Ice Breaker: Do You Have a Favorite Family Heritage Photo?

[faerywings]

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As we get closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I think everyone's minds turn towards traditions and family gatherings of years before. I spent Thanksgiving as a child at my maternal grandparents for the main part of the day and then we had dessert with my dad's side of the family. Christmas Day was at my paternal grandparents and I was always unhappy about leaving all of my brand new toys at home. In spite of that part, I have a lot of good memories of being with my family. I wish that cameras were as easy and as available as they are these days because there are never enough photos of those times and of those very important people.

Do you have a favorite photo of your parents or grandparents? Do you know the story of the photo? Have you scrapped a layout with that photo?

I have made two albums for my parents of photos of them and my grandparents when they were children. I was really lucky that I was able to scan negatives and photos of them.
This is my mom at their shore house- Belmar NJ

My mom and uncle with my grandma (Left) my great uncle and great aunt in front of the family's barbershop-Kearny NJ

My dad and his younger brother. And my grandpa-- every time he made that face he would make us laugh!

 

[BrightEyes]

One of my favorite photos of my parents was taken during World War II. My Dad had enlisted in 1942 and was stationed on a ship in California while Mom stayed home with us in New Mexico. Mom took us on the train to California in 1944 and stayed with the parents of friend. Mom and Dad were able to see each other for a precious few weeks while the ship was in for refit. This photo was taken during that time.



Dad only had a few hours off duty at a time so their time together was measure in minutes and hours. Mom returned back home when Dad's ship left to go back to the war zone. It was another year and a half before they saw each other again when he returned after his discharge at the end of the war.

Having been married to a Sailor for 20 years and experiencing long separations, I understand how precious those short weeks were.

 

[tanteva]

Oh, this reminds me. I have a photo I need to scan & scrap! Got a box of old photos from my mom, that she said was "junk" - photos of my father's side of the family. Lots of great photos, but I have no idea who these people are. But then I found ONE photo, where someone had written the name on the back - and it was a photo of my father's father's mother's mother. Her life was a long struggle with lots of moving around the get work. Giving birth to a bunch of children. Lost one son when he was 8 by drowning. Her and her husband is one of those families that catch your attention when you research your genealogy. And now I have a photo of her. It's amazing.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

This isn't a very good copy, because it's probably 3rd generation. Mom and Dad hadn't been married very long and they were all painting Grandpa's fence. That's one of my uncles behind Dad.



This is one of my absolute favorites - my Aunt Martha (who just passed away) and Uncle Richard. They were newlyweds, too. SO fancy! He left for the Navy shortly after they were married.

 

[tjscraps]

This one! I don't know the exact year, but it's early 1940's judging by my grandma's age. The story was that they all gathered in this area because they got a power pole in their yard - which was also the first time they got power to their house. It was such an occasion they had to take a photo! This is my Grandma (white dress) with 2 of her brothers and 2 sisters (of the 10 of them)

 

[faerywings]

I can see so much similarity in these photos that I have of my family. The hair, the clothes, the poses... Love it!!

Makes me wonder if in 50 years our descendants will see photos of duck faces and think the same thing LOL

@tjscraps What a phenomenal moment to capture-- getting electricity!