Treasure Chest Thursday -- Ethel Jenkins Trunk

Last year I was gifted with a trunk which had belonged to my Grandmother Ethel Jenkins.  The trunk had been in the possession of my Aunt Louise following the death of my Grandmother in 1964.  When my Aunt passed away, the trunk remained in her husbands possession until his death last year.  Upon his death my cousin gave the trunk to my Uncle Bill, the last of Ethel's living children.

I received a call from my Uncle and his wife asking if I would like to join them for lunch. I did, and it was during this lunch that my Uncle told me the trunk, and all it's contents, were mine if I wanted it.  I couldn't believe my ears and immediately said YES!!  We made arrangements to meet in a few weeks time at his home for me to look through the trunk and take whatever I wished.

The morning of the day I was to see the trunk for the first time, I couldn't contain my excitement!  I had shared with my Mom and my siblings that I would be receiving the trunk and they too were eager to find out what it contained!  My oldest sister Caren, who had learned from our cousin that the trunk contained fabric, asked if she could have the fabric.  She is a wiz with needle and thread and an avid quilter, so I of course said yes!

When I arrived at Bill's home he took me out to his back patio where the trunk was being stored as there was no room in his small condo.

The trunk is a steamer style trunk measuring 33"x18.5"x23".  Inside it has a shallow lift out "drawer" with a deeper compartment below.

On the top of the trunk written in white paint is the name of my Great-Uncle, and older brother of my Grandmother.  He was Rolla David Jenkins and he moved to Novato, California from Pennsylvania between 1942-1945 with his wife Annie.

My Grandmother inherited the trunk upon the death of her brother, Rolla, in 1956.  Rolla had inherited the trunk upon the death of his mother, and my great-grandmother, Verlinda Ellen Hardman in 1941.

Inside this trunk was a plethora of family treasures!  I am so blessed that my uncle choose to pass tis trunk on to me!! I will be photographing and documenting all of the trunks contents over the next several weeks.  Join me each Thursday as I share these treasures!

Treasure Chest Thursday -- My First Family Tree

In the summer of 1991 I was visiting my Grandparents, Bart and Virginia Bestor, at their summer home in Lake Tahoe Nevada.

I had told my grandparents earlier in our visit that I was interested in learning about my family heritage.  On a Saturday morning my grandfather sat down with me and he drew out this family tree.  The notes on the tree are mine, but the written tree is what my Grandpa wrote.

This tree is my most prized genealogical possession.  Even after all the additional data and documents I have been able to discover over the last 22 years, none of it means more to me than this simple hand written tree.

What this tree represents for me is a very cherished memory of sitting at my grandparents dining table as they talked to me about their parents and their grandparents and all the stories they past on to me that special day.
My Grandpa past away in 2007 and I am incredible grateful to all the time he devoted to helping me trace his ancestors and all the stories he shared with me so I could ensure his family legacy continues.

It truly is a family treasure!