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Preserving Personal Treasures – What Jaqui Loves (Part I)

Jaqui Reilly moved to Greensboro from New Jersey in 1995 and joined The Art Shop the following year. In New Jersey, she did framing for Eddie Murphy and Alan Alda among other notable celebs. She came to The Art Shop first as a client and was so knowledgeable we wouldn’t let her leave. She has amazing taste that has resulted in a very loyal following. Her favorite thing? Preserving personal treasures, which she describes in her own words:

I was lucky to be the daughter of a “saver.” My mother, a product of the Depression, was loathe to toss anything out, especially anything sentimental. The fact that she lived the whole of her married life and beyond, some fifty-six years, in the same house, contributed to her tendency to accumulate various collections.

Her mother (my grandmother), orphaned as a baby and widowed in her thirties, was also one of these “savers”. Always having to prove who she was, she held onto any family papers, letters, photos and mementos.

As a result of all this saving, I have quite a bit of history in my care. Among the accumulations are a photo album from the mid-1800’s, a few beautifully penned shipboard diaries from the northern naval side of the Civil War, clippings and articles from old newspapers and boxes of letters, some from overseas during the World Wars. Add to this numerous family photo albums and scrapbooks plus boxes of loose photos and papers.

The big question is: How do I enjoy some of these items now while preserving all of them for the future?
Since I eagerly anticipate a trip to the Normandy beaches, museums and cemeteries this summer, I want to start my focus on the World War II memorabilia in my possession. Foremost among these items are the Bronze Stars and Purple Heart medals my father earned in the small French town of Saint-Martin-de-Cenilly in July 1944. It is no accident that the main road through this town in southwestern Normandy is name “Rue de la Liberté.” The citation states that my father, a medic, tended to his fellow soldiers wounded by fire from enemy planes overhead although he himself was wounded. While Dad never mentioned the war, he was plagued with nightmares for years. I want to honor his service and remind us all of his sacrifice. (Here is a photo of him in France– he is in the center.)

Encasing these medals in a handsome shadowbox would both showcase and preserve them. To really personalize the piece, I added a photo of Dad in uniform and two of his pins. The first of these is the triangular “Hell on Wheels” or Second Armored Division pin. (Yes, he was part of General Patton’s troops!) The second is his “caduceus” pin that symbolizes medical practice.

The photo was given extra dimension by surrounding it with a small “frame” of its own made from an antique frame I had. I chose a khaki-colored suede mat for the backing and sides which combines texture with a good “army shade”. I surrounded the grouping with a dignified black and gold frame with depth and topped off the presentation with museum glass. This glass not only protects the contents from fading, but provides an almost glare-free view of the interior contents. The results of this project are pleasing to my entire family.

Jaqui has numerous other family treasures that will be the subject of future blogs. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, we’d love to have your comments about your treasures. What mementos of your family history have you inherited?

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