'So EXCITING!' Or 'When you find the silver lining'

Maybe it makes me cold? I'm so very excited to be making this post, but I don't think I'd be making it if my Great-Grandmother Jesse hadn't passed away.

Let me be clear, I miss her. I'd much rather she be alive and well than not, but none of us live forever and she's truly better now that she's passed. In her wake she's left a full life and many family members. During said full life she accumulated family photos and mementos that I'm not even sure most of the family is aware of. I certainly wasn't until I found a stash when I was a kid.

Maybe now's a good time to mention that I'm a family history enthusiast.
It was a huge discovery for me when I was a kid 20 years ago.
It's huge now that I've been given the opportunity to archive her collection.

Sadly while she was alive I was too timid to ask her questions about the photos and her family. I tried a few times, but I wasn't as aggressive as I should have been I guess. She wasn't cagey about it, she just waited for me to ask questions when I would bring it up, but I didn't know what questions to ask and I didn't want her to think I was only interested in the past and not the present. Now, as it is, I'll probably only ever be able to identify half the people in the photographs I've been able to get my hands on, if that.

Anyway! The fun, exciting part! I've got photos to share! Look, that University degree did get used. :p The first two I'm sharing are still works in progress. I have A LOT of items to work through, but I just liked these so much that I needed to share them sooner rather than later. I'll be posting my progress when I think to, but in this post I'll share two versions of each. The first version is 'as is' with the only alterations being removing glaring marks of damage. The second image is B&W and adjusted to a certain stopping point. They aren't necessarily 'correct' as I like a bit more contrast them some. I'll post 'correct' later. For now I'm just sharing something fun. Enjoy!

 The above image is of three boys: Estel James Lawson (1904-1974), Earvin Leo Lawson (1913-2001), and William Otho Lawson (1908-1979). It's printed as a post card, about 2"x3". Looks like a contact print, taped to the paper. I did a lot of dodge-&-burn on this one. I love the chicken in the back.

The above image is of my 2nd Great-Grandfather Jesse Adam Lawson (1891-1964), his brothers: Earvin Leo (the littlest boy from above), Roland Lawson (1915-1991), Estel (from above), William Otho (boy with the sling from above), and my 3rd Great-Grandfather Adam Granville Lawson (1870-1951). The black and white is 'incorrect', as I have the contrast set higher. I like it that way. I'll post the correct one later. Maybe. Also it needs more restoration work.