Other Historic Items
This gallery consists of items that are as common as an engagement ring or wedding dress, and as diverse as an old policeman's belt or a bell collection. Yet all are unique in their own special way and say something different about our family histories.
Wedding Dress
Boston, MA
Great Grandmother gave it to my mom when she was still alive
My Great Grandmother had this dress made for her daughter Dale's Jewish wedding on August 24, 1968. Many, many years later, she gave it to my mom. My mother had it remade to wear to Dale's daughter's wedding on October 5, 2002. My Great Grandmother got to see my mom in her dress! My mom wore the dress again to another one of my Great Grandmother's grandduaghter's wedding (my cousin) on July 2, 2006!
This dress is not only important because it was my Great Grandmother's dress who has since passed away, but also because it was worn to so many Jewish weddings and celebrations! The dress is now 41 years old and maybe one day I will wear it too!
Engagment ring
San Francisco
Mom
This ring symbolizes the marriage between my great-grandparents. It was my great-grandma's engagement ring that my great-grandfather gave her. On the inside of the ring, my great-grandfather had engraved the initials M.T.Y.L.T.T. which means "More Than Yesterday Less Than Tomorrow". This signifies his love for her.
They were married in a temple, because they were both brought up in the Jewish religion.
Grandpa Henry's Police Holster
Bridgeport, CT
My Great-Grandfather
My great grandfather proudly served as a policeman in the Bridgeport, Connecticut police department. Unfortunately, he passed away before I was born and I never had the chance to meet him. My grandfather gave me his police issued holster as a remembrance of him and to remind me of whom I was named after.
The significance of the artifact to Jewish heritage is that I am a Jew. A big reason that I am a Jew is because of my great-grandfather. His parents immigrated from Russia and instilled in him a strong Jewish culture and sense of being that he then passed down to my grandfather who then passed it down to my dad and now to me. I would not be the Jew that I am today without my great-grandfather and this police holster is a strong reminder of who he was and what he stood for.
My great-grandfather was an honest man, who strongly believed in serving others to make the world a better place. He was a devout Jew and I am very proud to have been named after him.
A Set of Brass Bells
Probably Russia
Rhonda and Scott C.
These bells have been passed down through many generations, and once belonged to my great grandfather. My family has handled them with care and because of this they have lasted, for long enough that our generation is able to enjoy their beautiful sound.
This set of bells has traveled through at least four generations and have many interesting stories behind them, though we don't know if any of them are really true. One possibility is that they were taken at funeral by someone who loved the bells but we don't know for sure. These bells are very old and in their own way are important to my family.