This was in our attic in Rockford when I was growing up, and when my mom passed in the 90s’ nobody really wanted it. […] I kind of in my mind made up this sort of romantic story. My mother’s father Felix Kilbride emigrated from Ireland in 1914. […] Maybe all his worldly belongings were in there or something. So I just thought it was really cool and had a lot of soul.

The truth is I have an elderly Aunt that would visit some years later and would go, “Oh well no, a family who was much more well off than us gave that to us.” So I actually really don’t know its history. […] My grandparents were born in 1896 and 1898 and they were from Irish heritage and lost everything in the depression. So my aunts and my mom were growing up in the 20’s and 30’s and I guess they had friends who had older kids who got new luggage, and they inherited the old luggage. So I actually don’t really know anything about it. […] I can’t get it open, it’s obviously empty because it’s very light. I actually took it to a locksmith here in Dekalb and he couldn’t get it open. […]

This belongs in the Museum of Things You Get Second Hand that were Second Hand to Begin With

Exhibited by Jen Conley

Transcript edited by Sarah Crawford