We’re always told that “things” aren’t as important as people and our relationships, and of course that’s true, but sometimes the things in our life have wonderful stories.
I have a green Fire-King mixing bowl that is more than 70 years old; my parents received it as a wedding present when they married on May 25, 1941, and it was an important item in my mother’s kitchen all of her life. I’m sure she thought fondly of the friend who gave her the gift, but I suspect my very practical mother valued the bowl for one of the reasons that makes it important to me today—because it’s a really useful bowl! The handle makes it easy to hold, there’s a pour spout, and it’s just the right size for making a batch of muffins, pancakes, or coleslaw. My most vivid memory of this bowl involves potato salad and family reunions, and how mom would write her name on a piece of tape on the bottom of the bowl so that it didn’t get taken home by anyone else. I imagine it wasn’t the only green bowl on the table at those reunions.
Fire King products were sold in hardware and “dime” stores in the late 1930s and 1940s and were sometimes included as giveaways with other purchases. The dishes were popular because they were durable and inexpensive. They were sold through the 1970s. As collectibles, they are still popular today and frequently seen in antique stores.
My mother didn’t have a lot of “valuable” items to pass on: no expensive jewelry, furs, antiques, or fine collectibles. But this small green mixing bowl illustrates a point about the importance of remembering the story behind the everyday things in our lives. This bowl was a big part of her life—something she held and used almost every day. To me, that makes it much more valuable than any of those other things could possibly be. One day, I’ll probably pass this bowl on to one of my nieces, but not without making sure that whoever receives it knows its history and importance.
Sometimes items are important because they were regularly used and loved by someone important to us—as with my mom’s bowl—and sometimes they are important because of the story about how the owner came to acquire them. But in any case, when the person who knows the story is no longer around, these items are in danger of being discarded, of going to garage sales or the trash, and how sad that would be!
Many of my APH colleagues help clients or their own families find and save the stories behind household items like this, and over the coming weeks, this blog will highlight the stories of some of those: hand-knitted outfits, a bud vase, pressed flowers saved from a wedding bouquet, needlepoint Christmas stockings, a program saved from a WWI-era concert, a Singer treadle sewing machine, and even 50-year-old houseplants. What the item is or what it cost is not as important as the story and the meaning behind it.
What family/household items do you have that are important? Do you know the stories behind the items? How are you saving those stories?
About today’s contributor: D. Fran Morley is a freelance writer and editor in Fairhope, Alabama, who teaches classes in personal history writing and works with individuals and organizations to save their stories. She is Content Editor for the Association of Personal Historians.
I have my mother’s mixing bowls and use them along with a wooden spoon to mix what we call G-Ma’s brownies, always a hit. And I mean a big hit.
And I also have the wooden bottle opener and wooden jar opener, a set that is the most valuable asset that was handed down to me – and not my brother. Hah! I actually have the bottle opener hanging on the kitchen wall in a shadow box to needle my brother. Lots of meaning in those things!
At last year’s conference I spoke with a woman, a psychologist, who thought a retirement career would be writing about people’s things. I was a speed coach for her the time and suggested she call the business The Meaning of Things. I also suggested that as a psychologist writing about things could be a way to prevent family squabbles.
And it would preserve the memories and meaning of those objects.
Love this post, Fran.
Thanks, Sue! I think we need to hear more about that jar opener for another installment in this ‘things that matter’ series!! I’ll be in touch.
Love this post. My problem is space! I tend to be the “keeper” of these items in my family and I need to find a way to efficiently preserve the sentiment and the story. I’m considering a photo book and maybe turning an entire closet into an archive of some sort. Looking forward to more posts on this!
I have sets of dinnerware inherited from my mother, aunt, and step-grandmother–each with a story in my heart about what each meant to the woman who owned it and how they used it through their lives. If only those objects could talk!
My grandfather passed on to me a wooden harness bench that he used ages ago to repair harnesses and other leather pieces for his work horses. Whenever I feel the smoothness of the wood, I feel connected to him.
My regret is that I never talked to him about his life. When I was young, children were supposed to be “Seen and not heard.” Now I know to encourage my own grandchildren to ask questions.
Beth, I’m sure your grandchildren have heard the stories of their great great grandfather and his horses! How wonderful to have that bench as a reminder and connection to him.
Fran, I have the oil lamp my mother studied by as a girl on the farm. When I look at it, I’m reminded of what a different time my mother lived in, and how primitive the conditions of her home were compared to the home she and my father provided for me. I told the story of the lamp and included a photo of it in the tribute book I did after Mother passed away. So, thankfully, my children know why the lamp still resides in a place of honor and, hopefully, they will carry on that tradition. Thanks for a great article that reminds us it’s not the things but the story behind them!
Thanks for the interesting blog. I discuss ways to save the heirloom items in my presentations — as well as saving life’s stories.
I have my mother’s vegetable peeler – have had it for decades. I can’t honestly say it has a huge emotional impact on me but it’s just such a darn good tool! It feels good in my hand and they just don’t make them the same way anymore. I’d be devastated if I lost it!
This is such a great post – everyone has a story about a “thing’. Thanks for getting this going.