Breathing new life into old photos since 2012.
Henry Anflick was my mother’s paternal grandfather. Piecing together his early family history has been a conundrum. It may be time to call in the professionals to whisk me away, Who Do You Think You Are? style, to the place of his birth: Odessa, Ukraine. Okay, well, maybe best to wait until things settle down over there. The current unrest notwithstanding, some Ukranian archives are probably the most likely place to find clues as to this man’s origins. Continue reading
I’m continuing with great-grandparents this week. Here’s one about whom I’ve never heard an ill word spoken. This is William Pickersgill Harrison, III, aka “Pud”, my father’s maternal grandfather. Continue reading
Of all the heros on my family tree, I believe none are more widely and openly venerated by his living descendants than this man, Antonino Rocco Scaletti. I say widely because that describes the breadth of his progeny. I say openly because he is the only one of my great-grandparents for whom photographs and memories are facebook news feed staple among his living grandchildren. Continue reading
Upon the seventh installment of my 52 Ancestors series, I finally write about someone whose name I share. Joseph Aloysius Graham, Sr., was my great-grandfather of the paternal line. His birth record is a curiosity for genealogists like me, who strive to explain every detail accurately: Continue reading
I’m paying homage this week to the other grandparent that I lost during my youth. A great grandparent. “Great-Grandmom” Johanna Harrison. Continue reading
Here is one of my better efforts, done for a client a few weeks ago. I don’t offer full colorization (yet), but if some portions of your photo have been discolored, I can match the unaffected portions of the image. This restoration took several sessions to complete, so I would ask more than usual. Remember, though, that I do watch a lot of American Pickers, so I’m open to negotiation.
My own personal memories of Grandpop, my mother’s father, are few and quickly dissipating. I remember he used to stop by randomly, bringing with him a bounty of Chinese food. Continue reading
I haven’t yet planned out my year of ancestors. I might plan it, so as not to neglect some essential persons. (Who would be a non-essential person?) So far, I’ve chosen whom to write about week-by-week, and preference has gone to heroic people with great stories,for whom I have a picture suitable for restoration, and about whom, I suspect, most living people in family would not have known, but for my research. The trend continues this week, with one slight difference: This week’s ancestor is a hero of the everyday variety. I don’t expect to find her picture in the newspaper, or any recordings of her in the Library of Congress. No buildings bear her name. No gimmicks. No tricks. Don’t let any of that fool you. She’s a family hero. She is Anne Reibold. Continue reading
Maybe I’m front-loading my list with family superstars whom I truly admire. I think you’ll begin to see, however, that no story is too small, as Amy Johnson Crow will remind us. To the contrary, I think the heroism of my everyday ancestors will reveal itself once it is properly showcased beside the legends. All stories are big, in a way.
This week’s legend is Philadelphia Judge John P. Boland, a cousin of my paternal grandfather’s father. Continue reading
I took an interest in my maternal grandfather’s family early on for three reasons: First, he died in in 1986, when I was five years old, so my memories of him are barely there. I could nary remember what he looked like before my mother showed my some pictures for my nascent genealogy project. Researching him and his family is a way to make up for lost time. Second, he was Jewish, whereas my other three grandparents were Catholic. I was raised Catholic, myself, so researching his family has been like adopting a new culture. Perhaps most of all, however, the name fascinates me. Continue reading
© 2024 Photo Restorations by Tim G.
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
Recent Comments