Old pictures... what to do?

[Goldeneagle]

I know it's been over a year since Alecia's passing, but I'm still slowly going through things. Yesterday I found a couple of boxes full of old pictures. They are from her mothers side of the family from W. Virginia. When I say old I mean old. Early 1900's. Some are posing beside Model T's. The problem I'm having is what to do with them. That side of her family is gone. Alecia's grand parents are gone, her parents are gone, all aunts and uncle's, only one cousin that I found out yesterday is in hospice. I mean that side of the family is gone. Part of me wants to keep them, but at the same time, they're not my side of the family. What do I do with them?

[7sdad]

I'm not sure if you did or didn't but did y'all have kids that may want them?

[dbaio1]

I have recently joined Facebook groups for the two areas/regions where my mom and dad's families where from. Both are filled with early American history and photos for the regions, 1800's forward. If you have info you could post some pics and info that can help keep the family name going since there are limited or no descendants living. Or maybe donate to a local museum or history society where they lived. Just a few thoughts.

[Goldeneagle]

I'm not sure if you did or didn't but did y'all have kids that may want them?

Just my son. But he is not very interested in going back past his grand parents.

[Smart]

If you don't want them and your son doesn't want them then throw them out. We just had to do a major cleaning of my Mom's 4 bedroom house getting her down to a 1 bedroom retirement community home after her husband passed .....and while it sucked, it was very liberating for her not having to carrying around all that stuff. She kept what she wanted too and not what she felt like she had too.

[Texas Grown]

My brother and I take a lot of pride in family pics dating back to the 1800s. Your grandchildren may be interested in yours some day. I wish I had more from mine for my grandboys.

[Deer Tracks]

I inherited a box of old photos also from the early 1900s and mainly of ancestors I never met and wouldn’t even be able to identify if I had to.
Any that were of particular interest (pictures that depicted ranching or hunting activities back in the day) or historical significance (pictures of certain areas or buildings) I put in a scrap book. There is a Facebook page called traces of Texas. They used some. But a lot of people today have little idea what life was like back then and can’t even imagine it, including myself. It’s important to preserve those images , imo. The rest I respectfully put in a campfire.

[ThisLadyHunts]

I have a couple of thoughts, but my response is lengthy so I’ll just send it to you in a PM.

[7sdad]

Just my son. But he is not very interested in going back past his grand parents.

But he may wish he had one of these days, keep them and let him make that decision when your gone.

[Goldeneagle]

If you don't want them and your son doesn't want them then throw them out. We just had to do a major cleaning of my Mom's 4 bedroom house getting her down to a 1 bedroom retirement community home after her husband passed .....and while it sucked, it was very liberating for her not having to carrying around all that stuff. She kept what she wanted too and not what she felt like she had too.

I'm having enough trouble getting rid of things that belonged to Alecia. We're keeping things that are important to us and tossing the rest. You can't keep everything.

I inherited a box of old photos also from the early 1900s and mainly of ancestors I never met and wouldn’t even be able to identify if I had to.
Any that were of particular interest (pictures that depicted ranching or hunting activities back in the day) or historical significance (pictures of certain areas or buildings) I put in a scrap book. There is a Facebook page called traces of Texas. They used some. But a lot of people today have little idea what life was like back then and can’t even imagine it, including myself. It’s important to preserve those images , imo. The rest I respectfully put in a campfire.

We have my son, one niece and one nephew. None have any clue who the people in the pics are. There is no writing on any that tell who they are. None involve the outdoors as far as hunting or fishing.

[Greenheadless]

Post #8, digitize them.

https://www.texasbowhunter.com/discussions/forums/forum/topics/around-the-campfire/26630174-do-you-want-to-smile#post26631419

[Bassdeer]

But he may wish he had one of these days, keep them and let him make that decision when your gone.

Yea he may change his mind when he gets older.

[Bowhica]

I got a couple of boxes of photos from my mom of our family on both sides from WAYYYYY back in the day. My plan is to send these photos on to be digitized then create a Google drive and send invites to the family via email for access to view, copy or do whatever to these photos. That way there's a single point of access without me having to middle man the sending of those wanted pictures. The best thing about this, most if not all of my family are savvy to the internet or can be walked thru a process once. That is helpful.

[tpack]

I love going through old pictures of ours from time to time. In not so many years from now, people won`t have any pictures other than what's on their phones or on a computer. I like the old school way better.

[Goldeneagle]

Yea he may change his mind when he gets older.

He is 36 years old.

I got a couple of boxes of photos from my mom of our family on both sides from WAYYYYY back in the day. My plan is to send these photos on to be digitized then create a Google drive and send invites to the family via email for access to view, copy or do whatever to these photos. That way there's a single point of access without me having to middle man the sending of those wanted pictures. The best thing about this, most if not all of my family are savvy to the internet or can be walked thru a process once. That is helpful.

The thing is, I'm not even sure everyone in the photo's are even family members. Some could just be friends. There is no family left except Alecia's niece and nephew and they don't know who anyone in them is. It would be hard to post any when you have no clue about names and such.