On 24 February 2015, I received a zip file with 251 images of about 150 old photographs from my 4th cousin once removed, Joe ROONEY. His cousin Sandra LILLIE had saved them from the trash can. Joe and I share my 4th great-grandparents Landon S. GOWING and Sally CRISP as ancestors. The story of how these old photographs came into his possession is included in this note he wrote:
15 February 2015: This collection of photographs was scanned at 300 dpi color by me. The original photos were sent by Sandra Lillie about ten years ago after she found them cleaning out a relative’s garage in Southern Illinois, finding no other takers (suckers). She believes they were a collection by L Vance Lillie. Many of the pictures seemed to be removed from frames or were in albums evidenced by fading characteristics and may have been from other’s collections. I scanned the reverse if there was laboratory advertising or writing. Some of the authors’ identification may be figured out of the handwriting matches. I did not scan the reverse of photos where there was only a three digit number that I believe to be sequence numbers on a roll of film. I didn’t spot any obvious helpful commonalities.
Cousin Joe derived file names from personal recognition or what was written on the reverse side. He used surnames first, given names next, and tried to find some means of differentiating photos of the same person by including detail: sitting, standing, wearing a hat, a date or some other detail from the photo. The pictures that were not identifiable he labeled with UNK and details.
I asked Joe about using the photos and he kindly wrote, “Please use them at your will. I feel it is keeping it in the family and don’t need credit. If anything, I appreciate your evaluations, identifications, and detective work. I’m hopeful you and yours enjoy them. On a blog, in a book, above a cloud.” So as a spin-off of my 52 Ancestors: #14 Albert Spencer LILLIE (1848-1913) ~ Old Photographs Saved From Trash Can blog post I am sharing the photos, one person at a time.
As of 14 October 2015, this collection of photographs is in my possession. Joe Rooney kindly gifted them to me to use on my blog and facilitate the search of possible close descendants interested in giving them a permanent home.
#1 Albert Spencer LILLIE (1848-1913)
#3 Green Berry Lyon GLASS (1864-1933)
#4 Mary, Daniel, and Lillie SMILEY
#5 Thomas Nathaniel “Tom” LILLIE (1881-1944)
#6 George Wyte LILLIE (1874-1943)
#7 Robert Wiley LILLIE (1895-1940)
#8 Isaac Spencer LILLIE (1872-1932)
#9 Florence ROYALTY (1868-1946)
#10 LILLIE Family 1920 Reunion
#11 In Remembrance of Everett Isaac LILLIE (1915-1944)
#12 Florence ROYALTY’s Postcards
#13 Samuel L. ROYALTY (1829-1902)
#14 Joanna PALMER (1833-ca. 1871)
#15 Mathilda J. “Tillie” ROYALTY (1859-1939)
#16 Charles W. ROYALTY (1861-1922)
#17 John Quincy ROYALTY 1866-1918
#19 Guy Royaltey BOSWELL 1893-1979
#22 Charles Edgar WELLS 1886-1973
#23 Frances “Fannie” WELLS 1892-1975
#28 Martha Olephene ENOCH (1844-1904)
#29 Alice B. LOSTUTTER (1867-1891)
#30 Caroline “Carrie” ENOCH (b. abt. 1862)
#33 Sarah M. PADDOCK 1835-1919
#34 An Incorrectly Labeled Picture
#36 Otterbein E. PADDOCK 1874-1942
#39 The Two Cora B.’s of Pope County, Illinois
#45 Three LILLIE Men and #46 Husband and Wife (Corrections)
#48 Raymond Egbert “Splitty” LILLIE (1904-1970)
#51 An Unidentified Family Portrait
#53 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#54 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#55 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#56 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#57 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#58 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#59 Samuel Royalty “Roy” LILLIE 1895-1979
#60 A Souvenir Photo from The Pike
#61 Bartender and Owner of Brazell’s Bar in Detroit
#62 Samuel Roy LILLIE and his Retirement Plaque
#64 Brother and Sister in 1950
#65 The Collector and a Collectibles Book
#67 John ROYALTY (b. bef. 1803-d. bef. 1850)
#68 Portrait of a Man with Beard
#71 Chester Beryl LILLIE 1900-1921
#72 Ruth Joanna LILLIE 1907-1986
#73 Ruth Joanna LILLIE, Part 2
#74 A Church Gathering of Unknown People
#76 The LILLIE Family Portrait
#79 The Unusual Hairdo (Identified)
#83 William F. HOLT Family of Brookport, Illinois
#85 The Strangest Thing Happened
#87 Tintypes, Cartes de Visite, Cabinet Cards
#89 Everett Isaac LILLIE (1915-1944)
#90 Charlie LILLIE and his Mrs. and #90 Charlie LILLIE and his Mrs. (Part 2)
#91 A Series of Brick Wall Photos
Old Photographs Saved From Trash Can – A Blog Book
© 2015-2019, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.
I continue to be amazed by your work, Cathy. You are an inspiration.
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Thank you Elizabeth. I enjoy your blog too.
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How exciting to acquire such a treasure trove! I love old photographs, and of course they are so much more meaningful when they are of your own family. That’s great that together you’ve saved them.
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Thank you Kristen. They are related to one of my collateral lines – ancestors of my cousins. I am happy to be able to share them with others.
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Very cool project!
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I am learning a lot by doing it too. Thank you Amberly.
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This is such a good idea! I ended up with a couple of turn-of-the century velvet photo albums–most of the photos are unidentified. I THINK they are some connection of my step-grandmother. Possibly by featuring the photographer and the town in a blog post, I’ll be able to identify more of them.
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Karen, I would love to read yours if you decide to share your photos in this way. People love old photographs and once you get one identified there’s a domino effect. Thank you for stopping by.
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Cathy, your blog post inspired me! I’m scanning in the first of the photos this morning. 🙂
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Good news, Karen! I’m now following your blog so when you’re ready to post them I won’t miss them.
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I happened on your site googling something for my own genealogy. I don’t think we are related by blood, but I have lots of roops in my tree, including one who married my great uncle. You have a great site and I have something similar I use to share the discoveries I have found with my extended family. You are welcome to check it out. There may be some articles that are of interest to you including some on Snowville and the area in Pulaski Co. http://www.family.dianathornton.com
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Thank you, Diane. I’ll be stopping by!
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