This object is a violin pin which is made from sterling silver. This pin was given to my great grandmother, Pauline, as a gift from one of her music students. Pauline was born in Odessa, Russia and immigrated to America to escape the pogrom. This tiny pin has been passed down from my great grandmother all the way to my mother, and I hope that one day I’ll be able to have it too. This pin is probably around 95 years old, Pauline was born around 1904 and I don’t know exactly when she started teaching, but I can assume it was probably around her mid twenties or early 30s. This pin may seem insignificant, but it has a major spiritual meaning to my family. My family has always found a love for music, all the way back to my great grandmother, and I personally think that it’s really special that this interest has been passed down from generation to generation. My great grandmother played the piano and violin, my grandmother only played the piano, my mother played piano and guitar, and now I play electric guitar, a little bit of piano, and some chords on my brother’s ukulele (even though he primarily just plays the drums.) This object is an important symbol of passion towards music for my family, and I hope that it will be passed down for many more generations to come. 

– SJ

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