Protecting Family Heirlooms and How It Relates to Museums

The words Family Heirloom bring to mind many of our family treasures, which can be found in numerous museums all around the world or as close to home as in the closet or attic never on display. One of the most priceless family heirlooms are family photograph collections. Photographs are very important not only to museums, institutions, but also family researchers. A photograph opens up a new world to explore for a researcher or a writer. I have really enjoyed my course this semester Your Family in History at Pittsburg State University. Our instructor builds his curriculum for the course to get you out of normal habits of viewing family history and pushing you to think deeper and pursue more than just the bare minimum details of writing and organizing your family history.

Family Histories are an excellent additions to any museum. They open up so much possibilities for exhibitions and research. I have been working on my family history since 2007. It has been an excellent experience for me to step back and organize who I am and where I come from?

We have been learning how to compile stories this semester and collecting the information to build those stories into family treasures that future generations will treasure for years to come. I have had great inspiration and resources to build my stories. I was fortunate to know my great-great grandmother, Rosa Ann (HULL) Logue, five great-grandparents: Ezra Everett and Nella Lorean (Moppin) Boyd, Jay Edison and Loraine Lucille (NEAL) Logue, and Marjorie Ernestine (ENGLAND) Brock, and my grandparents: Howard Lee and Joyce Ann (LOGUE) Boyd and Arthur A. and M. Fayrene (BROCK) Morgan. I have had my parents: Stephen Howard and Susan Elaine (MORGAN) Boyd and sister and brother-in-law: Antonio and Holly L. (BOYD) Martinez My great-grandparents: Frank Edgar and Alma America (WRIGHT) Morgan and John Herman "Pete" Brock passed away before I was born, but have been a great inspiration for me in my writing and compiling of my family history.

I have a few of my family photographs included in this blog:

My great-grandparents: Ezra Everett and Nella Lorean (Moppin) Boyd at their home in Wesley, Ark. Taken around 2002. We were visiting them from Oklahoma. 

My great-grandparents: John Herman "Pete" and Marjorie E. (England) Brock at their home in Afton, OK. Taken around 1977. 

My grandparents: Arthur A. and M. Fayrene (Brock) Morgan on their wedding day at First Baptist Church in Afton, OK. on January 24, 1954. They just celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in January 2014. 

My great-grandmother: Loraine Lucille (Neal) Logue. This was her Senior Portrait Picture. She graduated with the Huntsville (Ark.) High School Class of 1942. 

My great-great-great grandparents: David and Martha Susan (ELKINS) McCarver at their home in Wesley, Ark. Taken c. 1920s. 

Afton Poultry Swap at Afton, OK. My family has owned and operated the Poultry Swap with three generations of my family. We opened the swap on May 20, 1987 and has grown immensely since that day. Shoppers, Buyers, and Sellers from all around the OK-MO-KS-AR Four State Area enjoy traveling to the swap on Third Weekends and Holiday Weekends. 

Family Holiday picture taken last year with my parents Stephen and Susan (Morgan) Boyd and my sister and brother-in-law: Antonio and Holly (Boyd) Martinez and Jordan Boyd. From Left to Right: Stephen, Susan, Holly, Jordan, and Antonio. We were at the Phoenix Zoo for the Zoo Lights Display the night of Thanksgiving. 

My great-great grandparents Grover Cleveland and Bessie Ottie (Nash) England at a Gilpin Family Reunion that was Grandma Bessie's mother's family, Annie Elizabeth (Gilpin) Nash. The photo was taken at my great-grandparent's home at Afton ,Ok in 1980. 

Jordan Boyd, Betty (Claypool) Logue, Derrel Beard and Ruth (Logue) Beard. Taken at Derrel and Ruth's home at Springdale, Arkansas in May 2011. Betty was visiting from California. Betty was married to Dewey Logue who was  a brother to my great-grandpa Jay Logue and Ruth is Uncle Dewey and Papaw Jay's sister. They also had three other brothers: Nolan, Ray, and Kenneth. 

My great-grandparents: Frank Edgar and Alma America (Wright) Morgan at their home. 

My great-grandparents: Jay Edison and Loraine Lucille (Neal) Logue with their son Loy C. Logue. This picture was taken in 1973 for the 100th Anniversary of the Drakes Creek Baptist Church at Drakestown, Ark. 

These are just an assortment of some of the pictures that make up my collection. I have thousands of photographs. It is important to scan and protect all photographs in some type of archival sleeve or book, that does not omit gasses or acid residue. Polypropylene or Polyethylene are preferable products to use. A great measure is to always have different sets of back up for your collections. An important step to work towards scanning your collections and preserving the originals. 

My next blog will cover more on how to preserve and care for artifacts. 

This Blog Post is in Memory of My Great-Grandparents: 

Ezra Everett Boyd (1918-2011) 

Nella Lorean (MOPPIN) Boyd (1924-2007) 

Jay Edison Logue (1923-1994) 

Loraine Lucille (NEAL) Logue (1923-2009) 

Frank Edgar Morgan (1909-1983) 

Alma America (WRIGHT) Morgan (1912-1983) 

John Herman "Pete" Brock (1911-1979) 

Marjorie Ernestine (ENGLAND) Brock (1915-2003) 

My Great-Great Grandparents: 

Howard Douglas Boyd (1890-1960) 

Delphia Mae (WORLEY) Boyd (1892-1955) 

Charles Wilmoth Moppin (1885-1945) 

Bertha Maheley (WHITE) Moppin (1891-1975) 

Elliott Oliver Logue (1892-1977) 

Rosa Ann (HULL) Logue (1900-1994) 

Rosco Floyd Neal (1888-1971) 

Beulah Lee (McCarver) Neal (1892-1972) 

Arthur Edgar Morgan (1874-1938) 

Elsie Agnus (Wilcox) Morgan (1893-1971) 

Albert Sidney Wright (1870-1955) 

Laura Lee (POE) Wright (1879-1950) 

William Franklin "Bill" Brock (1873-1940) 

Cassie Ann (TANNER) Brock (1874-1950) 

Grover Cleveland England (1893-1981) 

Bessie Ottie (NASH) England (1894-1983) 

They have given me great inspiration to collect their stories and preserve our family history to share with future generations.