Dear List,
Sometimes I visist http://www.shopgoodwill.com which is an auction site of donated items from various goodwill establishments from various areas of the country.
For those unaware goodwill is a charity that raises funds for underprivilaged by selling donated flea market type items.
Quite often being auctioned are old single family photo's, scrapbooks and even complete photo-albums. Sometimes places and surnames of those pictured are noted, but often there are no surnames noted.. however ...doubtful that workers actually remove photos from frames or remove all photos from albums...perhaps names are on reverse side ...
Sometimes there are even old marriage, baptismal documents and even cards and letters.
Site does designate the locality the of items being sold were collected. Items are are also digitally pictured at the site...perhaps with luck one might recognize a photo....
For the life of me...I cannot understand why one would donate a family photo album to a charity auction...
Right now there is:
1902 "Boice" Family Photo
"Lucy De Boer George Boice, Picture taken in Wakeeney KS about early 1902. George was born Aug. 5, 1901".
Location Colorado Springs, CO US
And this:
2nd Collection of Old Photos Early 1900s
Here are a number of old photographs, many in display folders, that are of people in the early 1900s. They range in size from 4" x 6" to 8" x 10". There are dates in the 1950s and as early as 1905 on the photos. I have seen the last name of Wingfield on one and Stratton on another. There are over 15 photos and sheets of paperwork in the box that is geneology of their families back into the 1700s......
Location Bakersfield, CA US
Also a number of other such memorabilia that do not include such detailed description.
Anyhow... I look at the site once a month or so with the hope of getting lucky.
I once visited a local goodwill and purchased a little jubalee type booklet about an orphanage located in the county my Great-grandmother was born. It had photos, history and bios of persons involved with the orphanage. I purchased this little booklet for all of 10 cents!!!
Later I noticed a message board posting about this orphanage from someone who had an ancestor that lived at this very orphanage and was was able to send them copy of this little booklet. Perhaps this little booklet added just a tiny bit to this persons family history.
Orphanage was located Hoyleton, Washington County, Illinois U.S.A.
Warmest Regards,
Barbie
St. Louis