A Journey of Rediscovery: Reuniting Memories
Loss
During the pandemic, many experienced feelings of loss and isolation. Mixing these feelings while also being home, sparked a desire to declutter, creating a perfect storm that led to a series of unexpected outcomes.
As a result, a collection of photos, letters, a diploma, and even a baby book were unintentionally donated to the library within a box of books. At that time, the library tried to reach out to potential relatives but was unsuccessful. Consequently, this trove of treasured memories languished on a shelf for years, waiting for the chance to be rediscovered and returned to its rightful family.
Rediscovery
It was while looking for a postage stamp that GPL Librarian Emily came across an unexpected manila envelope in an office cabinet. Her curiosity was piqued when she noticed that it was filled with items like greeting cards, photos, and other documents. As GPL’s unofficial historian, she immediately recognized their value.
Emily said, “I spoke with my director, and she mentioned that she had tried to find someone, but unfortunately, it was unsuccessful at that time.
With the library on the verge of significant changes, preparing to move, I felt it was crucial for us to bring these items back home. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone’s family would be missing these precious memories.”
Research
Once Emily found the stamp she had been originally seeking, she set about trying to track down the owner of these sentimental items.
Since taking over GPL’s archives and historical databases, Emily has worked to build up these resources for the community. One of these additions proved pivotal in tracing the items back to whom they belonged: FamilySearch.
Emily first confirmed that the documents’ original owner had passed away in the early 2000’s. Then she tracked down a deceased relative’s obituary. From there, she identified living relatives. Finally, she cross-referenced details with AtoZdatabases revealed that the family was located in Gretna.
Two missed calls later, and the owner was found.
Reunion
Emily shared, “I felt a sense of relief when I finally managed to reach his wife, as it had seemed like a long shot after all these years. During our conversation she shared that she had moved from Iowa to Gretna a few years back. She mentioned that she was just so surprised to receive a call from us saying that we had the documents, as she did not realize they were missing.
When she came to the library, she wanted to confirm the photos were her husband’s, ensuring she wasn’t taking someone else’s memories. She was happy to have the photos back to share with her family.
It made me so happy to help restore important memories that could have been lost and I could not have done that without the resources we have at the library.”
Everyone at the library is thrilled with this outcome, and we recognize that such achievements are only possible due to the foresight to preserve these items, by our library director, and the dedication of a librarian who is passionate about researching to find the rightful owners.
