Your Family Photos Are Disappearing: One Man's Mission to Save 10,000 Memories

Have you ever wondered what stories are hiding in those old photo albums collecting dust in your basement? For Eric Allen, inheriting thousands of slides from his grandfather wasn't just about preserving images – it was about racing against time to save precious memories before they disappeared forever.

"They're going bad … and that's the scary part about it to me. The stuff sitting in your basement or your attic or your garage is actually eroding, and your ability to turn it into something digital is going away.”

As a Vice President of Marketing at Ancestry, Eric has spent years helping others discover their family stories. But when his grandfather passed away in 2019, leaving behind thousands of deteriorating slides, the mission became deeply personal. What started as a COVID lockdown project evolved into a passionate pursuit of preserving not just images, but the stories and connections they represent.

"Every single one of these has a story associated with it and that's part of the puzzle, that's part of the fun."

 

The Whole Story

Haven't listened to the episode yet? Take a moment to listen to my conversation with Eric here:

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🎧Listen to the full episode to experience:

• How Eric's grandfather's role as the family historian shaped his own journey
• The moment at Guilford Courthouse that made history come alive for Eric
• The unexpected discovery in his grandfather's slides that led to a heartwarming reunion
• Why preserving photos isn't just about the past – it's about future connections
• The technical details of digital preservation that anyone can use

The Power of One Story

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation comes when Eric shares the story of two little girls photographed in Hawaii in the 1950s. Through determined detective work and what he calls "being a little bit creepy," Eric managed to track down one of the girls' granddaughters on Facebook. The response was immediate and emotional: "That's my grandma. I can't believe this. I've never seen a photo of her at that age."

This story perfectly encapsulates why preservation matters. Every image captures a moment that might otherwise be lost to time, and every connection made through these images creates ripples of meaning across generations.

Your Story

Think about the photos and memories in your own family. Are there boxes of slides in your parents' attic? Old photo albums yellowing in a closet? VHS tapes of family gatherings that haven't been viewed in decades? These aren't just objects – they're time capsules waiting to be opened and shared.

Story Seeds 🌱

Plant these conversation starters and watch your family stories grow.

1. "Mom/Dad/Grandma, do you remember what kind of camera our family used when you were growing up? What was your favorite thing to take pictures of?"
2. "When you look at old family photos, which one brings back the strongest memories for you? Can you tell me about what was happening that day?"
3. "Did our family ever lose any important photos in a move or disaster? What photos do you wish you still had?"
4. "Who was the photographer in your family growing up? Did they have any special way of organizing or storing the photos?"

Story Sparks 🔑

Unlock your family's hidden stories with these research techniques.

1. Create a preservation plan: Identify what types of media you have and research the best methods for digitizing each type.
2. Start small: Choose one photo album or set of slides to digitize first. Don't let the scope of the project overwhelm you.
3. Share as you go: Don't wait until everything is perfectly organized. Start sharing photos with family members now and gather their stories and memories.  The easiest way to do this is to upload these digitized pictures to your Ancestry family tree.  Then, share your tree with your family members.
4. Identify people you don’t know:  Who in your family might know who these people are?  If you don’t know, upload the photo to your family tree and use the “recognize ancestor” feature to see if anyone else might know.

As Eric reminds us, "You die twice – once when you really die, and once the last time someone says your name." By preserving and sharing these visual memories, we keep stories alive for generations to come. Whether it's a mysterious photo of strangers in Hawaii or a precious image of a great-grandparent, every picture has the potential to create connections across time.

Ready to start your own preservation journey? Subscribe to Stories That Live In Us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us each week for more inspiration and guidance on discovering and sharing your family stories. And if you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate and review it – your support helps others find these important stories too.