Quite a family resemblance: Morgan Beal, ready for her high school prom in Kent, Ohio, in front of a portrait of her great-grandmother, Lillian Jeanette (Wilson) Force Parmelee (1868-1947).

THE FAMILY ALBUM

Almost everyone says that the first thing they'd grab if the house were on fire is the family picture album. They're more valuable than gold to many, yet few have taken the time to make a copy and store it elsewhere for safekeeping.

I, for one, have made copies of some of the old portraits of my ancestors and sent them to my out-of-state siblings. If anything should happen to my photos, I know they still exist elsewhere. Thanks to the Internet, we can store away pictures of our ancestors digitally, and share them with our far-flung cousins.

As time allows, I'll scan various Parmelee families and post them here. And your contributions are welcome, but in those group photos, please identify all the people you can.

So far this has been the most difficult and most time-consuming part of the website to assemble. So be forewarned: Although I really enjoy receiving your family photos, it will take some time before I get them posted. Your patience is greatly appreciated.