Every Day Items
These have been used in the day to day life of our families. While they are everyday items each one is special in their own unique way. Each one reminds us of the people who wore them or used them in the past.
Pocket Watch
Switzerland
Sy F./Grandpa
My grandpa likes clocks a lot and so does my dad. Grandpa's brother bought him his first nice watch. This pocket watch was purchased on May 11, 1972 in Switzerland by my grandma and grandpa. They paid $787.00 for it. Grandpa gave it to my Dad last year.
Hopefully this will stay in our family for a long time. It represents our history and means a lot to our family.
Waltham Pocket Watch
Roxbury, Massachussets
Great Aunt Pearl
This particular watch has been passed from generation to generation in my family. My great, great, great-Grandfather received it from his father. There are initials inscribed on the back of the watch, WEK, for William and Eva K.
Our watch has a cover which identifies it as a hunter's watch. It is in outstanding condition and can still be used. The watch was worn by my great aunt as a necklace for a number of years.
The watch was given to the first Jewish immigrant in my father's family to come to the United States. My Great Aunt Pearl recently sent me the watch as my Bar Mitzvah gift.
Baby Blanket
U.S.
Grandmother
This blanket was made for my grandma (My mom's mom) by her grandma (My mom's mom's mom's mom) when she was born. We have pictures of my grandma, as a baby, with this blanket.
This blanket is meaningful because it was handmade. It is one of the few things that we have from my great-great-grandmother. My grandma kept it all these years and my mom has it now.
Papa Eddie's Ties
Mostly Italy
Paternal Grandfather Edward P.
My grandfather's ties are very special and sentimental to my family because they remind us of my grandfather who passed away several years ago. They remind me of his fun spirit, love of fine things, and the fun times I had with him.
My grandfather Edward P. was a very proud Jewish man. He raised my father Jewish and my father is raising me with the same Jewish traditions and values.
Brass Door Lock & Key
United States
Grandmother
This brass lock and key were the lock and key used by my great-grandfather at the clothing store he opened after coming to the United States in the late 1930s from Poland. My great-grandfather and his family came to the United States by ship and could bring only what they could carry themselves and arrived with almost no money. The brass lock and key are important because they are a symbol of the hard work and dedication of my great-grandfather, who was forced to start his life over after leaving Poland.
The brass lock and key represent the opportunities that were unlocked for my great-grandfather after suffering great prejudice and hardship in Poland in the 1930s. My great-grandfather and his family realized both religious freedom and economic opportunity in the United States.