The three families in his collection, joined by marriage, are the Buchanan, Crowder, and Massey families. Carolyn Helen Crowder was born in Columbus in 1939 to Truman Crowder and Helen Buchanan Crowder. She attended Columbus High School. Carolyn had a brother Truman Jr, born 1936.

Carolyn Helen Crowder married Joseph Pearce Massey on the 2 July 1960 He was born 8 July 1939 and died 2 June 1999. He graduated from Columbus High School, received a BBA degree from the University of Georgia, and attended the US Navy Officer Candidate School, class of 61.

Helen Buchanan, Carolyn’s mother, was born in Columbus in 1908 and died 1989. She was a piano teacher. She was the sister of James Lewis Buchanan who was born 26 July 1910 and died 6 May 1973. He was in the class of 31 at The Georgia School of Technology. He and Helen had a brother Harry Thomas Buchanan.