Digitizing Our Family History

Lately I've been on this kick about preserving our old family photos and slides by scanning them into reproduceable digital files that can be easily shared between family members on the Internet. A couple of weeks ago, we purchased a dual-sided scanner that can scan photos or slides, and over Thanksgiving we brought home the slides that were in my dad's closet. Although it's an ongoing project, I thought I'd share my Top 10 favorite photo scans thus far.



James on a horse in Mexico. (08/1973)

10. James on a horse in Mexico. This slide was taken during our family trip to Mexico in the summer of 1973. I'm pretty sure it was taken on my Uncle Tomas' farm in Totatiche, Jalisco. I love the expression on my face, as well as the pistol that I'm pulling out of my holster. Take note of my huaraches, Mexican sandals that are made with soles from recycled tires.



Tina in Yosemite. (08/1971)

9. Tina in Yosemite. This slide of my mom, taken on our 1971 trip to Yosemite, intrigues me. It makes me wonder what was going on in her mind at the time. Love the glasses and her wind-blown hair.



Robert and his fro. (1978)

8. Robert on the eve of his Junior Prom. What's not to love about this slide? The lapels. The ruffles. The fro. Who wouldn't kill for that burgundy tuxedo with piping today? Nothing says 1978 better!



Tina and Robert in front of "It's a Smal World." (08/1968)

7. Tina & Robert at It's a Small World. This slide of my mom and my brother, on their first trip to Disneyland in 1968 is a classic. I also love the lady on the side with the matching shoes, purse and eyeglasses.



Ruben & Tina in Mexico City. (1960)

6. Ruben & Tina in Mexico City. This is one of the few slides taken of my parents together before any of the kids were born. It was in Mexico City during a trip the same year they got married. In the background is the Torre Latinoamericana, which was the tallest skyscraper in Latin America at the time.



Tina and Robert in front of Mt. Shasta. (07/1962)

5. Tina holding Robert at Mt. Shasta. This stunning slide was taken en route to the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle. I don't know if they intentionally wore clothing to match the color of the sky, but I doubt it.



Relatives somewhere in Mexico. (1960)

4. Relatives in Mexico 1960. I don't exactly know who everyone in this slide is, but I was stunned by the dramatic lighting and clouds, as well as the work truck in the background. This picture looks more like the 1930s dust bowl than the Mexico in 1960, like something that could have been taken by depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange, not my dad.



Ruben in his army photo. (1958)

3. Ruben's Army Photo. This is proably the best portrait I have of my Dad. Taken at age 24 during his two-year stint in the U.S. Army, it shows a youthful side of my dad that I rarely see.



Tina, Ruben, James & Robert celebrate Christmas in Chicago. (12/1971)

2. Christmas in Chicago. Believe it or not, we have very few pictures of everyone in my immediate family all in one shot. Usually it's one of the parents that's taking the photo. This photo is one rare exception.



Tina. (04/1954)

1. Tina in Chicago. I love this photo of my mom taken in Chicago in 1971. It was taken in the old neighborhood they called "The Bush" due to its heavy shrubbery. From what I remember, she's posing with the new car that one of my uncles had just purchased.


Click here to see James' ongoing collection of vintage photos and slides,