Thanksgiving time is here and many families will be gathering together for the annual family celebration. For some, the big family gathering may be in relationship to Christmas or perhaps both holidays. At any rate, this can be a golden opportunity to sort through what you and others might consider keepsakes. These are the things we cherish and want to pass on to others for future generations. Sad to say many of the middle age and younger family members don’t always treasure the things the older generation thinks are important. However, you may find some members may feel a real connection between a keepsake and the person(s) it belonged to. You may also find they value some keepsake that will surprise you. The key here is to ask the individual if they want an item you want to give them. If they don’t give it to someone else. Ask them if there is anything or things they are particularly interested in.
Before you begin making decisions it is important to understand the value of the family keepsake. Value can be sentimental, artistic, historic, or economic. Ask yourself a few questions. 1. Does the item have sentimental value to someone close to me or just me? 2. Is it something I wish to pass on to others as a memento or family heirloom?. 3. Does the item have artistic value? Is it well designed? Is the design or material useful? 4. Is it of importance to my history, or the history of my family or community? 5. Does the object have economic value or potential to increase in value? 6. And if you don’t plan to give it right away, do you have a safe place to keep or store it?
When giving heirlooms, write the history about the object, who used it, where it came from, how old it is. These are the things that make a heirloom valuable to an individual.
Store heirlooms where they are protected from extreme temperatures, humidity, pollution, mice, insects, and light depending if it is cloth or paper. Glass and china usually don’t require such extra care.
I can’t stress enough the importance of family communication when giving heirlooms. Ask who wants the item. You might want to give it to someone who doesn’t want it and yet someone else, you hadn’t thought of really would cherish it. I remember a lady who wanted the tiny pistol her great-grandmother used to protect the family in pioneer days but because it was a gun, none of the girls were even considered. Instead it went to a boy who really didn’t care about it.
Don’t assume….….communicate and talk about things you want family members to hold dear when you are no longer with them.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
