A once in a lifetime find at an estate sale. Never in my wildest dreams did I EVER think I would stumble across something like this! Follow me on Instagram @paperandmoose #treasurehunter #historian #ephemera
Maybe she can do a series and read them out to us that would be lovely. Museums are great but often they have so much stuff they can not always display everything anyways and the items could be left in storage for quiet a while before ever being displayed.
I just came across your page... I actually cried while listening to you talk about this amazing find. Much respect to you for stating up front that these precious diaries are not for sale. Absolutely the find of a lifetime. Congratulations! 👏
Some years ago, my mom was in a thrift shop, when a couple came in and doated an old wall clock. They had inherited it, and said it had been in their great grand parents home, and maybe even before that. But it did not fit with their decor, and they could not get it to work. My mom called me, and I got down there, and bought it. As it did not work, I got it cheap. It was a very beautiful, antique regulator, with beautiful carvings and lots of intricate detail in a very good quality, light oak. The only thing wrong with it, was that it needed to be wound up.... It even came with two keys... And I have found lots of gorgeous antiques like that. For me, they are history too 🙂
So glad you found the Diaries and they did not end up buried in a landfill . You were meant to find them , they are in good hands now , that soldier poured out his heart into those pages and you will hold those words kindly and with such respect . Hope you have a safe place to keep them. It would bring tears to my eyes to read the words that a soldier wrote over 150 years ago .
Congratulations on your great find! I’m a family genealogist with 3 great uncles who served on the union side while many cousins who remained in NC fought for the Confederacy. I have one letter one of the boys wrote home to mother so I know the excitement and awe you are feeling. I’m also wondering what unit your soldier was in and from what state. You were the right person at the right time to do him honor.
I don't even have words to express the excitement I feel for you. Somewhere in time, your life and that of a colonial soldier were marked at the exact moment when your lives would collide. God knows exactly who he has entrusted with the words of a soldier, couldn't be anyone better or more deserving than you. Well done Rene, well done. 🕊️
I couldn't agree more. Such a treasure. Renee is the one person who will give the diaries all the respect and care they deserve. Might be worth her time to trash pick at that home after the estate sale is over .
Saved for the Nation - a critically important historical item. The best find for the best person. Delighted for you. Delighted it has been saved from being lost.
Not only have you found the treasure of a lifetime but if you were to sell these you would be set for a lifetime! Enjoy them first and then maybe show them to a museum, university, or auction house that does only big sales. I love that it was you who found them, maybe look into insuring them in case something happens to you or them! Meanwhile just relish the find, its awesome!
After Renee has read them and documented this soldiers story I'll bet a Civil War Museum would put them on display. Rather they way a Painting might be ' on Loan ' from an Individual. They usually make up a little plaque or something etc,
I disagree, i hope she informs the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
If there was one moment in history that enrages me anytime I think of it, it's the burning of the library of Alexandria. Paper isn't frivolous or a waste of time it is our collective human history! Thank God you found this! Think of how many estate sales just like this one that didn't have any paper investigators and what tragic ends those treasures may have met. You are a blessing!
I’m 72 years old now. I remember watching Tom Terrific and Manfred the Wonderdog with my children when they were young. There’s nothing like a pleasant memory to soothe the soul.
I'm 72 years old and I remember Tom Terrific and mighty Manfred also! What a fantastic find with the diaries. Do have them looked at by U of VA dept. Thanks for caring about our history enough to save them!
I'm in tears...Im so excited for you ! I'm a self taught historian of the 1800's in America...especially the Civil War, having read some 700+books. What an amazing treasure ! Congratulations 🎉
I realize I am very late in regards to watching this video and I do apologize for that!, however, I am so very happy you saved these Civil war diaries as they could not be in better hands. I wonder if you will one day have the diaries transcribed for the general public to be able to read the contents as I feel many many people would be so interested in reading about this man’s life as a Union soldier. Please consider releasing the contents for the public. Thank you. What a genuine honor it is for you to relish and cherish his words.
So happy to see your enthusiasm for history. My grandfather told my brother and me that history doesnt belong to one individual, but to everyone and we must share it with museums and historical societies... which we did, after his passing.
I was in the antiquarian bookselling business for many years. I strongly advise you to have this appraised by a specialist. University of Virginia in Charlottesville, or if you decipher where he was located, that historical society. Historical society of Virginia in Richmond has an excellent rare book collection. You could also get great advice on publishing the diary with an affiliation to a good library. It's an amazing find and I wish you all the luck and adventure the diary will give you.
Thank you Mary! A few others have also suggested publishing, which I think would be a great option. This way, this soldier's story could be not only read by many but also studied.
@@PaperandMoose I'm not sure what the ' device ' would be to capture all those pages ( Camera phone -not the best resolution and VERY difficult-time consuming) but check into finding out how to scan and copy al the pages in the diary. Have it saved onto something like an external hardrive. Permanent record that way and then you could search the diary at any later time without damaging the pages. ** Some Historical Museum (with their fancy equipment )might even scan them to a hardrive for you if in return you loaned them to the Museum for display purposes They could be making 2 copies at the same time. 1 for them to use and 1 for you.
@@PaperandMoose Nice suggestion about publishing, then you'll always "have" them no matter what their end destination. Maybe you could cowrite/research info that would explain his story further in the book. Congrats!
@@sundoesshine8800 I think that is a wonderful idea! How special if the diaries were published, with a forward by Rene telling the story of how they were discovered by her in an attic, packed away and forgotten, all these years later. And then, sharing some information on the soldier's life, which I have no doubt she will uncover! What an opportunity this could turn out to be, and for someone who truly deserves it! Rene was meant to make this find!
I'm imagining that once you've completed reading the Civil War Diaries, that you might one day meet up with someone connected to the soldier that wrote them. That would be the next best thing that could happen to you. You've come across a life changing artifact. Congratulations.
Tom Terrific was a cartoon on the Captain Kangaroo show! I watched that show every day of my early childhood! Seeing that touched my heart!!! Congrats on your find, very happy for you!
I think this was a sign that you made the right decision to follow your dreams. It would be nice if you were able to read a bit at each vlog out of the diary. It certainly would be amazing to get first hand knowledge of some one actually in battle. This is a one of a life time find, and I am so happy for you!
Tom Terrific! That was a cartoon when I was a child. I am turning 67 years old this summer. I had completely forgotten him. So glad that you rescued those diaries.🙂👍
Wow great find. 👍 When I was a kid (back in the 60's) I found a Revolutionary War cannon ball. It was stuck in the creek bed which ran through our property. I donated it to the local youth museum and made the papers. Fun!
So glad you were the one to find the diaries. It’s so plain to see how much it means to you and that you will make sure they’re taken care of from now on. You totally deserve it xx
OMG! OMG! That brought tears to my eyes when you revealed your find. Being a History Nerd myself ( American History )with a special interest in the Civil War, I can sooooo appreciate that find. Good for you girl! That IS the find of a lifetime!
Exactly, that is why i hope she informs the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
@@moosic2i I hear you and have struggled with this when I find certain items. But my knowledge and expertise doesn’t mean I need to give up items I find. The estate people had every right to go through and decide what is important and of value to them. Once they decided to sell they give up the item. Now, if they had hired Renee to advise them then in that case things would be different but clearly they didn’t. My attitude is, I’m here to get things at the best price and not act like I’m telling you what it’s worth.
Renee never apologize for searching for what YOU LOVE! You started your channel because of your love of thrifting & ephemera! If people do not like what you search for they can watch other videos because there are plenty! Congratulations on your amazing finds! 🙂
I totally agree! Renee is the best! I’ve love old papers, advertisements since I was a young girl. I would make magazines for my dolls to read. No stories just loaded with advertisements. Since i’Ve been watching you (Renee), it has brought back my love of yesteryear! I love, love the stories. Thanks for doing what you do....!
I disagree, i hope she informs the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
I have to say - I don’t think I would simply sell those diaries either. I would enjoy them like you said, then find the right museum to donate them too. Epic history like that needs to be cherished and shared with everybody. 😊💕
I am so thankful that it was you who found them at the estate sale. You will cherish them where as others just get them for resale. Congratulations and bless you for who you are
Renee, you've got me in tears!! I love that you are so passionate about old history. It's not my wheelhouse, but it's also not my channel! I love watching your videos, you do what you do, and tell the naysayers to go pound sand!!! Love you sweetheart!!
I am sitting here with my mouth open, literally. Renee you must write a book, you must memorialise this soldier. You have bought this brave young man, and his writings, memories, daily life, back into our lives. What a tremendous gift.
Oh Renee’ my heart was pounding! I’m so happy you found the diaries. It couldn’t have gone to a better person! Thank you for having such respect for historical items. Enjoy reading them too! ❤️
WOW, what a find ! Just goes to show how easily this kind of stuff just gets thrown away, never to see the light of day again. All that history gone in a flash. Well done for rescuing it Renee. It belongs in a Museum really. Keep searching, you never know what you will unearth :-) X X
You could tell by watching you find the diaries, that it was a huge find...you started trembling and getting tongue tied!! Couldn't have happened to a sweeter person!!!
Words are not enough other than they couldn't have been found by a better person! What a priceless find! I was shaking with you. Absolutely incredible! I hope you let us know some of the stories the soldier had to tell. I am fascinated with history, especially civil war history. Congratulations!!
Renee, my heart is stirred, WoW! that is most surely a grand special find - tis wonderful for that those diaries found you. I salute the Soldier for his service. The history of any life is something I pleasure in learning and sharing of. I think my special find was in the family garbage bag - a telegram sent by our Great grand aunt Ethel to our great grand uncle Arron, while both were stationed in different countries serving in the US Army. Don't recall the dates, etc., much of my paper treasures were lost in a move. Yet, I cherish the find and being blessed to travel back in time. 😊 Thanks Rennee for bringing is along on this journey of historical finds and showing value to people of our past, yet so present. Blessings. Always exciting to learn and share in your adventures. 💖🤗
I have no words to accurately describe how awestruck I am by your video today. When you discovered the civil war diaries I got chills and was brought to tears. The Bible’s - oh my goodness. And Tom Terrific and Mighty Manfred were my favorite cartoon characters when I was a child. The aprons!! The Christmas tree decorations!! I am going to rewatch this video again. I love your RU-vid channel and love what you do to preserve history. Keep up the great work that you do. ❤️
@RC Miller….as a person with no family left, I am stuck in the middle of having to make a decision. While I don’t want an estate sale to take place in my home after my death since I just can’t imagine all these strangers running thru my house opening up drawers, looking thru boxes, making a mess etc, I on the other hand don’t want my things to just go in a dumpster since there are many old antiques and memorabilia from my grandparents still in the home.
@@MrScottie68 agree with that too. We can’t take it with us and does it really matter anyway after we are gone? This is the human side of us … we attribute memories to things when all is for naught after death - death only matters to the living.
Please don’t get discouraged by the naysayers, your videos, your descriptions, talking, it’s all very wonderful, and I live my treasure hunting through you, so much appreciate your videos!! Keep up the good work 👏🏼👏🏼
Rene, you do not talk to much. I love they way you love what is special to our countries history. Thank you so much for that. Please just be you. Thats why we watch! XX
Oh my!!😲😲 What an amazing find. Clearly it was meant for you. I don't think I've ever seen your channel before, and I'm not sure why you showed up in my YT scroll, but I'm glad you did. I'm so glad you found such precious treasures.
Wow Renee! You were shaking like a leaf. Congratulations !!!! You found the holy grail. Written through the eye's of a civil war soldier . I would be reading his story and probably go down a rabbit hole and get lost in that time period.
Your find took my breath away! So precious! And I’m so happy they are in the hands of someone who will give them their due as historical gold. I do wish you would not apologize to nor cater to your detractors. You do you. Your personality shines through the video, and they don’t have to watch if they don’t want to. Love your paper. Talk all you want! I want to hear what you have to say. ❤️
Oh renee i felt the joy you shared with your find today i am 69 years old and i cant believe i was playing video and shared your joy with even my husband who doesnt do you tube by the way taco stacks found those japanese paper christmas houses you like i am grateful to see these video helps pass time
Wow! I am so happy for you Renée 💗. I don't believe I have ever seen you so excited! You have found not only an important piece of history, but should you ever decide to sell these you may well have added quite a bit to your bank account 😉. This was meant to be, you will share his journey with all your viewers. And for that I absolutely can't wait for!! 😊 Thank you for sharing your finds with us.
Congratulations Renee!!!!!! Loved your tenderness for what you found.. Your a very special person that deserves the best of what you look for everyday.. Enjoy these days . 43 Dave in Ohio
My hope is that you will allow all of us to travel in time with you as you research this young man and all that he endured, his sorrows and his joys. Could not have happened to a better young lady. What treasures.
Renee..that is a true blessing that you found those journals of that young soldier from the Civil War. It was meant to be for you to find!😉 It would be interesting to see you do some research on the young man Thomas! Would love to see a follow up on the journals. Happy reading and treasure hunting! Your excitement was enjoyable to see!😘
Exactly, that is why i hope she informs the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
This wonderful find could not have been found by a better person. You are the perfect person to have these and take care of them and know their value. Good luck to you!
Renee Congratulations on your score of the diaries!! Thankful you’re keeping them you are meant to be the caretaker that’s why they found you!! We all know you’ll honor this solider and his life.
Omg! I am excited for you each time you find vintage Christmas because I know how much you love it, but THIS!!!! It was MEANT TO BE that you find these diaries. Your sheer excitement was contagious! I am thrilled for you Renee!
I feel so proud of you for caring about past History when I worked I found some History as I worked in museums in Western Australia. Enjoy learning and living History Thanking you for bringing your joy and History alive Good Luck
When I saw the items in that box, I thought you had found Civil War money. I thought they looked like Civil War items that held money. What a fantastic find. It truly brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy for you!
You looked like you were shaking when you were describing those diaries at your car. I’m so happy you found them. You are the right person to give them the honor and respect they deserve. Congrats girl!
Amazing find. Your respect for these pieces of history is heartwarming! Thank you for sharing with us. Please let us know as you learn more from reading and studying them. Following your passion has lead to this amazing finds. Let others share the pottery, glass and other wonderful finds. You do you!
It's a pity she did'nt show the same "respect" to the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
these diaries have been waiting patiently a long time for you to come along and find and take care of them and are now in safe, loving hands. So happy for you. I love paper also ever since my first paper dolls. these are priceless! Very Important find! woohoo!
Renee, how amazing, I am so happy for you and I know that you will spend hours and hours of time enjoying and getting to know the history and the soldiers and what happened to him. You are the one to find it and it is just so great. You talk on... I love it!! I bet you are up to the wee hours researching and having the time of your life!
I just found your channel and was in awe of this miraculous find. I hope you contact the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and ask them if they would be interested in the diaries. The books really should be saved professionally and kept for the future. Absolutely wonderful find!! Thank goodness they weren’t sent to the trash. I still can’t understand why someone from that family didn’t know what they had, and didn’t keep them. Unbelievable. My hands are shaking too! Congratulations.
Could be the family member who had them passed away and no one in the family knew they existed. They were boxed and I can’t remember what the book was covering the was but if it was just quickly opened and looked at the top they probably tossed it aside not knowing to look deeper. How many family members will look deeply into your things when you pass? Min probably won’t. I have a Gone With The Wind collection and tease my only child that one day he will inherit it. He rolls his eyes. Lol
You were certainly meant to find these diaries! So happy for you! Your excitement, nervousness, and respect for these diaries shows your authentic respect for historical pieces and the stories they will tell. 👍
Wow! Mind blown! They were meant for you because of your appreciation for history, hope to learn more about this gentleman's experience in a future video! Love your videos!
It would be amazing if you turned the journals into a book! Bless you for sharing your joy and I find things and think ¨paper and moose would love this!¨
Splendid thought Dina. I was thinking similar ideas and that perhaps the history channel would be interested in a progrqm on them once you have gotten some research done.
What a terrific find! Just take your time and read it all. Finding history and holding it in your hands must be an overwhelming experience. Share it with us as you go if you would.
I am amazed how the diaries affected you, I love how you are going to read them and become a part of that soldiers life and keep him around a bit longer
Renee, those diaries are precious! I so hope you can locate Thomas' grave or any information on his life after the war...so hope he survived. Fascinating.
A pity she did'nt inform the family. Feels immoral to me by not informing the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents, possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
This was an estate sale. The owners were no where around. Didn’t you see all the boxes of stuff just piled together to pick through. She was not at a family garage sale. Estate buyers buy large lots from different families and have a sale of everything. Don’t put her down when you don’t know what you are talking about. She is very very excited about preserving these treasures.
I wonder what Thomas's surname was. I had an ancestor named Thomas of Pennsylvania, who fought in the union army during the civil war. What are the odds? His surname was the same as a President's surname.
WOW! Transcribing the diaries is an incredible idea...you could publish a small ebook so the world can read them maybe? Definitely the documents should be properly authenticated and preserved no matter what you decide to do with them....so wonderful that they are now in your thoughtful and reverent hands!!!!
These treasures could not have gone to a better home!! Especially the Civil War Diaries !! Now we know for sure why we all LOVE Ephemera !!! Thanks for Sharing !!
I was almost in tears with excitment when you said Civil War dairies! I have GGGgrandfathers who fought for the Confederacy and the Union, back then some southerners fought with the union. I would have been a nervous wreck if I had come across those, I probably wouldn't have been able to contain myself! I am so glad you found them and I know you will cherish their history, this was a treasure for sure!
Yep, Renée, that´s the way a true historian should behave...Congrats on these awesome finds ! These Civil War diaries are worth a couple of vids with the title "The story behind the papers". General Burnside is also very well known over here in Europe by people interested in American history (like me). Well done and well deserved, and we´ll wait for more detailed infos about this topic. Greets from GER, U.
I'm in the uk and the diaries you have found have brought a tear to my eyes. The history written by Thomas will be told and it's brilliant. Keep up your searching for the items and history you love.
What an awesome find. I have chills just watching. Keep doing what you're doing - it's your time, your channel, your life - do what makes you happy! Don't worry about what people say, especially the negative comments. Just ignore them. I love the Christmas apron. I also love paper and I was at my Goodwill the other day and they had their books 4 for the price of 1. I found four children's books (three old textbooks and a book about India from the 1960s). I also found a couple of vintage cookbooks and a gardening book. None of them are really worth reselling but they will be great for crafting. The cashier told me that they have too many book and are clearing them out. I can't wait to go back and see what else they have. Thanks for your inspiration.
I disagree. I hope she informs the family from whom she purchased these diaries. They are important historical documents possibly involving ancestral family members. She has a moral obligation to at least make them aware of the financial & historical significance of these diaries.
My heart literally dropped,I'm so ecstatic for you!!! Loving old Civil War books as much I do....I would look into donating them to the soldier's hometown museum,I realize how valuable they truly are but on the two occasions I've had the pleasure of purchasing a couple very rare manuscripts,I realized "fleeting monetary " gain didn't mean as much as giving a precious gift to a museum whom would forever insure their safety.
