My grandfather has always been very interested in my family’s history. He collected all the old information from my ancestors to assemble a family tree, and he was especially passionate about my last name and what it meant. My last name is Griffin, which is a mythological creature that is half eagle and half lion that was said to guard Zeus. My grandfather wasn’t really fascinated by what a Griffin did, but more that a Griffin represented all our ancestors, and it was a fun way to remember our family. Apparently, there is a Griffin Castle in Ireland owned by my ancestors. When I find more recent pictures of it now, it just looks like a bunch of rocks that used to be part of a castle. My object is a griffin bookend. It is on a reflective black stone and is a gold color. It has really never actually been used as a bookend, probably because it is such a cool object and it doesn’t deserve to be hidden behind a book. My grandfather got this object when he was in New York because it stood out to him. He passed it down to my father, and then my father passed it down to me. When I think of this object, I think of my grandfather and his interest in family history. This object is special to me because it reminds me of my grandfather and my ancestors before me that also had the name, Griffin. I am part of a big family, and when I think of everyone I am a stronger person.

– A

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more