SAVING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE

 These documents provide a firsthand account of historical events, societal norms, and personal experiences. They offer insights into the lives of ancestors and their perspectives on significant events.

Preserving these letters and documents helps maintain and pass down a family's legacy. They connect current and future generations to their roots, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.

Old letters and documents are valuable resources for genealogists and family historians. They provide vital information about family relationships, names, dates, and locations, aiding in tracing genealogical lines.

Vintage letters and documents offer a glimpse into the cultural and social context of the time period in which they were written. They shed light on customs, traditions, and everyday life, enriching our understanding of history.

These documents often contain personal anecdotes, emotions, and reflections, providing a deeper understanding of our ancestors' personalities, struggles, and triumphs. They humanize history and make it more relatable.

Letters and documents serve as tangible reminders of loved ones who have passed away. Preserving them honors their memory and allows future generations to feel connected to those who came before them.

Vintage letters and documents can be used for educational purposes, both within families and in academic settings. They serve as primary sources for research projects, historical studies, and literature analysis.

Some vintage letters and documents may possess artistic or cultural value. Handwritten letters, for example, may feature beautiful calligraphy or artistic sketches, showcasing the artistry of the past.

She had never seen a picture of her mother at such a young age - so the image was gifted to her.

He had no tangible evidence of his great-great-grandfather - so the letter was gifted to him. 

Several items have been gifted to family members in a relative's direct line. 

Mary Ann Freeman, Hester Freeman Meehan's older sister, married Arthur Thomas in 1873. They settled in Wheaton, Illinois, where they raised a family of ten children. Mary shared many pictures with Hester, which were passed down to me. 

In 2013, my Wheaton collection was donated to the DuPage County Historical Museum., located at 102 E. Wesley, Wheaton, IL.

William Meehan and other families from Maywood, Illinois, were members of the Booker T. Washington Progressive Club of Zion, Il. Memorabilia from William's collection were donated to the Museum for inclusion in their BTWP Club collection. 

The Dunn Museum periodically exhibits items from the collection. The Museum is located at 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL.

In 2016, the Nebraska State Genealogical Society issued a Certificate of Recognition to Charles and Hester Freeman Meehan as a Century Family of Nebraska for their contribution to the state's development. 

A letter from Charles to his son, Bill; a note from Hester written after a death; letters from the Meehan children and grandchildren; and, letters from Meehan friends from Nebraska. All are being scanned and some will be shared. 

Original copies of William Meehan's poetry, written from about 1909 to the 1930s, are being scanned. The documents were damaged during a house flood and are very fragile. Because of mold, it is uncertain how many can be salvaged. The scanned copies will substitute for the originals if they must be distroyed.

The sermons were written between the mid-late 1940s and 1965. After Bill's death in 1965, many of the sermon notes were gifted to his nephew, George Brown, a lay preacher. Those that remain are being scanned.

Many of the Meehan family pictures have been scanned and shared several times. All are being rescanned for consistency and documentation. The group related to the family's life in Nebraska were scanned first, then all other pictures with known subjects, and finally, images of unknown subjects.

This group includes William Meehan's 1914 diploma from School District 113 in Cherry County, Nebraska; a legal notice about the sale of Charles Meehan's last forty acres of land in Cherry County; a telegram from Ed Meehan to his brother, Bill, telling of their father's death.

My maternal grandmother, Sarah Handsor Boswell, her sisters, sisters-in-law, and her aunts were prolific letter writers. I am blessed to have these letters and to be given the gift of learning a little about the lives and character of these ladies. Pictured here is the last page of a letter from my grandmother's sister, Burrel Handsor Davis.