Two years ago, I came across a collection of dusty photos. I looked to see if there were any names on the backs. I thought: if these were mine, or my family’s, I’d want someone to return them to me. So I made it my goal to do so for others.
I’ve since visited secondhand shops weekly, and have collected more than 50,000 of these items such as photographs, memory cards and undeveloped films-everything you can name it.
I’ve also set up a social media account to help reunite items with their owners or other family members. The first item I posted was a tape of a family holiday. It was a video of two parents and a son of university age on a trip in the 90s — the son was wearing a T-shirt with the words “Wesleyan swimming” on it.
My social media followers contacted athletic departments in universities across the US and asked swimming coaches from the 90s if they recognised the student. After just a few days, someone identified him and we tracked him down on social media. He couldn’t believe it and was happy to be reunited with the tape.
People are often quite emotional when we get in touch-most of these items are lost after a house move or a family death. I found a box containing two rolls of film at a shop in New York. Inside the box was a note with the time 1943 and the name “Friedmann”. One of my followers found a family named Friedmann. They confirmed their ancestors that were in the photographs.
I have some rules. I should remove their posts if the family does not want their memories online. Every family has been grateful to have their memories back. Only a Martin family asked for all of their memories to be removed online. I removed it, but they were still extremely grateful to me for returning them.
I’d love to create a building to hold all these memories. I want every photo and every video to be digitised so they can be preserved online. I’m bringing together a team to return the photos to their owners. People are very interested in the feelgood stories that come out of this and I do, too.
1. Why could the son be found after just a few days?
A.His T-shirt gave specific information. |
B.He was popular in swimming competitions. |
C.His coach identified him on the author’s post. |
D.The author had social media followers all over the US. |
2. What did the author think of Martin family’s request?
A.It’s selfish. | B.It’s valuable. |
C.It’s embarrassing. | D.It’s understandable. |
3. What is the best title for the text?
A.Preserving Memories with Photos. |
B.Tracking Photos Down on Social Media. |
C.Reuniting Families with Their Lost Photos. |
D.Collecting Photos in the Secondhand Stores. |