stuff sweats in the loft, plastic likewise.
Our son has no family and our daughter has shown no interest. Perhaps in 50 years one of our four granddaughters may be interested, but where do we put it all now?
Noelene Cummins
We have some huge parchment rolls of Great-great-grandfather’s indictment for smuggling
Editor: This is the worry we all share. I think that the best thing you can do is to share the histories and ancestor stories of these items, and what they mean to you. Tell your children and grandchildren now and again. But also write them down, and have these ‘Heirloom heritage tales’ in a folder, or even in the drawer or case of the item. I am sure these artefacts and anecdotes will mean much more to your descendants than you realise now. Plus don’t miss our September issue, with our bumper guide to home archiving.