Monday, February 25, 2013

Pictures Tell A Story



The photo I posted last time showed the John Thomas Dempsey family and many of their spiritual and temporal values. What do you think the family is trying to communicate by the way they posed the picture. Back in the early 1900's when the picture was taken it was a serious matter to spend the time, money, energy and effort to have a family photo taken. With the advent of the telephone camera we have made photography easy, cheap, and universal. That was not the case in 1910.

They would have thought about what values and principles they wanted to communicate. Rev. J.T. and Belle and the entire family are dressed in their Sunday best. It is a formal occasion. One in which they had to prepare.What else can we discern?

He and Belle are holding the Holy Bible opened to a passage of scripture. Although we do not know which passage, we know their lives are based on the Bible.

As you look at the photo more carefully, ask yourself what you think the rest of the photo is telling us about this family at this time in life.

You can get a copy of my text book How to Be Me in My Family Tree at the web store.  In that book you will learn how to start the process of tracking your own family heritage and discern what the photos and memorials mean to you and your offspring.

The photo above was taken of the three male offspring of Nancy (Nannie) Dempsey Taylor. Left to right are: John Max Kirk, son of Lelah Taylor Kirk, Maurice Dwayne Sweeten and Gary Ray Sweeten, sons of Leota Taylor Sweeten. Later John Max was joined by Linda Ann and Danny Dale and The Sweeten boys by Tommy Taylor.

What does this photo tell you?


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