52 Ancestors,
in 52 Weeks
Week 40:
Preservation
Preserving the Past
Genealogy is all about preserving the past. Documenting ancestors’ lives, recording family stories and collecting family memorabilia, is the mission of a family genealogist. I do each of these tasks for my own enjoyment. This blog site is one way I preserve family stories, it will live in “the cloud” long after I am gone. So will the large family tree I have created on Ancestry.com. [1] However, memorabilia and keepsakes are in the real world and subject to personal attachment. In anticipation of my keepsakes ending up in a second-hand store, dumpster, or elsewhere, I will document them here so their images and stories will survive.
Keepsake: 80 Year Old Flag
I have a couple of keepsakes I associate with my great grandfather, David Louis Osborne 1847-1942. [2] One are his eyeglasses, the other is the U.S. flag presented to the family upon his death in 1942. The flag was given in recognition of his service in the 83rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. This flag is a typical veterans burial flag, it is made of heavy cotton fabric and measures 5′ by 9.5′. The stars are the same fabric, sewn on the blue field, on both sides of the flag, and are quilted with a pentagon pattern. The stripes are all individual strips pieced together with a double rolled, double stitched seam. What makes it somewhat unique is it has 48 stars and it has spent most of the past 80 years rolled up in tissue paper. But, a few years ago, I decided I wanted to enjoy this beautiful flag and now have it displayed in a flag case on top of my china cabinet where I see it everyday.
I have this photo of my great aunt, Grace Osborne Flucawa 1887-1954, with the flag hanging on her front porch. [6] I colorized the flag to let it stand out. I have placed a photo copy of my great grandfather’s discharge paper, this photo, and a brief profile of him inside the flag case.
Keepsakes: Aunts and Uncle
I have a few mementos to remind me of my aunts and uncle who have passed away. I keep them in my china cabinet so I can see them regularly. The charming little cup and saucer belonged to my Aunt Lois LaFara Richardson 1917-2003. The pretty teapot belonged to my Aunt Pat LaFara Holt 1923-1995. The wooden box with inlaid lid was my Uncle Frank Flucawa’s 1883-1974, it has a hidden compartment in the base. [7,8] The china is the Indian Tree pattern by Coalport and it came to me from my Aunt Grace Osborne Flucawa. [9] The china includes about 50 pieces, I have never used them but they are pretty to look at.
Not Quite Keepsakes
I also keep old family items that are more curiosities than true keepsakes. One is a tooled leather wallet I found among my grandmother’s photos. My grandmother, Pearl Osborne LaFara 1893-1972, probably made this wallet herself and I do not recall ever seeing it until I found it. But what makes it a little odd is the fact I found a very old two dollar bill tucked inside.
Another bit of ephemera I have is an old birthday card that was regularly exchanged between my father, Bob LaFara 1925-2004, and his sister Lois. I think my father sent it to Lois first in 1961. He thought it funny, probably because my Aunt Lois was a neat and tidy person. But, my Aunt Lois enjoyed a good joke so she returned it to my father the following year. And that was how a running joke and tradition began and lasted until Lois passed away in 2003. She died before my father had sent the card that year and so it was among his things when he died a year later. It’s fragile and has no meaning to anyone outside of those who were in on the joke.
Conclusion
I have many more keepsakes and mementos, and will no doubt share some in a blog post in the future. While I have preserved these items, I do not expect anyone else to value them as I have. Preserving the past is something I take pleasure doing and am satisfied that I do it for myself alone. Although, the idea that my research, blog posts and photographs may find a permanent home in the digital or virtual world does bring a certain satisfaction.
SOURCES:
- Webpage, ‘Osborn‘ family tree, Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/13493206/family
- Profile for David L. Osborne, ‘Osborne’ family tree, Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/13493206/person/-60124040/facts
- Blog post, Family Finds: The Marriage of David and Jennie Osborne; https://barblafara.com/the-marriage-of-david-and-jennie-osborne/
- Blog post, Family Finds: David L. Osborne: His Indianapolis Homes; “https://barblafara.com/indianapolis-addresses-for-david-l-osborne/
- Blog post, Family Finds: David L. Osborne, Civil War Soldier; “https://barblafara.com/david-l-osborne-civil-war-soldier/
- Profile for Martha Grace Osborne, ‘Osborn‘ family tree, Ancestry.com; https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/13493206/person/-60123978/facts
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The items we keep from our ancestors are so special. My only hope is that when I’m gone they will continue to be preserved.