I love the Disney Pixar movie “Coco”. From the first time I saw it I was touched by the concept of the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos), especially the remembrance altars (Ofendas). Every year since then I have celebrated the Day of the Dead by putting together my own alter with pictures of loved ones who have passed on.
This year I posted a picture of my tribute on Facebook and Instagram with the challenge to my friends to see how many people they could identify. For each photo, I make sure that I have written the name of the person on the back of the picture, including maiden names, and the FamilySearch ID number. When I look up the ID number I add the picture to that person’s memory page. I have found the easiest way to add pictures to FamilySearch is to take a picture with my phone or iPad and upload it using the Family Tree app. The Family History Guide FamilySearch goal 2 project 7 (https://thefhguide.com/project-2-memories07.html) gives great instructions.
We have so many pictures that are not identified. When you get them you never think that one day you will be confused about which child it is, they all look so similar when they are young. Then there are those pictures that have been passed down in ancestors’ belongings that are strangers to you, the task of identifying the picture can be even more challenging.
Not long ago I came across a picture of a very lovely woman that neither my Mother nor I had any idea who she was. My Dad’s Sister was able to identify her as the fiancé of their Brother, who died before they were able to marry. With the details my Aunt could remember about her name and where she lived, I was able to locate her and her on FamilySearch, Echo Walker. No pictures of her had been added and I was able to upload this beautiful image. This made me realize that I need to get busy identifying these pictures before the next generation passes on!
During this time when the Family History Center is closed, my Mother and I have been going through those piles of records and images. This project will take longer than a vaccine! In the genealogy group sheets that we inherited from my Great Grandmother was a letter dated March 26, 1933, to her from a fellow researcher, Hans Hansen from Taber, Alberta, Canada. My Cousin married a Hansen from Taber so I went to FamilySearch and looked up Hans Hansen. He turned out to be my Cousin’s Husband’s Grand Uncle and our 6th cousin 3 times removed. I felt like this letter showed Hans Hansen’s dedication to genealogical research and his handwriting so I added it to his memories. Again, I took a photo of it but this time I uploaded it as a document instead of a picture. Not long after, I got a message from one of Hans Hansen’s nephews thanking me for posting it and offering to add it to their preserved family digital archive. So many people have read this letter over the years and kept it. The lasting value may be just a glimpse into the character of the writer. I am so glad that I too felt impressed to keep it and now it can be shared with anyone – everyone! Hurray for FamilySearch! What treasures do you have lurking in your piles? — Mary Anne Thorum – Temple and Family History Consultant, Willow Creek Stake