Taylors Through Time

Tonight I spent a good deal of time with the scanner, cropping and doing major repair to some vintage family photos that were cracked and torn. These are quite precious to me and in some cases, the only glimpses I have of these family members... We're working backward through time here.

The Taylor family in front of the home in Lynchburg, Va., where I grew up. Easter: April 1, 1973. I'm 10.Love this picture, and it took a lot of editing to make as clear as this. From left, my Uncle Howard, whom I don't particularly remember, his wife and my great aunt on my mother's side (my grandmother's sister) Lottie Calhoun, great aunt Gypsy Stevens (who never married), me, brother Chris, grandmother Evelyn Price and grandaddy Whithers Price, both on my mother's side. December 26, 1966. I'm 4.My dad on the drums. He played in several local bands for many years.My mother's formal bridal picture—with a hell of lot of repairs. This was cracked and badly bent.And my Poppy's official service picture from World War II.My dad, on the right, in the U.S. Army during World War II.My diddy Daniel L. Taylor III and mother Evelyn P. Taylor, during their courtship. They were married June 17, 1950.My handsome Uncle Tommy, my mother's only brother. He was an Air Force pilot, and killed in World War II.My brother Chris, grandmother on my mother's side, Evelyn Price, me and grandaddy Whiters Price. They named my mother Evelyn—after my grandmother. Only in the south, cool cats. Dec, 23, 1968. I'm 6.My dad, unidentified friend, mother and my mom's diddy, Whithers Price. This is a rare photo of him actually smiling. He died when I was 10, the first death I confronted in my life. I remember the day clearly.My grandmother on my dad's side, Claire Taylor, who remarried Howard Slaughter, a quiet, private man whom I remember but can't say I ever knew. That's me with them; I'm guessing I'm 7 or 8. My grandmother was always known to the grandkids as "Ma."Daniel L. Taylor Jr., my diddy's diddy. He died quite young, before my parents were married in 1950. Quite a handsome man and I'm told a temper like a tornado.And finally, going back to what is likely the beginnings of photography, this is an undated photograph of my great-grandparents on my mammmer's side, Lydia and Thomas Stevens. Fab 'stache!