My Story, Your Story - History, Herstory

Saturday we had a birthday lunch with our extended family (January's not enough for us - B. and I have to drag our birthdays on into the next month, lol - and I still have another get together with friends next weekend -- with any luck I'll be celebrating this birthday right up until the New Year - the Chinese one, that is :). Afterward, K. and I went with my sister and brother-in-law to an estate sale, where I took this photo. If you  look, you might see part of me in it

The estate sale was at the site of a local former farm. This area used to be almost as well known for its agriculture as central California, especially for our orange groves. But one more farm has, well,  bought the farm - no relatives who want to take over, and years and years worth of belongings, tools, antiques, even photos and letters, were up for sale. History for sale.

As I picked up various old (I mean REALLY old) photos from the 1800's, I  kept asking the organizers (a firm hired to handle the sales), are you sure the family doesn't want these? No, was the answer - no one knows who they are anymore.  When asked what was going to happen  to the items that didn't sell - well,  they  need to get rid of everything in short order,as quickly as possible - so much of what was left after the one day sale would simply be dumped.

There was everything from a gramaphone and glassware, to ancient rusty faming tools.  It was all priced reasonably for quick sale, and there were a lot of tempting items - but I restrained myself. Only so much room at our own homestead. Though I bought a few silver spoons for a windchime project - my $10 worth of goods in my bags mostly consisted of ancient photos, letters, cards, lace, some wonderful old books, such as an Atlas of the New Nations and Territories Formed After the World War - no publish date, but since it was not World War II, but only the World War (because there weren't any others yet), and it mentions the recent census, I would say it's probably from somewhere in the early twenties. It's not in wonderful shape, but I fell in love with the old maps and photos.

As I was paying, the woman asked me what on earth I was going to do with all those old photos.

"Rescue them," I said - surprising both of us. I hadn't fully realized that was what I was doing, till I said it. I was sure from the look she shot me, the woman thought I was batty (well, maybe she was a little bit justified).

I tried to sound a little more sane - "I'll use them in my artwork."

"Oh - you mean something you sell?"

"Um, yes," though I was thinking of my personal art when I said that about my artwork - sales have been slow this year, but at least it's true that I do sell my paintings, though I wasn't necessarily thinking about selling what I had in mind with these.

That seemed to satisfy her - if I had some potential to gain monetarily, I may not be completely nutty, must be some method to my madness. I kept my mouth shut, as I thought to mysef, "But mostly, I'm just rescuing them."  That's what it felt like. A group rescue. Salvaging their little bit of history, even if I never know their REAL history, I can give them a new one. If my photos, my history were in a similar position (heaven forbid!), I hope someone would do that for me, for us...

Rescuing these photos made me want to sit down and complete a project, I partially began with our family's old photos years ago. Began but never finished, a scrapbook of sorts - though I think of it more as a memoir, a chronicle of our family. Telling old stories about each person with their photos.  But I'm also going to write down some of the stories these 'new' old photos bring to mind. I look into those faces, and I can see they have stories to tell. One dandy gent seated at the piano, looks like a bit of a rapscallion; the twins who were the cat's pajamas, the apples of someone's eye, then unaccountably disappeared - perhaps they went on the vaudeville circuit...

Just thought I'd introduce you, let you know what the story is, in case any of them turn up over here. I never know for sure what might happen here myself.

Comments

[miss*R]

I rescue stuff all the time - that is why I have so many religious pictures and other religious relics - I could not bear to see them in a shop. I think it is very, very sad that families don't save photos, especially as old at these. You are a good soul miss tinker xo

[Paris Parfait]

Your post brought tears to my eyes - all those wonderful old things just being dumped if they didn't sell in a day. Yes, you were rescuing the things you bought, Terri! It sounds as though the woman talking to you has no reverence for history, beauty or art - only in money! Sigh. It takes all kinds, I guess. It breaks my heart that so many people have lost their farms and their livelihoods. One man my brother knew killed himself when he found out he was losing his farm. Something is wrong in a country when so much poverty and hunger exists, yet farms are being shut down and money is the bottom line. It's just not right, as my late grandfather would have said. It's just not right. xo

[tammy vitale]

We have an extended family: the ex's relatives. He was the only child out of a family of 8 grown ups, and had his problems. I wound up with all the photos, which aren't organized but which I keep for my kids. Before the aunts died, and because I kept an ongoing letter conversation with them until they did, I returned photos for information on the back. So now at least we know who the people in the photos are. I even have a picture of ex's mother's grand mother (great great? to my daughter) in England. Getting photos organized: now there's a project!

[Gemma]

YES!!! old photos...who are they??? Don't know but...they all have a story....and it's fun isn't it?

[Greenishlady]

I love that you have rescued these photos, and I am sure you will do wonderful things with them, but the simple fact that you value them and didn't want to see them just dumped is a wonderful thing, too. I love old photos. Reminds me that I must post a little gem that came my way lately.

[janet]

I can't imagine a family that would just throw away old photos! But I guess it happens all the time. I see them in antique stores and flea markets, usually priced as if they were gold! At one time, to someone, they were gold. Time has a way of changing everything though. I'm glad these photos were rescued by you....someone who will appreciate them and love them.

[Caroline]

Oh sounds like collage material to me!

And since when have you had legs shaped like a cabinet?

[tinker]

The mirror, Caroline, the mirror! lol

[Ninnie]

That sounds grand, saving the photos. Hope we get to see some of them or hear the history you come up with for some of them.

[Pacian]

It's kind of sad, the way you tell it, that the only reason for wanting the photos she could understand was if it were for money.

My great-grandfather was in the merchant navy, my mum relates all the wondrous things he collected from across the world, which were all thrown out after he died. Still, everything is temporary anyway.

[Tammy]

It makes me sad that a family lost all that, but on the other hand I wish I was there to help in the rescue ;)HUGS

[kai]

well, this was so sweet tink, a funny thought came to mind.. If you dont like the way your family tree is, just add these folks to yours.. :)Adoption is a nice thing..
Seriously, you're very kind hearted..
PEace, Kai.

[Lisa(0ceandreamer)]

whenever I see old photos in shops or flea markets I always wonder why they are there. Were the families who would treasure them and the history all gone. Was there no one left these would mean anything to? I also attached new stories to them, rewrite their history and give them new names. I bought an old photo of a rather dapper guy, since multiple people sell there they had to call that person for the price.Turns out he was a doctor in his day and a relative of the person selling it. I couldn't understand why.
Anyway, your story of the day and the circumstances was very poignant.
XOXO

[Caroline]

Hi Tinker you are tagged!

[bella]

I love the photo you took of yourself. The treasures surrounding you - the history! I find old photos and diaries so interesting. I'm happy you found so many little treasures. I wonder about the stories behind them.

[artzyjudie]

Yeah, I love old photos. I stare and stare at them and try to imagine what the life was around them, etc. Well, you know. You bought some. Hope to see some in a project soon.

[Sioux]

What a good idea. I just scan mine and print them, but if I had ones that were not part of my family I could use the originals.

[Jennifer R.D.]

I cannot wait to see these photos! I am hoping you will share a few ! Any babies ? Are they cabinet cards?
Great late birthday find!
Jenny