NY Area :Old photographs are available

charliemis

This is from another group --- it should be sel-explanatory if you have any suggestions:

List Members---below is a communication from a Ms. Van Notti,
self-explanatory. If you are interested in the photos or have another
suggestion, contact her directly by email.
________________________________

From: Barbvannotti @ aol.com [mailto:Barbvannotti@aol.com]
Sent: Thu 1/24/2008 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: Old photographs

I have many old photographs (from my parents and their parents) some dating
back to the turn of the century (19th to 20th). Many of them of relatives
that I don't even know who they are. Some of them are signed and dated,
written in Italian that I can't read.

I live in Manhattan and have very limited space to keep them, and it's now
come to the point where I must do something with them. It pains me to throw
them out, and I know there must be someone/somewhere that would welcome
them. I just don't know who or where.

Please get back to me (soonest) even if it's not you ... perhaps you may
have a good suggestion -- I'd surely appreciate it.

Sincerely,
BV

Barbara Van Notti
340 East 80 Street - 16 J
New York, NY 10075

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___________________________________________

chanchisfea · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 250

Ack!!!!

That person should allow someone to scan every single picture and save them to a CD!!!! Saves space! Heck, send them to me and I'll gladly do so...I just did that for my father's only sisters and they are very grateful I did.

Not only did I scan all their pictures, but I restored the ones that needed to be restored and then made a copy for my aunts, my cousins and my sisters, that way if one loses their copy, there will always be someone who will have the same pictures Wink

I can't imagine getting rid of pictures for lack of space Shocked

I'm sure there is a chair or armoire that could be disposed off before getting rid of such precious memories...even if said person doesn't recognize everyone in the pictures Confused

Liz

Biff83 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 1263 Location: Florida

Goodness. I can't believe she'd even think of parting with them. I'd give anything to have photos of my family from that time period or any time period for that matter. I agree with Liz--get rid of something else that doesn't matter.

Biff

Poipu04

Maybe she should donate them to the Italian American museum? www.italianamericanmus.../index.htm

MikeSavoca91 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 399

NO WAY!!!! I would sooner throw out my bed! I have worked so hard to find and scan as many pictures as I possibly can, and I still want more. The first question for new cousins is "Do you have pictures?" and to throw them out makes me sick. I went to an antique store and there was an old box of photos on sale for 10 cents a pic. I flipped. How can you part or sell memories like that?

Cathy · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 2681

I'm with you Mikey! How can people do that?

MikeSavoca91 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 399

She should really put them in albums, and just put them in a box and try to find space. I know NYC can have tight quarters but I could never get rid of them. I might just email her, and try to help her out...there must be some family member that would like them.

MikeSavoca91 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 399

I emailed her, and told her some of your ideas. I hope she keeps them.

MikeSavoca91 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 399

Dear Mike Savoca,
Thank you for your response, interest, and encouragement. My family is very small, and no, I don't think anyone wants them. Everyone is trying to de-clutter, and since we Americans are such a consumer society with a lack of space ...
I don't know how to scan, and there are many, many so it would be a daunting job at best, but I do not plan to get rid of them. I will keep many, and may give them to a society, museum, organization. A couple of people contacted me (one in Italy and one in here in NY) who are "ethnic archaeologists and migration history researchers", so that might be a good lead.
Per your suggestion below (www.italianamericanmus.../index.htm), I didn't get anything -- I tried "museum" that didn't work, then I though maybe you meant a "wild card" -- ??
It was refreshing to see a young man with such sensitivity and respect for things that usually mean things to people at a much later stage in life -- very refreshing, Mike. I understand about old photos for a dime in some name store.
Again, thank you for thoughtfulness (and your kind offer) -- I will see that, if not in my own home, that they will have a good home.
Be well ...
BV

This was her reply. What do you think?

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

Mike -

You really are sweet and thoughtful. kiss

I think she'll probably keep the photos of family members she knows and what she'll do with the rest is anyone's guess.

Can I adopt you? Or.......maybe you can adopt me!! hide

You're a wonderful person and an old soul Mike.

Billie

Biff83 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 1263 Location: Florida

Mike,

I pray that my grandchildren will grow up like you. You are now officially mio nipote.

Zio Biff

charliemis

I was blown away when I first saw the woman's decision to get rid of the photos as I would "kill" to have old photos of my family. When I was a kid we had a single picture of my Maternal Grandfather who died when my Mom was a year old. Since my Grandmother moved away (from NW NY state to NYC) after my GF died, we had no contact with his family which was quite large (as I recently discovered over the last five years). When we sold my Mom's house after she moved into a nursing home, we somehow lost the picture. I have been on a quest to find another picture of him and/or his family. Over the last couple of years I have been very fortunate to obtain some copies from other family members I have connected with. I now have obtained pictures of his brothers and my Great Grandparents.

I had almost lost hope, however, that it would ever happen when I learned from a distant cousin that her Mom sold my Great Uncle's photos (you might recall my post about a Photo Studio in Buffalo where he worked) to someone who bought them to sell to restaurants. Some people just don't care about family, about the history of their family. This woman was embarrassed to tell me and disappointed herself about the loss of all the family pictures.

I have been fortunate to have now obtained some additional family pictures, but I still am NOT CERTAIN that my GF is in one of them as there is no one alive to verify that it is him including his two younger sisters (50 years younger) from my GGF's 2nd marriage who still live in San Giorgio Albanese.

And Mike, I am happy for your family that you are going to be the "keeper of the family history" for your family ---- way to go

MauroMags

I've seen this exact thread on H-net and maybe I'm being just cynical but i don't buy this lady's story... Is there any chance that she wants to cash in?

How much room can a box of 100-year-old photos take up?? And did she actually use the words "consumer society." I hope that she finds a home for these photos, but unfortunately, if she removes them from her family they undoubtedly become worthless because they lose their context. No one will know the stories that go along with the photos (even what little Ms. Van Notti can recall is valuable) Sort of like when an archaeologist removes an artifact from a site without proper documentation.

just my thoughts,
Mauro

MikeSavoca91 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 399

Aww Billie Biff thank you guys! And Charlie, I am glad to be the keeper. Some of the older family members love it, my parents want me out of the house lol! Oh well I've been adopted by Nuccia, Lee, Billie, and Nonna J from IG so I have options, and I am sure Biff, Cathy, and Gina would take take me too.

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

I'd take you in a heartbeat Mike kiss