What I Scanned

I'm working on a project for another person that includes a scanning task to it. On Tuesdays, I drive to another location and scan someone else's stuff as part of a larger family history project that also includes research and more.

Yesterday was scanning day.

The items to be scanned are stored in file drawers. I do not know what's coming up in a given drawer. It's always a surprise.

The day started slowly in terms of scanning treasures. I went through some personal letters and some old photocopies of genealogy charts and handwritten notes. This family had a genealogist in it, so much has been passed down to the point where it now rests in these drawers.

Interest picked up when I opened a folder of yellowing photocopies of old published articles and excerpts of books. Someone at some point was working on the Martha Carrier line. I don't get paid to read, but I couldn't help but glance at these pages before I scanned them. The "Examination of Sarah Carrier" also mentioned here made for particularly good reading.

As I was winding down my day, I came across a letter written by an old man, in an envelope addressed to his wife and family. In it he describes how happy he is to have all his children and their families around him. He essentially feels his life is complete, he's happy with what he's accomplished and he's ready to go whenever death comes to take him.

He briefly describes his land and states that it's to be divided equally to his children. He requests that all property be transferred without conflict.

I wish I could share the letter with you because it was so well written. Though it is essentially a goodbye letter, it is very positive and full of hope and love.

So I scanned it, put it back in it's protective file, and moved on with the intent to preserve this man's family history and do my best to make it available for future generations.

Because that's how I roll.