OK so how weird is this??

**MaryAnne** · 29-06-2012, 08:32 AM

Found some photos online of my family meeting with President Gerald Ford.

http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/lib...1008_NLGRF.jpg

We are mostly on the top row. The lady with the beehive flip is NOT my mom.

My father was a Secret Service agent (yes, one of the guys who jogged alongside the Presidential cars and was trained to take a bullet for him if need be

) and I can't recall WHY we were invited to meet him, but we were. I must have been about 16 at the time.

This brings to mind a couple of things - first, it is amazing what you can find on the internet if you know how to look for it

Next, that I know my mom has loads of similar photos from the White House children's Christmas party every year, mostly family group shots in front of the White House Christmas tree - why don't *I* have these to scrapbook?? It's not like I've never asked for copies. And .. really? who thought a polyester leisure suit was EVER stylish? My poor 12 yo brother.

**Cris** · 29-06-2012, 08:37 AM

What great photos to find. Hasn't your mum got copies of these too?

Cris

**MaryAnne** · 29-06-2012, 08:48 AM

Yes, but she's not made copies available to ME, despite me asking

**scarymary555** · 29-06-2012, 09:32 AM

Wow....Secret Service Agent?!?? How cool it must have been to have a Dad like that.

They'd make some wonderful scrapbook pages....if only you could get your hands on them.

**gwyneth 123** · 29-06-2012, 10:34 AM

What a fantastic set of photos to have, well if only you had them that is !
Can't you ask one of the family to scan the ones your Mum has. A fantastic historical record for your children/grandchildren in years to come.
I know where you're coming from though. My Brother has most of our family photos, including most of my childhood photos and it's like trying to get blood out of a stone to get copies from him too.So annoying !!

**Hysteri-CAL** · 29-06-2012, 11:43 AM

Wow - now that IS a story to tell !

**Chris55** · 29-06-2012, 12:21 PM

Brilliant photos, what a pity your Mum hasn't had copies done for you. I hope you get some in time.

**Voodoo Vixen** · 29-06-2012, 01:25 PM

OOooooh what fabby pages you could make with those... with background music from the Bodyguard!!

Whilst I can see the reasoning of one person being the 'keeper of the family photos' it would be nice if they would at least scan them and pass them around or have copies made for other family members. I am lucky because I have become the 'chosen one' because I scrapbook and my DH does geneology which means that we end up with boxes of the stuff... now to just stay in UK for a while and be able to do something with them would be great!

**Mollymoo** · 29-06-2012, 02:35 PM

I have a similar challenge - when my gran died my uncle took all the maps my grandfather did of the trenchs from WW1, and all the other paraphanelia - despite asking several times for copies I am not allowed, apparently they are too precious to be touched...well I believe these things shoudl eb treasured and enjoyed and if they arent going to preserve and share them that what use is keeping them

sorry didnt mean to shanghi your thread

what super photos - I hope you get copies

**krafty1** · 29-06-2012, 03:55 PM

You could try contacting the museum staff and ask if it's possible for them to email copies of the pictures to you.

Gerald R. Ford Library
1000 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Telephone: (734) 205-0555
Fax: (734) 205-0571

Staff Directory Gerald R. Ford Museum
303 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5353

Telephone: (616) 254-0400
Fax: (616) 254-0386

The staff will no doubt be used to people asking and the fact that your dad was actually staff might help your request.

Hope you manage to get copies, they would be great to have.

**fruitysuet** · 29-06-2012, 05:07 PM

Wow MA what a treasure trove there. I would be so upset about not getting copies either (I've faced similar procrastination with my own mum passing me photos from my own childhood, but we've just got there this year!). I agree about contacting the library, definitely would be a great story to tell.