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Family History Documents and Artefacts => FH Documents and Artefacts => Topic started by: jettejjane on Thursday 07 February 19 15:17 GMT (UK)
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I worry what will happen to all my research files, pictures and memorabilia when I am gone. My sons and partners are not remotely interested. I have many antiques of value and other sentimental of little value. The items in the pictures fall into the later category. My father was in India during WW2 and sent them home to his mother. He told us he bought them off a little Indian man who was sitting outside the Taj Mahal embroidering them by hand. On her passing they went to my mother, both ladies used them. They are now in my keeping and I love them dearly.
Should I try and sell all the stuff, these included, rather than worry they will later be thrown away? Its a tough call.
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Are they in regular use or on permanent display? If they are - then keep enjoying them until your demise. Like all possessions they are a matter of personal taste and even if bequeathed in a will you have no guarantee or control over what the recipient does with them
If they are stuffed in a drawer or cupboard - get rid now while you are still able to control what happens to them
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I am having the same dilemma. My research will be donated, somewhere, I don't know where, and the antiques I am having valued with a view to selling, as no one wants them. the statue I am very fond of will stay, it's on display. The other stuff is in a box. I may as well sell it all and enjoy the money. Some of it's probably not worth much though, it's more sentimental.
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I know what you mean. I have hundreds, if not thousands, of photographs and docs. I am 75 so not long for this world. I don't have children and wider family are just not interested, even if they are relevant to what I have. What I have done is post photo's and docs. on relevant websites which hopefully will exist long term. Beyond that, I am nearly ready to submit family tree to Society of Genealogists and other related bodies.
I have sent stuff to my fathers old school, and they were pleased to receive it.
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I would find it hard to get rid of whilst I could still enjoy them. Is there anyone in the wider family circle who would be interested in keeping them.
Or as suggested a local society or museum may be glad to have them.
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I agree with all of this. My daughter and youngest grand-daughter are interested in the Family History so I`m hoping they will preserve it between, I like to think it will be passed down the generations to come. As Carole said there`s no guaranteeing this but I can hope !
My mother`s wedding dress from 1941 is with my grand-daughter, the only one it will fit - extremely small. I think she is going to wear it for her own wedding one day !
I`ve a silk table cloth from Egypt bought by my grandfather in WW1, there was also a telegram from when he was at the Somme but I think my father threw it out when my mother died, although I do have the telegram to my father in Indai in1945 announcing my birth !!
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Will reply to you all collectively, we are all in the same boat. The tablecloth is hanging above my bed, the bag is in a drawer. I have just moved after hubby's death bought a house with youngest son and family. All my antique type glass and other family stuff is all in the dresser or in the loft. I have a few bits in my room but it is not to son and DIL's taste in either of our lounges. Plus there is a 3 year old in the equation. I had most of it out in the old house.
I don't think there is anyone who would love them like I do. There is a slim chance eldest son would, as he appreciates nice things more than his younger brother. I think, hope he will have the family docs and all the pics especially of Dad as Mayor etc.
I will probably think of having them valued, that's a good idea. I have told youngest much of what he considers junk has monetary value, I have an old book worth £300 that made him sit up. But he would sell stuff rather than treasure it.
I did think of donating them - but not where.
Isnt it a shame :'(? I occasionally get stuff out and look at it especially the really old documents.
At the end of the day when I am gone I wont know what happens to my stuff - or will I, lol ;)
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Just a thought, and I certainly don't want to appear as rude.
As you are so proud of your father being Mayor of Arundel - might the Council be interested? :-\
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Is there any family history societies or museums nearby that might want it. You could maybe do your own exhibition and invite your family and then they might become interested. I made up folders wth family trees and scanned in photos and sent to my family in Canada and elsewhere so that there some record of work I had done.
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Just a thought, and I certainly don't want to appear as rude.
As you are so proud of your father being Mayor of Arundel - might the Council be interested? :-\
They already have many photos similar to mine plus 2 portraits on the wall.
Is there any family history societies or museums nearby that might want it. You could maybe do your own exhibition and invite your family and then they might become interested. I made up folders wth family trees and scanned in photos and sent to my family in Canada and elsewhere so that there some record of work I had done.
Good idea. Arundel museum does in fact have some of our original docs and copies of others, however I am not liking that they are not displayed and they are gathering dust god knows where, even they don’t know where they are.
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Oh dear it is a heartache !
When I moved I gave to each child their things,first shoes,baby teeth,( actually some were a puppy’s,my daughter was losing hers as the puppy lost his so they too went to the tooth fairy).
School books,cards they had made us at school,cards we had sent them( I had saved them all) their baby clothes,Oh so much.I don’t think they were thankful! ::)
I really can’t throw away so many things that have memories.
I did burn love letters,could not bear to think someone else would read them. But of course I now wish I could read them again.
All I can tell myself is I have enjoyed having them and so after me if the nearest family are not interested well what can I do?
I had visions of them crying over my things but I really doubt it, and I would not want them to be sad(have I mentioned that I tell lies sometimes?)
As Scarlett O’Hara said in Gone with the Wind, “ Tomorrow is another day”.
Viktoria.
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Victoria, that is a great idea giving the children all their personal keepsakes. I will certainly do that, maybe in years to come they will look back at the memories with fondness. I will get on it tomorrow.
I think I would find it hard to throw /give away or sell things, like you I love my memories remembered or tangible and love having them near me. To me it would be like loosing a best friend. Let nature take its course who knows maybe they will be grateful for them, even get an interest in family history.Maybe the grandchildren will. I know many people discover this hobby after a relative has died. I didn’t start seriously until I was in my late 50’s after dad died.
Que sera, sera- what will be will be, as Doris Day would say ;)
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I have teenage children and they have very limited interest in the photos, letters and research I've gathered. However, I remember back to what I was like at their age, and it didn't interest me either at the time. I'm hopeful that one at least will get more interested.
With photos, I think it can help if they are organised into albums, or even stored in an attractive box. They hopefully then are easier to see as a family keepsake/heirloom, rather than old clutter.
I'm not sure if any of this really works in practice by the way :-)
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Well having lost a photograph of my O.H recently ,from my purse ,I was absolutely bereft,almost like losing him again,which is silly .
Another copy found and now I am kicking myself that I do not have our letters which I burnt as it would have been embarrassing for others to read them.Our fall outs and making up again.
Can you remember the scene in Billy Liar where he and one of his girl friends is in the cemetery and she is sucking oranges I think and wittering on about “ little Billy “ etc one of their yet to be born children and he wants the engagement ring back for his brash common as muck other girl friend.
We were always talking about what children we would have.
Only had three of the four we wanted were born after serious complications with the third( for me).
But I knew him for 61 years,married for 58.
I have boxes and boxes of cards ,did throw away all but family ones some time ago but three boxes of retirement cards from the two schools where I worked ,hilarious,all the things I said to them ,like “ Is the floor alright?”
when they had taken a bad fall,but the stress was not in them and it was surprising how it worked and calmed them down.
Oh I have decided I am living forever.
I really could do with the space though .
No easy answer is there.
Viktoria.
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I`ve been going through some of my treasures on the wet days this week, a little note in my mother`s writing showing her grandparents names and birthplaces ( some wrong bless her ) but lovely to find again.
I`ve also got the typewriting certificates she received in 1933 and 1934, she would have been 16 and 17, plus some for the Red Cross and some for my father which he received from St Johns. I`m not sure what to do with one as it`s just a little bit too large for any folders and I don`t want to cut or fold it.
I think that my daughter will also treasure them and my youngest grandaughter too.