Organization of American Historians
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Handout 4: Clues From Attics

Reprinted from the OAH Magazine of History
16 (Winter 2002). ISSN 0882-228X
Copyright (c) 2002, Organization of American Historians
 

1. Check with older family members about family possessions handed down from one generation to another. They could be in:
  1. An attic or basement
  2. An old trunk or hope chest
  3. A strongbox or cardboard box
  4. The possession of an older relative

2. Clothing, furniture, quilts, silver, glass, artwork, clocks, and jewelry often make their way through families.

  1. Trace them back to the original owner.
  2. Get stories on why they were bought or who used them.

3. Check in books at the local library or historical society on historical decor, furnishings, clothing, and other artifacts to pinpoint a timeframe and help narrow potential ownership. (Note: A treasured item could be your story!)

4. Storage areas often yield old letters, diaries, yearbooks, family Bibles, diplomas, invitations, newspaper clippings, and souvenirs of events or trips. Do some detective work to uncover:

  1. The writer and recipient of letters, as well as when and where they were written
  2. Records of organizations and event mementos to help fill in gaps in family history
  3. Some probing questions to raise with family members