Don't expect your children to be as enamored over that antique photo of Uncle William as you are. They may not care if he served in WWI and you hold the only photo of him in uniform. Family photos are precious and someday someone will be grateful you included that special photo. You can purchase a scanner for a very low price these days. Scan your heirloom photos and put them on the Internet. Pick out the best ones. This way, his descendants can one day appreciate Uncle Williams cute smile. It's a wonderful opportunity we have as genealogists. Yes someday others will charge to see Uncle William's photo, today perhaps. But it's a lot better than vintage photos winding up in the garbage. Unfortunately, I've seen that happen.

Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy II, Uncovering the Jewish Roots of Our Christian Ancestors, available at Amazon, B&N and Ocean-Hose.