In Praise of Paper

“You’re not going to record me, are you?”

It would be easier than trying to write it all down, if you don’t mind.

“Oh no, no, I sound terrible on tape. Just write it down. It ain’t all that much!”

(Sighing under my breath) Okay, I’ll write it down. (Turning off the recorder and putting it in the briefcase)

That is a pretty common scenario when interviewing older relatives. Even my cousins – the same age as I – hate being recorded. Interviewing my relatives on tape doesn’t work most of the time.

Image via Wikipedia

I’d love to have some voice recordings of my kith and kin, but respect their wishes. In the process, I’ve rediscovered note taking. On the few trips I do make to interview I always pull out 2 notepads first. One lined, the other has a faint graph background for drawing. I start by taking notes and then ask if I could record the conversation. Usually I’ll get a “no I’d rather not”, so I keep writing. The graph paper notepad is for sketching. When a relative begins describing where a homestead was, I always draw the roads, towns, and rivers, and then ask them to fill in the missing information. I’ve even discovered artistic talent when they begin drawing! It’s been a tremendous help in finding ancestral homesteads and old family cemeteries. Each sheet dated at the top and titled; “interview of {them} by {me}.”

Image via Wikipedia

And the digital voice recorder? I still use it.  Regardless of what they say, I can’t write it all down. Once they get warmed up to being interviewed, the stories flow like water. I jot down key points and as many details as I can. But as soon as I drive away from the interview I record everything that I can remember from the interview. Sometimes I only go a few blocks, then pull over to read the written notes while transcribing more detail into the voice recorder. I have to work while my memory is fresh.

Image via Wikipedia

I  know people who use a recorder when talking to relatives on the phone. After the conversation they transcribe the recording into a written record and delete the recording. Some states, such as Alabama, allow this as long as one party has knowledge of it. But I still think that’s on shaky ground, even in states that allow it. Don’t record unless you get permission first (and record them giving permission!). Be sure to include the date, time, and who is speaking on the recording.

For those researchers who want to go paperless, I commend you. But don’t plan on being entirely paperless; keep a couple of good notepads handy for us “old folks”.

Notebook collection (Photo credit: Dvortygirl)

A Serendipity Doo-Dah Sunday.

Cousin Leroy would kill me if he knew I had this shot!

This past Sunday I found myself moping around the house and decided it was time to do something, anything, to break the lethargy that I’d fallen into over the winter. So I fired up the RootsMagic5 program and started digging for ancestors.

In going back over my maternal line, I noticed a gap in my entries – one of very many. I had quite a bit of information on my maternal grandfather’s maternal grandfather (that’s a mouthful to say isn’t it?!) in printed form only. I had never entered it in the database.

Richard Lewis Britt; born 19 April 1834 in Robeson, North Carolina.1850 and 1860 found him living in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. And when the Civil War started, great great grandfather volunteered for the Confederate Army and found himself a private in the 47th Regiment of Company F, Alabama Infantry during the years 1861 to 1865. Family legends claim he was a scout for Robert E Lee. But we all know how totally accurate family legends are, right?

After the war I found him living back in Tallapoosa County in the census of 1870 1880 and 1900. Richard Lewis Britt died on 29 December 1867. I had no burial location. A little digging (pun intended) turned him up on find-a-grave.com. He was buried in the cemetery of the Rock Springs Baptist Church, a mere 80 miles from my home. Time to go pay my relative a visit!

After a moderate drive and getting lost (only) twice, I found the cemetery. Breaking out the notepad, GPS, and camera I also found five other dead relatives including two I didn’t know existed!

A Britt Headstone in need of tender loving conservation.

Great Great Grandfather Britt; CSA Veteran

What a find! The mystery grave? It belonged to an S E Britt, wife of John W Britt. A little research back home brought up an index of Alabama marriages between 1816 and 1957 (bless you family search.org!). It appears S E Britt was originally Salina E Davis who married John W Britt 3 March 1867. I have to look at the original microfilms  to confirm those facts.

Here's another mystery person! More research, please!

The downside of the day? Some of the headstones are in sad shape. I’ll have to go back when it warms up and clean them properly. And when I arrived home, I researched a bit more and found that I was only a mile from the Britt family cemetery with another half-dozen family members!

But I found my way around, had the chance to pay my respects and “visit” with my relatives. I’ll be back soon and do more digging. It appears they were early settlers in the territory; there’s even a Britt Creek nearby that empties into the Tallapoosa River! And I’ve got to find that other cemetery to pay a visit.

Rock Springs Baptist Church, Jacksons Gap, Tallapoosa County, Alabama

Not a bad Sunday drive after all!

(If you want to see all the cemetery photos, browse my flicker page. The link is on the right side of the blog page.)

Photos Copyright 2012 Randall E Dickerson, all rights reserved.

Blog Copyright 2012 Randall E Dickerson, all rights reserved.

Ephemera Day III; Vintage Postcard ca. 1930′s; Penobscot Building

Postcard Post:

Someone gave me the wonderful opportunity to curate these vintage postcards, then deliver them to the original recipient’s descendants. Thought you might like a peek at a few. (there are about 100).

 

The Penobscot Building, Detroit, Michigan. Card is postmarked 15 Jul 1937 with a 1 cent (!) postage stamp.

No printer name listed; just a symbol that looks like the earth with one city on the top and the letter M in the middle.

If you can determine the printer, I’d love to hear from you. (Click on the postcard for a larger image)

 

Remembering Grand-Dad.

Grand-Dad on Left, Grandmother center, my Dad in rear, Lewis on Right. Taken 1940, Old Family Homestead, Bayview, ALabama.

My grandfather passed away in 1962. I was 8 years old then, but still remember him. Although he was soft spoken and of average build with brown eyes and brown hair, somehow he towers in my memory. He almost always wore coveralls. He worked in the coal mines since the age of 10 and as an adult had a severe case of asthma and black lung. He had worked for several of the area coal mines but had to retire due to his health about the time I was born. He bought a dump truck and earned a living by delivering “house coal” throughout the area. At that time nearly everyone heated their homes with coal.

He had a jet black Chihuahua that he swore relieved his asthma. He never went anywhere without the dog, who rode in the bib of his overalls. I remember him meeting someone new and watching them jump back in terror when his “stomach” started moving. It was the Chihuahua moving about under his overalls! He always thought that was hilarious.

When I was 6, I traveled with him delivering house coal. He had injured his right hand and could not operate the gear shift. So he would drive and I would shift gears for him. Even in lean times be delivered coal on credit, telling me “folks gotta stay warm”.

He died in his sleep 12 May 1962. He was laid out in the living room of his home for visitation. To me it seemed that everyone in the county came to pay their respects. He was buried in a cedar casket. He had once told his wife “just bury me in a wooden box. My parents were buried in pine boxes and I’m no better than they”. She complied with his wishes but chose Cedar.

He was buried in village falls cemetery, just 2 miles from where he lived all of his adult life. His sons carried him on his last earthly journey to the grave site. Most of the town was there for his funeral.

Village Falls Cemetery, Bayview, Jefferson County, Alabama.

Since his death in 1962, grandmother made sure his headstone always had flowers. Now that she has joined him in death we continue the tradition.

He was a plainspoken, hard-working man with a passion for family and honesty. I’m proud to say that I’m his grandson and will honor his memory as long as I’m on this earth.

Miss you, Grand-Dad!

All Photos and Text are Copyright 2011-2012 Randall E Dickerson; All rights reserved.

To B(log) or not to B(log), that is the Question

Why write a blog at all? That is a question recently posed to me. I have no hard and fast answers, just a couple of thoughts……

1. It costs me nothing but time and thought: I probably waste time on dozens of things that never leave a mark in this life. Blogging uses a small slice of that time-pie. Maybe I even provide a chuckle, a “hmmm”, or a thought-provoking idea to someone out there. Comments on the blog reinforce that idea.

2. I can talk uninterrupted: Now that’s a big one for me! I grew up in a family in which I could never finish a sentence without being interrupted, usually by my mother! (Of course, my sister says Grand-Dad nicknamed me “windjammer” so maybe I talk too much? {chuckle})

3. Blogging forces me to organize random thoughts into an almost-cohesive pattern that can be understood by others: (Almost-cohesive depends if the post is pre-coffee or post-coffee!)

4. In writing this blog, I also leave a written legacy for my kids: Every post goes into my Roots Magic Family History program. I print out hard copies about every 2 weeks. Someday my children will have those pages to remember me by. (Maybe I should start writing more about my ancestors, then?)

5. Blogging generates new ideas and ways of thinking: Every time I write, that idea spawns more ideas. Some are really hair-brained….. you’ll get to read them here!

6. By blogging, I have found a new circle of friends: ‘Nuff Said.

What are your thoughts?

If you blog, why?

If you don’t, why not?

And what are your reasons for (not) blogging?

Ephemera Day II; Vintage Postcard ca. 1940′s

Postcard Post:

Someone gave me the wonderful opportunity to curate these vintage postcards, then deliver them to the original recipient’s descendants. Thought you might like a peek at a few. (there are about 100).

Sold by the Western Publishing & Novelty Co. Los Angeles, California. Never mailed. I’m guessing it’s from the 1940′s. If you can determine the date, I’d love to hear from you.

The Birdwatcher’s Guide to Genealogists

Image via Wikipedia

As a child I always looked forward to Saturday mornings and cartoons. My favorite series was Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. I loved the ridiculous Latin names they were given in the intro. As a nod to those wonderful years, I present a twist on that theme entitled “the birdwatchers guide to genealogists”, with apologies to students of Latin.

Image via Wikipedia

(The following descriptions are generic and strictly from my imagination. Any resemblance between these descriptions and any genealogist, alive or dead, is unintended, a coincidence, and a darn shame.)

NOTA BENE : All following species are within the group, GENEALOGIA

The Social  Tree-Climber: ARROGANS MAGISTER SPHINCTUS-HEMMOROIDICUS

This bird researches genealogy for one reason and one reason only; to “prove” a lineage of superiority. Frequently wealthy, they may pay to have their research done. They have little tolerance for ancestors with questionable behavior or a “black sheep” in the lineage, and may not publish any inferior branch of the family tree. Frequently spotted with a royal crest or markings of heraldry.

Field researchers have spotted this species in flocks of lineage societies, but note that flock behavior indicates a reluctant tolerance rather than acceptance of the behavior. They appear to be a minority nuisance within the group dynamics of the flock.

The Indiscriminate Tree Splicer:  NEGLIENS INCAUTUM 

Field spotters frequently see this species and have given them the nickname “shaking leaf” after their behavior on ancestry.com. The tree splicer is known for indiscriminately splicing any family tree with similar surnames regardless of validity. Research is optional and not encouraged within the species.

Ornithologists assert that there are two subspecies within this group;

NEGLIGENS INCAUTUM SORDIDUS,  or the “sloppy splicer”, whose behavior indicates extreme inattention to detail.

NEGLIGENS INCAUTUM INPATIENS, or the “hurry bird”, who doesn’t have enough time to do adequate research.

Although not proven, field spotters believe that this species may be a juvenile version of the HUMILIS IMPROVIDUS SCHOLASTICUS (see below).

The Careless Researcher: INDILIGENS  LUTULENTUS INCAUTUM

This bird shares characteristics with NEGLIENS INCAUTUM in that their research is not well proven. However, they do have a distinguishing characteristic of actually conducting research. Inconsistencies in research results are often ignored as an inconvenience and the research is published anyway.

The Genealogical Vulture: RAPTOR VANIDICUS PLAGARISTOR

Long noted as a predator – both hated and feared by most species – is the genealogical vulture, also called “The Plagarist”. This species is noted for swooping down on any available research, plucking it out of the claws of other birds, and taking the research back to line its own nest. Once there it quickly strips any identifying marks or names of other researchers and insists that this work is its own and original. They are also capable of disguising themselves to infiltrate flocks of other species and steal their body of work.

Field spotters loathe spotting this bird, as it is known for stealing their lunch and then “dumping” on them. Also the raucous call of ‘original, original, original’ is intolerable to the human ear.

The Contentious Genealogist or “War Bird”: LITIGIOSUS  BELLUM ALTERCABILIS

Bearing a striking resemblance to the common fighting Gamecock, this bird frequently researches with a specific end in mind; to ‘prove’ a national or ethnic lineage. They are disdainful of the research of other species that challenge their research and insist they have the only proper method, often asserting a purity of research unequalled in this field. They are rarely seen with others, having driven everyone off with loud, raucous, strident cries of “Truth, Truth, Truth”.

The Studious Perfectionist: SCOLASTICUS PERFICIO HUMILIS-MAGISTER

This bird’s behavior, though less frequently spotted, is studious, methodical, and borders on obsessive compulsive. Rarely seen outside the confines of the national archives or major libraries, they are noted for triple checking and cross-referencing every source. With a fondness for italics and punctuation, they revel in the beauty of their source citations, which border on the extreme. They are also noted for obsessive compulsive behavior and intolerance for anything less than a perfect footnote or source reference. A misplaced period or italicizing the wrong part of a footnote have driven them into temper tantrums that lead to self immolation

It is also been theorized by field researchers that less than 5% of this bird’s prodigious output is published, as the remaining 95% was judged “not good enough”.

The Educational Genealogist, or “Teacher Bird“: MAGISTER ERUDITUS LIBERALIS

A gregarious breed by nature, these can be found mingling amongst almost all other species, though they prefer the company of NEGLIENS INCAUTUM , PROCEDO MEDIOCRIS, and HUMILIS IMPROVIDUS SCHOLASTICUS, showing a great fondness for the latter. Their trademark plumage is marked by generosity and they seem to delight in showing other species the best places to forage for appropriate resources. They are occasionally spotted in great flocks at SLIG, ROOTSTECH, and certain undisclosed Starbucks, bars and pubs. Their migratory patterns to Salt Lake City are still being studied.

Field research indicates they are the most approachable of all species, having little fear of other birds and unusual amounts of patience. They also exhibit an inordinate fondness for twitter and blogging, and a pathological attraction to technology and gadgets.

The Average Genealogist: PROCEDO MEDIOCRIS

With a pleasant call and plumage that blends into almost any flock, this gregarious bird has been judged the more common of all species. Noted for its friendly behavior, this species is capable of conducting research, producing footnotes, scanning some photos and documents, finding some sources of data, and compiling them into a genealogical nest considered adequate, but not perfect.

The Student Genealogist: HUMILIS IMPROVIDUS SCHOLASTICUS

This species is considered by many field spotters to be a mature version of PROCEDO MEDIOCRIS. In addition to research, footnotes, photos, interviews with relatives, this species is noted for attending genealogical conferences annually and membership in multiple genealogical societies. They are also known for enrolling in online classes to improve their research methodology.

Field spotters have lamented the relative scarcity of the species, but recent sightings indicate their numbers are on the increase.

Fighting traditional biological standards, researchers note that the species are not entirely separate in a genetic sense. Studies have shown that any single species can transform into another species literally overnight.

[disclaimer: the author owns no stock in, is not employed by, or has any fiduciary interest in any lineage society, the National Audubon Society, the Royal order of Ornithologists, Bausch and Lomb, makers of binoculars, Looney Tunes, or the Latin language. This blog entry is offered only as an entertainment and perhaps food for thought.  Ask your doctor if this blog is right for you. Use as directed. Do not operate heavy thinking while reading this blog.]

Image via Wikipedia

Copyright 2012 Randall Dickerson. All rights reserved.

Ephemera Day: Vintage Postcard, 1935

Postcard Post:

Someone gave me the wonderful opportunity to curate these vintage postcards, then deliver them to the original recipient’s descendants. Thought you might like a peek at a few. (there are about 100).

Sold by the Asheville postcard company, Asheville, North Carolina. Mailed from New Orleans to North Carolina and postmarked September 13, 1935. The postage stamp is 1 cent!  Click on the image to enlarge.

A Father’s Love in 4 Words

By Randall Dickerson
I always considered my father a “man’s man”. He was the Foreman for an underground coal mine; in charge of a couple of hundred men and everything that happened during his shift. Anyone who’s ever been around coal miners understands that they are a hard-driving, rough-hewn, boisterous, occasionally cantankerous breed of people. But my father, being a third generation coal miner, had no trouble dealing with them. Standing at 6′ 1″ and 200 pounds he had no fear standing up to any of these men. I never saw my dad afraid of anything, especially work.

You might think that kind of background would create a hard, difficult home life. Not in our household. At home he was a gentleman who never raised his voice, uttered a curse word in mixed company, or treated anyone with disrespect. Growing up in that household I knew I had some huge shoes to fill to become a man.

After I married and started my family,  I would update him frequently on my children’s  antics. Sometimes I would even apologize for the way I must have frustrated him as a child. After all, my kids were frustrating me and I thought dad would get a kick out of hearing about this “revenge”.

Dad was not an emotive man. I rarely heard “I love you” from him. But one day he said so much more in four simple words. After a particularly frustrating week as I regaled him with all that had happened I finished with “dad, I don’t know how you put up with me”.

His simple, quiet reply; “Son, it was easy”.

That statement left me fighting back tears. All those years of cluttering up the house, breaking things in our exuberant play, annoying the neighbors meant nothing to him. The nights of sleepless worry when we were deathly sick were forgotten to him. Days and weeks of dread as we learned to drive were never mentioned. “Son, it was easy”.

My dad’s love came rushing in on me that day like a flood; an accepting, forgiving, all-encompassing love without limits.

My own son is married now. I’m sure one day he’ll have children. Perhaps he will come to me and say the same thing. I hope he does; because I’ll say just what my father did, “son, it was easy”.  The things that annoyed me back then? For the life of me I can’t remember what they were. I only remember how much I love my children.

Dad, if you are listening, you were right; It IS easy.

Copyright 2012 Randall Dickerson

A Burglar Alarm for the Time Thief

By Randall Dickerson

 

Being the kind of person that gets lost in the task at hand, I often discover hours of my time stolen by the Time Thief. Researching an Ancestor brings up a place that leads to demographics of the area that leads to festivals that occur there that leads to……… you get the idea.

Or humorous E-Mails that lead to websites that lead to……..”what was I doing?”

DRAT! Time “stolen” from me again!

Too much time has slipped through my fingers this way. Now it’s time to set up a burglar alarm for that thief.

The alarm? A kitchen timer! “Oh, that is too simple to work!” Gentle Reader, I simply must disagree. The beauty of this is the sheer simplicity.

Image via Wikipedia

Each time you start a task (E-mail, twitter, research), assign a reasonable time limit to the task and start the timer. When the alarm sounds, assess your work. If it’s not taking you toward your goal, stop right then. If you are making progress, re-set the timer and continue.

The timer is not there to make you stop, it’s reminding you to assess your progress. Field research can benefit as well by setting a timer on your phone and setting the phone to vibrate only. No one around you is disturbed, yet you have that reminder.

Do you have hints or tips to stop the Time Thief? I’d love to hear your productivity-booster ideas.

Copyright 2012 Randall Dickerson

[Disclaimer: I receive no compensation for this article. I am not employed by, own stock in, or have any other fiduciary connection with clockmakers, timer manufacturers, Timex, Time Incorporated, the National Institute of standards, the Greenwich Observatory, or Father Time. "The article was meant as a helpful hint and if you think for one minute that I would stoop so low as to..."( timer buzzes)]