Memory in Objects, in Places | George O’Brien

Photographic memories from Long Wharf Board member, George O’Brien:

These are photos of my father in World War II. He was in Naples for a year, including the last time Vesuvius erupted, but I assume these were taken in Rome. They’re not particularly memorable for me, since I don’t remember seeing them as a kid, but they’re timely with the Ken Burns documentary on PBS.

My parents, brother, sister and me on Easter Sunday 1956, in front of my grandparent’s house in South Hadley Falls, MA. My brother and I are wearing new, reversible jackets that I still remember. There are no signs of global warming.

The grouping of O’Brien males taken around 1924 consists of the grandfather I never met and his 7 sons in descending order of age. My father is the youngest, at the far left. I’m not sure who marked the names. We found it like that.