WORDS AND PICTURES — A TRUE TEAM
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” We’ve all heard that phrase so often, we take it as fact. But I say that without words, a picture can be lost forever in the mists of time. I’m talking here specifically about your family pictures.
I’m not the only one who’s recognized this truth. Legions of us have gazed at snapshots, either in an album or thrown into boxes and didn’t know who we were looking at. But it was an uncle. Or great-grandfather. Or your mom’s first cousin whom she remembers very well and with affection.. Sadly, you don’t know this lovely lady at all. And what about all those photos of the guys coming home from WWII? Now, WE will recognize our dads, but will our grandchildren know who these heroes are? And what they looked like?
I don’t know whether this idea of anonymous family members gathered in the ether as some ideas seem to, but suddenly a few years ago, creating scrapbooks become part of our popular culture. Everyone was doing it. The craft stores couldn’t keep enough stock on the shelves. And boy, were the choices pretty. Colorful, patterned, with space for pictures and WORDS.
Fast forward a few years to our digital world where, with the help of cell phones, everyone has become a photographer. They’ve discovered their inner shutter-bug. They’re so happy creating 
digital albums and preserving memories. I sincerely hope, however, they’re adding descriptions to each photo they take and save. Or one day, these current memories will also be forgotten in the mists of time.
In my world, the story comes first. Then I add a picture. Or a recipe. Or an item of remembrance. Before I became a published author, I wrote a series of stories about my family.Each one was a snapshot of family member, or an event, or a place. Most were combinations of the three. A couple of weeks ago, I shared the story of Real Grandmas with you. I’m hoping some of you will be inspired enough to try writing some family stories of your own. Don’t panic! I’m going to help. For right now though, and for illustration, here are some of the other titles and first lines from my binder, so you can understand what I mean by simple family stories:
Oh, You Kid! My Uncle Sid was the Pied Piper in our family.
The Cop, The Commissioner and the Half-a-Doctor (referring to my mom & her two sisters)
A Fine Romance – In a street length aquamarine dress and white netting in her hair, the bride 
nervously waited for the signal to walk down the hall to the large front room of the parlor floor where her wedding would be held. The year was 1945. (This is the story of my parents’ wedding. And, no, I wasn’t there!)
Visiting Murray – My cousin, Murray, viewed his profession as one-half art and one-half science flavored with a pinch of comedy. And that was why he was the best dentist in all of Brooklyn…
The stories continue for up to four pages at most. They capture one idea, one event. You can do this!! Members of my family who read these stories long after I’m gone will build a connection to their roots. They’ll have some answers to the age old question of “Where did I come from?” Which I think really means, “Who am I? and Where do I fit in?”
No matter how many books I wrote, books that appeared on store shelves and in book clubs, my mom always insisted that my best book was the one of family stories. What do you think?
Next Tuesday, I’ll continue this thread of writing family stories and give you concrete ways to start out. And then we’ll decide whether to continue. So, post comments! Let me know if this idea appeals to you.
As always, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope to see you for the next edition of Starting Over.
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I have photos dating back to when my parents wed in 1941. When my mom died in 1995, we went through all her photos and divided them between the four kids. There weren’t that many, but we each got a few “war” pics, “neighbourhood” pics, etc. I have been throwing out my own “duplicate” colour pictures and moving the “good ones” and all those old ones from my parents from magnetic photo albums into acid-free scrapbooks for about eight years now, but I still have a long way to go.
When I realized my mother-in-law only had 16 photos and her memory was not so great (she was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s), I decided to create a scrapbook for her. I contacted her only remaining sibling, and that sister sent me 14 black/white photos. I contacted her late husband’s remaining sibling, and his sister sent me 144 photos dating back to the late eighteen hundreds! (She said that her part of the family, many miles away, wouldn’t know anyone in the pictures and would throw them all out once she passed on, so she sent me all originals, which I have since copied for all of my husband’s siblings and us too.) I had Mom’s six children go through their own pictures and contribute their own memories, adding up to several dozen more photos.
ANYWAY … not only did I put together a huge album for my MIL’s 80th birthday (six years ago), but now I had copies of a LOT of photos to mix in with my own already-created scrapbooks! It took me months, but I managed to get them all in, in chronological order where they belonged.
Today I am back to working on July of 1992. Yes, I am WAY behind. I have realized that many people prefer turning pages and reading stories with those pictures, as opposed to digitial photos whipping by on a screen or too tiny to really enjoy. I have thrown out thousands and thousands of pics, including my own children’s baby photos, because I don’t need ten pictures of a baby on a hospital bed; I just chose the best one or two and “highlighted” it/them in the album (but kept the negatives hidden under larger photos in case they want them some day). I’m creating one group of albums for my two children; they can either share them or copy pages later (either photocopying or taking digitally). By then, there will probably be more ways to preserve the pictures (so not my problem any longer, LOL).
The other comments below struck a chord with me too. Whenever anyone wants to know who is who, they ask me – even my inlaws. Thankfully, I have labelled throughout the years.
I wed in 1981, so I began magnetic albums shortly thereafter. Did well keeping up until 1989, when my two-year-old daughter ripped the coils in my albums. I stagnated for a couple of years but managed to get back on track until around 1999. I too don’t know what happened then, but I quit putting pictures in albums. I did, however, put all photos, newspaper clippings, momentoes, etc. into file folders by months. That means I currently have scrapbooks to 1992, magnetic albums to 1999, file folders to our current date, and photos on my camera that haven’t been printed since 2008. Jeesh. I’m 54 and thinking I’ll never get caught up (but I’ll die trying)….
Trying is what it’s about. You’re doing a great job, and at least it’s on your mind. I’m certainly not a photographer, but I started taking pictures of my family when I was a kid using a Brownie box camera. We still have a bunch of those in an album. Of course, it’s easy for me to identify everyone because I was really there!
Have a great weekend.
Linda
Wow! Laney, your family is lucky to have you doing this. And I mean your in-laws, too. It’s a big job. On Tuesday, I’m posting about how to write a family story. You might get ideas to help you with your scrapbooking. Stories with pictures. The two go together to make a satisfying and complete experience for the reader. Brava!
Linda
Your post resonated deeply. I have many photograph albums from my late mother containing old black and white photographs from the old country and their lives in Canada where we lived for generations. I cherish these precious and beautiful memories which are treasures. I doubt that my children and grandchildren would have any idea of whom these individuals are and show any interest. it is sad to realize this. Family stories are so meaningful and important especially for the new generation. I wonder what will become of these albums. They are not fancy nor beautiful but to be cherished for those who realize that family stories are never forgotten. thanks for this wonderful post today.
Hi Sharon – Glad you enjoyed the post. Maybe you could show those albums to your kids little by little so they don’t get bored right away. Tell them a story or two while you show them the photos. Wishing you good luck with this. I can tell the albums mean a lot to you.
Linda
Linda,
My sister is the scrapbooker in our family. She and my youngest daughter. I’m the one with boxes of photos that have no names. I’m also keeper, it seems, of Denny’s family photos. I tried to get his sisters to take them after his mom died. They both claimed downsizing as a reason to leave them with me. Denny didn’t know who half the people were. I should have thrown them away after he passed away. But there’s something sacrilegious to me about throwing away books or photographs. So I still have them. I did do family memory books for each of my daughters and gave them to them at the time they got married. I also made memory books for my oldest daughter’s three children when each graduated from high school. But those didn’t include the “outlaws” or those photos without names. I should, while I’m still of sound mind, get out my boxes and see if I can still put names to friends from my past that my kids will know nothing about. Roz
Roz – you’ve got a big job, but really, I think we all do. I bet everyone has boxes of unlabeled pictures in their house. We’ve inherited a bunch from our parents, for sure. But we’ve also taken a load of shots ourselves. I used to be very organized, putting all pictures in an album and dated. But I stopped a number of years ago, and can’t even remember why. I think your sisters-in-law were just too busy to be bothered. Downsizing? I’ve downsized, too, but I still think it’s my responsibility for my children’s sakes. But, each to his own. You, my friend, might just be a soft touch!
Take care,
Linda
Linda,you are so right about the pictures. When we were moving I actually threw away old pics that were crumbling from old age and had no legend on the back to identify them. It is a very sad thing. I’ll have to start labeling the old pics and the ones saved in the computer without titles.
Thanks for the reminder!!
Glad I could ring a bell. If we don’t label those pics, no one will. Good luck with the project.
Linda
I am the keeper of the flame for our family. Sure hope someone from the next gen steps up soon (before my memory is shot) to take over. LOL.
I hear you. I have no idea if any of my kids has an inkling or an interest in taking over. They do like the stories, however, and often ask questions about their relatives. So, maybe there’s hope. Thanks for stopping by, Deb.
Linda