In his novel “The Man Who Laughs,” Victor Hugo penned these words, “But what is history? An echo of the past in the future; a reflex from the future on the past.” The novel was first published in 1869, but Hugo’s echo, his words still ring true in the 21st century.
The gulf between the future and the past seems to shrink as technology advances. Our every move, word, and selfie recorded for all to see. The echoes from 20 or 30 years ago don’t feel so far behind us. They're all recorded in high definition, with crisp sound, and digital clarity.
But, what of the echoes from the generations of analog, of black and white, and of hand written records? Because of the Internet, access to our history is unprecedented. But, the sheer volume of noise produced in the 21st century drowns out the echoes of the past.
“Bill” Nutter sits here.
Vintage is in, but only if it’s something new that’s made to look rustic. Nostalgia is a hot commodity, but only if viewed through the colorful glasses of the good times. No one likes to wax poetic about the bad times.
Yet, history is the good times and the bad times. When we see an old photo of soldiers enjoying leisure time in their barracks, that's only part of their story. Some of those soldiers won't live to see the end of the war. Some of those soldiers do, but they come home scarred and broken. Their story continued.
These are the stories Sincerely, Yesterday will be telling.
As time marches on, photos, videos, and postcards are left behind. The stories of the people living in them too often forgotten. Postcards that once circumnavigated the world by ship or a clunky plane sit collecting dust in antique stores. Years after a loved one received them, they’ve become mysteries for sale next to an old china set or vintage toy.
These are the stories Sincerely, Yesterday will be searching for.
Chillon Castle in Switzerland.
If you've been here since Sincerely, Yesterday's early days on social media you know I have primarily shared lost photos and postcards. I've come into possession of them by one way or the other (the origin story here). This site is now the hub for the project. My vision includes a podcast that will be introduced in the coming weeks, as well as other exciting features. I can’t wait to share them!
In the meantime, browse around and please check out the SY Photo Collection and the SY Postcard Collection. Each thumbnail provides more details about the photo or postcard. The stories I've shared in the past that provide some of the backstory of the photos and postcards can be found at SY History Stories. The Medium site will remain up as it is, but it is no longer active. All new features, stories, and the podcast will appear here.
As content is added to the project, I will share those updates with everyone.
Finally, THANK YOU! Without your interaction, your help, and your sharing of Sincerely, Yesterday it wouldn’t be as fun. If you like and enjoy what I am doing here, please continue to share the stories and the site with your friends. It helps!
Now, let’s continue to explore these echoes of the past!