Very interesting thread. I have to say I'm lucky in my family. My grandmother on my mom's side has done extensive research on her family and has done as much as she can on my Grandfather. My dad's side is a little bit more difficult but I have lucked onto many gems at my my grandparents house (my grandparents are both gone now). Many many labled photgraphs from my grandmother's side and she does have a fairly decent record of geneology. This is the line that the Keiths come in. I have a photo of my great great grand mother and her sister, Ada and Ida Keith. Luckly my dad saved many photo albums and phots from my great grandmother's house on the Siegmann side as well. While two albums aren't labled very well, or in one case at all, I have found many connections with relatives of my grandfather. My great great grandfather was an imagrant. I've had a dickens of a time trying to find all of his decendents. He only had seven children but it's been difficult trying to find them. However my grandmother saved EVERYTHING, and so at her house crammed in two close hampers a chest of drawers and a cedar trunk are mostly letters and cards she's recieved from people. I have not been able to go through them but I have a feeling I'll find many many family connections in those cards and letters.

A word of advice to anyone who has grandparents, parents or other relatives who pass away... go through everything. If they saved cards and letters, save them, because they will help you in your research... they will help very much! Another tip, when you're done with your research and you have no idea what to do with all of the cards, letters etc., see if any historical societies in the places they were sent or came from would like them. Often times because the cards and letters refer to events and every day life in those places the historical societies are very interested in them. Never throw them away. You can always find a home. If your children or other family (or if you don't have any family) don't want the photos, make arrangements to have them donated to the respective historical societies where the people came from. They are always glad to recieve those items as well.