After Thanksgiving dinner, and right before pie, someone pulled out an old, dusty box that they had found in the basement at Grandma’s house. Inside are little bits and pieces of family history. Ticket stubs, postcards, a special handmade ornament made by a child for their mother. Then someone pulls out a handful of photographs, mostly black and white, but some even older. Grandma remarks on how much Uncle Bob looks like the distinguished gentleman with the bowler hat. The curly hair of the young lady looks very similar to Great-Aunt Minnie. The eyes, the nose, the height, all parts of a genetic past that draws us to the unknown faces in the photos.

Old family photos are treasures, real finds. Those that have survived the years, being passed from one family to the next, too often become forgotten faces in the past. Their names are lost with those that are no longer with us or perhaps just can’t remember the names that belong to the faces any more. In our search for ourselves, we can find roots with our ancestors. Their photographs are just the beginning. But time is not on your side. You must act quickly. 

As you gather with your family for the holidays, make it a point to try and save moments in your family history. Journal in pencil on the backs of really old paper photos, and use a photo safe pen for others. Take down notes of interesting family facts, like Great-Grandpa was a sheepherder and owned 1,000 acres of land in southern Idaho at the turn of the century. Record things that will get lost or distorted with time and distance. It will give you an opportunity to become acquainted with those faces so that their names and stories are not lost forever, but treasured.