Family Heirlooms
We all have them. Maybe it is a military service medal, a precious China teacup that once belonged to Aunt Martha, or that WWI German bayonet picked up by my grandfather after the Battle of Vimy Ridge. In my family, we have a host of “treasures” accumulated over a lifetime. My grandfather’s Orange Order ceremonial sash (below) is interesting with the host of embroidered icons.

My son has a collection of carbide lamps that my father gave him from his time working underground in a copper mine. And many more items, including a beautiful functioning pocket watch that once belonged to my paternal great-grandfather, a blacksmith in Ireland. We have a wooden bench crafted by the brother of my maternal grandfather, a carpenter who came to Canada to help build a home and a barn and then returned to northern England. A Karsh portrait of Wendy’s great uncle, Dr. Elmer Plunkett hangs of our wall. Elmer delivered Queen Julianna’s baby in Ottawa during WWII. Karsh took the famous photo of Winston Churchill immediately after plucking the omnipresent cigar from the war leader’s mouth. The scowl is unforgettable.
At a recent meeting of the Palm Springs Genealogical Society, members shared examples of family heirlooms. One item in particular shook me. It was a baby book with only one entry: the birthdate. The book was in a cardboard box, along with the baby and three changes of clothing, left on a doorstep during the Great Depression. Can you imagine? No name. No indication of the parents. Nothing. The home where the baby was left already had five children so the family took the baby down the street and gave it to a childless couple who raised the boy.
I have a bundle of some 60 old letters written by my paternal grandfather while he was in the trenches of northern France and Belgium during WWI. Another bundle of over 100 letters were written by my mother to my father who was overseas during WWII. Treasures to say the least.
Our walls are adorned with three curved glass picture frames with portraits of grandparents. More treasures.
What to do with all of this “stuff”? Someday, we will no longer be around to look after these items. What then?
Well, at first cut, try the following: an inventory.
- Create a document describing each item (with a photo), and the provenance (i.e., where did it come from). Add in any related stories that surround the heirloom.
- Add in a photo of each item. In the event anything should happen to your artifact, at least you will have a photo.
- Ask your children, siblings, nieces, and nephews if they have an interest in any item. You may have found the next generation of genealogists in your family.
- Check your local museum or historical society to assess any potential interest. Museums struggle with all their material – typically they can only display a small percentage of their holdings. But your item might be one of a kind they would love to have.
- Share your inventory list with your family. In this process, you will likely learn even more about the item which you can then add to the inventory document.
In many cases, you might find a good home.
Join your local genealogical society. You will find members who are dealing with the same issues and will be able to offer support and guidance. These groups meet regularly, invite in speakers to share content on relevant family history topics, organize conferences and road trips, and provide technical support and research support, all with minimal fees. These folks all know where to find even free “stuff”.
Ron Gilmore
Email: rvg3@me.com
Website: https://www.rgenealogy.ca