This is a previous tip we’re using again as a reminder.
The “provenance” of a family heirloom, picture, etc. is “how you know it is what it is and how you came to have it.”
Think about the provenance of every item you have. A relative pointed out to me that I have quite a few pictures from my Ufkes family. They came from my maternal grandparents.
Then it dawned on me. The family home burned in 1924 and most of the pictures are from before that year. Did the family get the pictures out? Did other relatives share pictures with them or give them pictures? I’ll never know, but just thinking about who else might have had the pictures in 1924 got me to thinking about various family members who might have had pictures.
And thinking about provenance is never a bad thing.
4 Responses
What a great thought!
I did have a cousin recently who thought her ring was from one grandmother when it actually could not have been. It was actually newer than she thought!
This is a great reminder to us. Thank you,
Merry Christmas, Happy, Health New Year
I have a few rings that were my grandmother’s and if they belonged to someone else before her, that story has been lost.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!
I have serving dishes and and misc items that came from grandparents, parents, etc. Since I’m now 75, those familiar, everyday items from my grandmother, for example, are now from grt grt grandmother to my grandchildren. Wow! Imagine having something that belonged to your grt grt! So I am taking a photo of each item and have printed a 4×6 copy and written the provenance on the back. These are stored in a LABELED photo print storage box, organized by rooms in my house. I also have a digital version of each with the owners name in the file title. If that seems too onerous, at least take a moment to make a quick descriptive list with the owners’ names and leave it where you are storing your estate papers. Your heirs will bless you!
A great idea and thanks for sharing it! For those with experience with Word, the images can be put in a Word document and the stories can be added there as well. The main thing is to do something.