Scanning in family history
Monday, December 7, 2009 at 06:00AM I spent sometime this weekend working on the annual family calendar - a project I've written about several times before (1, 2, 3, 4). A big part of the fun of this project is finding and scanning old family photos.
Here are a few "finds" from this year (in about the original size, colors not "corrected"):
My sister in the late 60s? I remember that TV set!
My great uncle Bob and great aunt Ora - both in drag. What's the story?
My maternal grandparents in 1959. I get my style sense from my grandfather.
My aunt with some very nice catfish!
And finally...
Some poor soul who only had a ? on the back of her photo. Label your photos, people!
I am now convinced that I have to live at least six months past the day I retire. Not only do I need to convert all the family 8mm and VHS movies to digital formats (and do some editing), but I need to create an online "family" scrapbook that can be shared and used by the rest of the family.
I love these old photos and the memories and questions they engender. While some see technology isolating us, it can also be a marvelous tool for sharing our bonds, our past, and our stories - in both small and extended "families."
Oh, one last one from not THAT long ago:
Grad school graduation, 1979
Reader Comments (13)
Nice ones! I just do a calendar of my daughter every year for family and friends, but maybe when she won't be around enough for me to take pictures of her, I'll steal your idea and include other family photos. Great way to preserve them for everyone--and embarrass them as well!
I wonder if there was something about this weekend and family photos. Maybe the proximity to Christmas. I spent a little time doing the same thing for a few of our REALLY antique family photos (like our wedding photos). I should do more. Trouble is - the pix are in boxes here, trunks there, in the "junk drawer", in old scrap books.... It goes on and on. Besides being more "retrievable" - perhaps they might actually be safer online. Or not.....thinking about how our server and several backups crashed and burned before Thanksgiving. We have no idea who has out what. We're not telling the kids. Spoils our image as "all-knowing" beings.
Doug,
How historic. Did you know your graduation nearly coincided with "Disco Demolition Night"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_Demolition_Night
My parents and I put together one of those photobooks from shutterfly as gifts for my kids, my siblings and there families and a few others. Luckily Mom and Dad had the time and the know-how to do the scanning. I uploaded the pictures and created the book. We will do one with the ancestors for next year. This year's book is of my parents and their progeny.
( http://frombrendaandothers.shutterfly.com/ ) ....banned here at school so I can't double-check the URL!
Hi Doug,
I have been thinking about something like this myself...creating an online "family tree" where I could invite all my family members to scan and upload photos that they have of past or present relatives. We all could create a site where we all can enter our geneaology information, marriages, births, deaths, etc., in one place.
Do you or anyone else know if such a site exists? I know about myfamily.com but it's not set up for a "family tree" I think.
P.S. I do know about (and love) shutterfly.
P.S. Looking good in 1979 - the year I was born!
Hi Ninja,
Yeah, there is a photo gap between one's own kids and one's grandkids. Enjoy your daughter at every age! I like mixing the photos on my calendars up between contemporary and "historical."
All the best,
Doug
Hi Jacquie,
Being a "belts and suspenders" kind of guy, I like my photos both online and saved a couple places locally. And you'd never get rid of the hard copy originals!
Snow day today so I'll get a little time to work on these again.
Doug
Hi Bob,
I believe my attempt to Disco dance may just have been the final nail in the coffin!
Doug
Hi Brenda,
My wife has been the lucky recipient of a couple of these photo books - from her kids' weddings and from grand kids. Nice and easy to do - only a little time consuming.
Thanks for the note,
Doug
Hi Susan,
I don't know a site that specialized in visual family trees, I am afraid. Maybe it would make a good start-up company!
Born in '79? You're getting up there in years! Enjoy a misspent youth while you can!
Doug
The time has come for you to record your family history using the skills you have been honing as a techno-librarian. Let me know and I can guide you to the right software and Web resources for your research. The next snow day might be good.
Hi Midge,
I appreciate the offer of help. I did get some commenters asking about good tools for doing online/electronic genealogies. Any interest in doing a guest post for the Blue Skunk?
Congrats on the book for ISTE, BTW. Hope it is doing well,
Doug
Doug,
What an excellent idea! I have been a family historian since I was eight years old and living proof that children gain throughout their lives from the study and understanding of family history. The research cycle, analysis of primary documents and the tenets of good writing are "classroom skills" that support family history learning within the curriculum. All these thing combined with media make for digital storytelling. Technology can really make family history sparkle.
Let's talk about what I can share with your readers!
Midge Frazel
midgef@midgefrazel.net
http://granite-in-my-blood.blogspot.com/
http://midgefrazel.net
Hi Midge,
I am very easy - create anything you'd like related to this topic - even if it is a teaser for stuff on your own blog or website. My goal here is to put my readers in touch with the REAL expert on this topic! No deadlines, no rush.
Thanks,
Doug
Great pictures Doug. We have these all over our house too. I love the one of your sister! I remember doing that move quite often watching a tv very similar to that one. Hope you have a nice Holiday season. I grew up in Chicago and remember snows like yours. :)
Thanks, Julie. I am coming to treasure these old pictures (and old memories) more the older I get!
All the best,
Doug