Announcing #GENCHAT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE PROFESSIONALS UNITE TO PRESENT #GENCHAT; 

GENEALOGY TWITTER CHATS

Corn & Cotton Genealogy, Finding Our Ancestors and Ancestral Journeys Will Start Regular Twitter Chats in January, 2013

If you are interested in learning about resources, skills, methodology and techniques to further your family history research, the help you need may have just arrived. 

Three genealogy professionals: Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, owner of Corn & Cotton Genealogy; Terri O’Connell, owner of Finding Our Ancestors; and Jen Baldwin, owner of Ancestral Journeys; are reaching across state lines using the power of Twitter to answer your questions and create an environment of collaboration.  

Beginning January 25, 2013, they will combine their efforts to bring you #genchat, a Twitter Chat focusing on genealogy related topics, skills and questions. The chat will be hosted every two weeks, beginning at 9:00pm CST, and lasting for one hour. The chats will be oriented towards hobbyist genealogists and family historians; all interested are welcome to participate.

Between them, they bring 43 years of genealogy research experience to the Twitter platform. Individually, they each run a professional genealogy business and their areas of expertise range from the Midwestern United States, to integrating family history into home education, and the Rocky Mountain corridor. Each are also involved in various genealogy related projects, such as the digi-mag, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the upkeep of Conference Keeper, a site dedicated to compiling world-wide resources on educational opportunities for family historian’s.

A detailed schedule of the planned chats for 2013 can be found on the Conference Keeper website.

To contact the hosts directly, or to schedule an interview, please e-mail or tweet them (see below). 

Jen Baldwin

Ancestral Journeys

ancestraljourney@outlook.com

@ancestryjourney

Stephanie Pitcher Fishman

Corn & Cotton Genealogy

stephanie@cornandcotton.com

@CornAndCotton

Terri O’Connell

Finding Our Ancestors

terri@findingourancestors.net

@Tracingmyfamily

Where Were They? Turn of the Century Mark

With 2012 quickly coming to a close, I thought this would be an appropriate entry in my Where Were They? series.


My initial thought on this topic, the turn of the century – as in 1899 to 1900 – was this: did they have their own Y2K?  Remember that? Remember how the world was “going to end” when we hit 2000?

What was going on in 1899 that would have made folks fear or anticipate the new century?

The United States National Museum Building,
now the Arts and Industries Building,
pictured at the turn of the century.
(Source: http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/century/usnm.htm)

Reviewing a few websites was absolutely necessary, and although what I found was interesting, it was not earth shattering.

• America is a world power. The west has been settled, the Spanish-American War of 1898 – less than 100 days of it – was a success, both on the battlefield and with the populous.
• Our native people had been shuffled onto reservations. Buffalo were essentially gone. Automobiles, or “the horseless carriage” and telephones were household words and tools. Frank Lloyd Wright was starting his career in Chicago, John D. Rockefeller had started the Standard Oil Trust company. Andrew Carnegie had constructed the world’s largest steel mill in Pittsburgh.
• The transcontinental link had been completed in 1869, and by 1900 the nation had “193,00 miles of track, with five railroad systems spanning the continent.” (Source: America at the Turn of the Century: A Look at the Historical Context)

Although still mostly rural than urban, America had become the stand out in world success. Industry, politics, innovation and technology, war. There were many poor, there were many that were overworked in factories; but President McKinley still ran on a platform of prosperity for his re-election in 1900, which he won. (Source: Macrohistory and World Report, The United States to 1910)

Life was not easy. Can you imagine, though, seeing all of that come to be reality? Would it have changed your view of the world, your daily routine? Picture yourself as a young adult, having been born and raised in a rural setting, then walking down the city sidewalks to see the evening sky lit with electric lights for the first time.


Getting Personal

The big question in this series is this: how did this event affect the lives of my ancestors (or yours)?
As always, I will start with the family of Oscar Brown, because, well, his life fascinates me, and there are lots of questions there still.
In 1899-1900, Oscar, his wife Frances, and two of their five children were living in Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska. By this time, Oscar had given up on his homestead and moved into a “city”, living primarily off of his Civil War pension. In April of 1901, his pension file includes a notation that he had suffered from small pox for the last six months.  No occupation is listed for either Oscar of Frances in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census. By the time of his death in October of 1906, his household goods had been assessed at a mere $10.00.

Living in rural Nebraska, would they have ridden in an automobile yet? Perhaps there was one or two in Central City. I have to assume the railroad advancements during the past ten years had affected them in some way, even if it was just to get mail faster.

For a man who had served in the Civil War, was a regional Deputy Sheriff in Missouri, then went on to become a State Senator for Nebraska, these last few years of his life, living in essential poverty, must have been difficult. His pension file, and again in Frances’ widow’s pension, states that his health declined quickly, beginning around 1900.  He could not work, could not support his wife and children, and likely, with adult children in the area, they were helping to support him. Would he even have cared that city streets were gaining cable cars?

Eilert Heerten. Another man whose life remains a bit of a mystery. He is my maternal 2nd great grandfather, and arrived in America from Germany in 1869. He, too, would have lived through this transition period in our country, and just as with Oscar, he lived in a rural area.


His family has settled on land in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. In 1900, he is farming with two adult sons, and has three other children in the household, along with his wife, Amke, or “Annie”. Financially, he appears to be doing better than Oscar, but he’s also 15 years younger. Perhaps he was more interested in the developments across the country, more attuned to what was happening “out in the world.” However, Keya Paha County is more remote, farther from the main rail lines, and therefore, farther from the news.

Did this New Year’s Eve 113 years ago have any affect on these families? Did they celebrate “bigger'”? Did they ignore the entire event, because they still had to get up and take care of the farm the next morning, just as with any other day?


Questions such as this may never be answered, but they are still worth asking.

Where were your ancestors when 1899 became 1900?

A Snapshot of SEO’s: Understanding Search Engine Optimization and How It Can Affect Your Genealogy Blog

My eBook, by the above title, was released on 27 Dec 2012. Addressing the need for all genealogy and family history bloggers to optimize their sites using simple and easy to understand SEO tactics, this step-by-step guide will walk you through it all.

The benefits of using SEO tools can be striking, allowing other researchers – and cousins – to find you easier and faster when seeking information via search engines.

Written specifically with genealogists in mind, the guide will provide examples that are easy to understand and graphics that make it simple to implement.

Don’t be intimidated by SEO’s! They can help you connect your blogs to the rest of the world.

Here’s what a couple of folks had to say about their purchase… these are screen shots captured from Twitter, and yes, I have their permission to post it here.





You can purchase your own copy on my website, Ancestral Journeys. 

My thanks go to Stephanie Pitcher Fishman of Corn & Cotton Genealogy and Mariann Regan for their assistance in this project.

Using the National Register of Historic Places Database

Genealogical research can lead you in so many different directions, and investigating the origins of a specific site or building can really make an impact in the stories you are trying to tell. The United States is lucky to have an amazing resource in the National Register of Historic Places, and researcher’s in all disciplines can utilize the database made available to us via the National Park Service website.

Using this tool can prove to be incredibly exciting, especially for those researching a general area or community that has been put on the list. In work done relating to the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado, I was able to find the original (scanned) application that was submitted, dated 1980; all 38 pages of it! The document included a typed list of contributing buildings, and a color coded map of the town indicating “Historic”, “Contributing” and “Intrusion” properties that factored in to the decision.

The Frisco Schoolhouse, now a
Museum. Main Street, Frisco, CO. 

Certainly individual properties are listed as well, and are more frequent than the “districts”. This includes site such as the Frisco Schoolhouse, which is now a museum on Main Street of Frisco, Colorado. The picture seen here was available on the site to be downloaded, (the material is considered public domain according to the site "Disclaimer") and dates from 1983.  I was also able to learn that the addition in the back of the building was put on in the 1950s, and that’s also when the double door was added to the main entrance. The diamond shaped window in the upper eaves appears to be original (ca. 1909).

Records relating to individual residences include written descriptions and in several cases, a floor plan of the building. There is also a required “Significance” summary that generally gives a historical background of the building, and why it is being pursued as a addition to the list.


Not every site has the application and images online yet, but many do. This is a site you will want to add to your bookmarks list and go back to recheck on a regular basis. For advanced viewing, printing or downloading the documents,  you will need the DjVu Plugin. There is a link at the bottom of the screen when you open the files.

Screenshot of the NPS Focus site, allowing you to see the original application records. This example is from a residence in Salida, Colorado. 

Which #Hashtag is Right For Me, Revisited

Way back in June, I posted about Twitter hashtags ( # ) , and which were being used the most by the online genealogical community. I used the website HashTracking to compile some data. Six months later, give or take, I would like to revisit this information, to see where we are, and what might have changed.

The data from both June and December are the number of tweets generated within a 24 hour period.
June: 11 Jun 2012, 4:10pm MST.
December: Friday, 21 Dec 2012 at 8:47pm MST.

June	Tweets	Retweets	Mentions	December	Tweets	Retweets	Metions
#genealogy	35	89	21	#genealogy	348	40	8
#familyhistory	98	26	7	#familyhistory	59	17	2
#ancestry	28	2	0	#ancestry	94	4	0
#history	829	552	119	#history	947	266	54
#socialmedia	1194	269	37	#socialmedia	1279	189	19
#archives	187	81	4	#archives	257	218	8
				#familytree	25	9	2

Although I did not document this in June, for this month’s query, the 396 #genealogy tweets generated 1,929,435 impressions reaching an audience of 248,540 followers. Not bad!

Also, I added #familytree for December’s statistics.

Look at the difference in numbers on #archives. This hashtag has had the largest fluctuation by far. In 24 hours, it has had an almost even 50/50 split between original tweets and retweets; meaning that almost every tweet that was sent that included #archives got retweeted.

#familyhistory is stagnant, but #ancestry has seen some growth in usage. #genealogy has had the most growth since June. Notice there has been a reduction in the #history retweets.

The initial evaluation was done because of a question posed on Google+ by Mariann Pierre-Louis, when she wrote:

"Question for all you social media friends out there: Have any of you ever done a study to determine which Twitter keywords have strong, loyal followings and which keywords seem to remain rapid fire and random without a core group? Just wondering..."

Conversation that followed after my original post was regarding specific hashtags that other people use in the genealogy community. And the question is still valid: what do you use regularly that is not  on the list above?  I think we all use local tags, for example #Colorado, but is there a “category” style that you use to get your message across to a specific audience in the genealogy community?

Maps, Manufacturing and Museums, Oh My!

In my mind, researching your family and their stories means more than just understanding individual life. It also means understanding the general history, economics, diversity and other unique features of a community. And that is why I believe every serious Colorado researcher needs to own a copy of the Historical Atlas of Colorado, by Thomas J. Noel, Paul F. Mahoney and Richard E. Stevens (University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. 1994). It should be a part of your genealogical library.

The text covers everything from boundaries through land grants and territorial purchases, to specialized museums and tourist attractions, and has proven invaluable more than once in my personal and professional research.

For those looking for their “lost” ancestor who came to Colorado as part of the 1859 gold rush, this is a must have resource. The map and descriptions of “Lost Mines and Buried Treasures” will give many a new lease on “dead ends” from newspaper clippings and other records. They also continue to ignite your curiosity, referring to the “Cement Creek Caves,” where “…stolen loot was found in 1883.” From the map, these are not too far west of my current home, and it’s a tempting summer adventure in the making!

The “Transportation” section includes commentary on mountain passes, fur traders, major stagecoach lines and pioneer railroads. Some of these routes have not been modernized today, and the only way to truly experience them is the same way that our ancestors did: on foot or on donkey. Imagine climbing over 14,000 foot mountains with provisions, a change of clothes or two, and hopefully a pick or shovel. In winter.

Planning a research trip to Colorado? Use the “Denver Metro Museums and Historic Accommodations” section to make it as memorable as possible, and learn as much as possible.

If you have any interest at all in the history and development of the State of Colorado, you should put this text on your list. If nothing else, inter-library loan this so you can see the amazing collection of maps within its pages.

Oh, yes. One last thing. 

This post is officially number 200 for my blog! Most of that occurred in 2012, and I thank all of you for reading, commenting, making suggestions and following along on my genealogical journey this year. Have a very wonderful holiday and may we all have an incredible 2013, filled with kind acts, laughter and love. 

My best local bookstore, and how it led me to “Son of a Witch, Founded 1975”

Have you seen the library for all its worth? Yes, the stacks and collections that you can borrow are wonderful, and my own reading list is immense. But… did you possibly miss one section?

In my library, its easy to overlook. Right as you walk in, tucked into a corner. A small sign, “$1 paperbacks, $2 hard covers, all sales benefit Friends of the Library”. That’s it. I’m astonished that every time I visit the library, which is often, I see so many people just walk right by, as if there is nothing there.

Better for me, really.

What have I found on the used book shelves that my library is selling? Oh, so many things.  Generally, these are texts they have removed from circulation because they are not checked out often enough. I love them.

Each year, the library system in our county has one big sale, and I’m usually first in line. Well, ok, I’m there in the first hour. They fill a room with tables and stack the books anywhere and everywhere they can. It’s crowded, difficult to move around, and there are so many titles to look at, you can’t possibly see it all. But I have found so many treasures, its well worth it.

This past year, I picked up a nice hard cover volume, and I think I paid around $1.25 for it. It was a spur-of-the-moment this-might-be-interesting type of purchase. The book has sat on my shelf for months, untouched. I am sorry to say, The Hereditary Register of the United States of America 1977 has been just as unloved on my shelf as it was on the libraries’. (Pabst, Ralph Malcolm, Chairman of the Board; Beattie, Jerome Francis, President & Editor. The Hereditary Register Publications, Inc. Phoenix, AZ. 1977.)  I brought it back out, to use as an example for this post, and realized I truly had a previously undiscovered gem. A little piece of history, right there, just waiting for me to open my eyes.


At first glance in the library, it was a list of societies, and their members with a brief lineage for each individual. As interesting as that is, I missed the entire first section: The Hereditary Societies.


Fascinating historical overviews of organizations either currently famous and strong or never heard of before.  Everything from the Society of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, to Son of a Witch (formed 1975), to the DAR is included.


What am I going to do with this little peek at American history? Well, to be honest, I’m not sure yet. Perhaps a blog series… there are some lists of names here that may prove useful to someone. I’m certainly not against sharing. I do know this, however, I am ever so grateful to the Summit County Library system; they are my best local bookstore.

ACCM: December 18–Christmas Stockings

 Made by my Mom, many years ago. Beautiful color, still, as it is carefully packed year round. Completely hand made, the front image is all needlepoint.

Christmas Stocking VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Panning for Gold in the 1910 Census: Robert & Anna Hamilton

Famous Breckenridge miner, Barney
Ford, depicted in statue with his pan.

Since Breckenridge was built on the Colorado gold rush of 1859, I thought that “panning” for the Hamilton’s in the census records was a good way to describe this search. You see, most of the men who came here to “strike it rich” never did so. They spent hours and hours on their hands and knees, sorting through gravel, silt, and dirt to find that precious piece, that one little nugget that would turn the tide, that would lead them to a world of riches.

And that, my friends, is a really cool analogy for genealogy. It just is.

Aren’t we all digging for that one resource, document, photograph, source that will lead us to the next level in the family chart, the next volume of information on an ancestor?

Here I am, on hands and knees, digging through census records, looking for any hint about Robert and Anna Hamilton. If you have missed the previous posts on this family, please refer back and read through what I have already done. When you’re ready, here is my attempt to find them in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census.

A Brief Review

• Robert Hamilton (abt 1857, Canada – ?)
• Anna Jane Sadler (2 Sep 1862, Illinois – prob bef 1914)
• Married 11 Feb 1885 in Grundy County, Illinois
• Moved to Breckenridge, Summit County, Colorado by April 1885 when the Colorado State Census was taken.
• Diaries of Anna (Sadler) Hamilton were found in the Colorado State Archives and place the family in Breckenridge through 1887.
• 1888: Anna owned mining claims in Breckenridge in her name.
• 1904: Mining claims were sold.
• 1909: Breckenridge newspaper lists Robert and Anna Hamilton “and family” as visitors to area, indicating that they were once residents and now living in Oxford, Nebraska as “successful” ranchers.
• 1910: Deeds in and around the City of Denver, Colorado, held by Robert Hamilton (unconfirmed)
• 7 Feb 1911: Robert Hamilton “owned Ranch ‘down the Blue"’”, Breckenridge newspaper, a common expression for referring to a particular section of the Blue River in Summit County.
• 8 Aug 1913: Robert Hamilton purchases residence in Weld County, Colorado.
• 1916: Last known mention of Robert Hamilton, again in Denver, Colorado (residence)

Let the Searching Begin

Based on this summary timeline, I will begin the 1910 Census search in Denver, Colorado. In 1902, Denver County was created, so this is the first federal census in which the City of Denver is listed as a part of Denver County. Before 1902, it was a part of Arapahoe County. The same action also created Adams County, meaning that the original Arapahoe County was split into three sections. Because this action was still relatively fresh in 1910, I will be evaluating all three counties to ensure a reasonably exhaustive search has been conducted. Once again, I will be using the HeritageQuest Online database, made available through my local library system.

My initial search is for Robert Hamilton, 1910 Census, Colorado. Robert would have been about 53 years of age at the time of this census.

• Two results were supplied for Denver County, and none for Adams or Arapahoe. Both indicated white males, 45 years of age (too young), one born in Canada and one in Ireland.
• The man born in Canada is listed with wife Grace, 35 years of age, born Illinois; and three daughters: Ruth, Clarisa and Helen. At ages 14, 9 and 3 respectively, they are all listed as born in Nebraska, which does not jive with the timeline I've already created. The oldest would have been born in 1896, and as far as we know, they were still likely in Breckenridge, or at least Colorado. Certainly, Robert and Anna could have lied about their ages, or just been unaware of their actual birth dates. This Robert Hamilton is listed as a Live Stock dealer. Due to the birth locations of both Robert and Grace listed in this census, and the stock/cattle association with his occupation, this entry will be kept on the *maybe* list.
• The Irish born Robert Hamilton is listed with his wife, Martha, and three daughters: Gladys, Evaline and Winifred, all born in Colorado. He is listed as an Auditor in an office.

Knowing there are many ways to abbreviate “Robert”, the next step is to conduct a search with a broader scope for his given name. I tried all the different formats of Robert I could think of. Zilch.

An “advanced search” was then conducted, looking for “Hamilton” in just Denver County. 112 Results were supplied, which were then sorted by age. Looking for anything similar to Robert and Anna in their perspective age ranges (53 and 48); once again, the search came up empty. I conducted the same process for both Adams and Arapahoe Counties. Combined, those counties were able to produce 2 results. Guess what? No matches.

Moving on… Anna’s Turn

Beginning with the simple search: Anna Hamilton, 1910 Census, Colorado: two results, one at 40 years of age, born in Germany; and the second at 35 years, born in Kansas. The 40 year old woman was a hotel keeper, listed as head of household, with two children, but only one living with her, with a last name of Schafer. From what I know of Anna, this situation seems unlikely. The younger is listed on a page that is very difficult to read, but I was able to make out “widowed”, and her parents were listed as being born in Kansas. Too far of a stretch from the Anna I’m looking for.

A quick look at all of those in Colorado with the last name of Sadler (Anna's maiden name) resulted in only 12 results, none of which were anything close to Anna, Robert, or any potential children.

Knowing that her father, John Sadler, lived until 1914, I also identified his household in the 1910 Census, in Grundy County, Illinois. Just to be safe. He was residing in Vienna, widowed, with his son Harry and family.  A search in this area for Anna Hamilton, Anna Sadler, Robert Hamilton, all proved to be fruitless. I also searched for Robert Hamilton, between the ages of 51 – 59, for the entire state of Illinois. Again, nothing.

I need to eliminate Grundy County all together, so my next attempt was "Anna" (no last name at all), 1910 Census, Illinois. I searched Grundy County first, with 46 results, again, sorted by age. One entry popped out at me, that of Anna Handlon, age 47, born Illinois. It's a stretch from Hamilton, but hey, it's about as close as I've gotten so far. Taking a look at the details shows this woman as a widow, with no children, and her parents being born in Germany. No go.

In order to limit the possibilities, I added Anna's age range to the given name search: 41-50. From here, I conducted a county-by-county exam of all the possibilities that came back. I got a little stirred up when I found a Anna HANILTON in St. Clair County. Was it her? Of course not.

(How many ways in one blog post can I find to say, “I got nothin’?”)

Back to the Mountains

Because of the connection to property in Summit County in 1911, a search of that area was required.
Summit Country provided two Hamilton’s: Harry T (29 years) and John S (31 years). Neither are quite young enough to be Anna and Robert’s children. Harry’s mother is listed with him, by the name of Mary, born in Pennsylvania. John is identified as a boarder in a Robinson household (the town of Robinson no longer exists), and has an occupation of electrician in a mine.

And Now? The Plains.

Nebraska. My last hope.

The newspaper account we have of the families visit to Summit County was printed in the Summit County Journal (Breckenridge) on Jul 24, 1909, on page 5.




A town in Furnas County, Nebraska, Oxford dates back to December of 1878 when the first settler’s were granted the “final receipts” for land on the eastern edge of the county. (General History of Oxford, Nebraska. Oxford, Nebraska official website. www.oxfordnebraska.com/history. Accessed 12 Dec 2012.)
Trying to leave my search as broad as possible, I ran “Hamilton” in 1910 Nebraska. Furnas County had four people listed: Charles, Eames, Edward and Sadie. None were close in age to either Robert or Anna, nor were their birth locations similar. Again.

*sigh*

I adapted the search for “Robert Hamilton” in Nebraska and seven counties were listed. In the 1900 Census, I found a Robert Hamilton and his wife, Clara, living in Douglas County, and they are still there in 1910. This time, I can see that his wife was born in Wisconsin, and her parents in New York, so given the geography, I am officially omitting this family as an option.

Once again, nothing else came close. My original looks at Oxford indicated that the town crosses county lines, into Harlan County. A specific look at records from that county resulted in young men, Charley and John. No go.

The Geography

It seems to me that they traveled a fairly distinct line across the states. From southern Illinois, to south central Nebraska and west to central Colorado. The went back and forth a bit, over time, but they seemed to remain in that general corridor.

Created using Google Maps. Ancestral Journeys, 2012.

Since it appears that Anna died around 1914 sometime, the next piece of my search will have to stray away from census records. Since Robert Hamilton has proven to be relatively common, and since I do not know any of the children’s names, I believe there to be better ways to continue this journey through the middle of our country.

Where in the US are the Hamilton’s?

But then, Robert was born in Canada. So perhaps they are not in the U.S. at all... 

ACCM: Fruitcake - Friend or Foe?

Fruitcake.

Fruit Cake.

Fruit + Cake.


No.


Mom used to make fruitcake for her side of the family every year. She would gather all the elements; the containers of horrible looking syrupy fruit, walnuts, the foil pans to cook and then mail them all in (across the entire country, I may add). She would spend a day - an entire day! - making these cakes. Every year, the answer was the same, "well, they all really enjoy it," "they're expecting my fruitcake." The amount of work she put in was, for me, watching from the sidelines, staggering.

I remember one year, we had an extra, and after a couple days, Dad used it as a door stop to unload the groceries into the car. No one would eat it, and being the practical man he is, he just found another use for it.  Pretty sure he was smart enough to remove it from the doorway before Mom got home from work.

I have no photos of these cakes. I cannot imagine any of us ever thinking at the time they were photo worthy. I'm not sure that Mom ever even ate them. She just made them, ritualistically, and sent them off. What the relatives in Alabama did with them, I'll never know. Sure, I could ask, but I'm just not going to open that Pandora's box. Just. Not. Going. To.

Not being a fan of any cake that includes a fruit, I always questioned the validity of cake combined with fruit. It's suspicious, in nature, and deserves hesitation at the least, before consumption. This even goes so far as to include the classics, such as strawberry short cake and Angel Food cake, which in my house, was always topped with whipped cream and fruit. The only exception is a nice chocolate confection with a few pieces of fruit as a garnish, but certainly not as the main attraction.

Admittedly, when I smell a fruit cake, it takes me back. Back to my Mom's blue kitchen, with her own sense of cluttered organization. It reminds me of the gingerbread cookies and other treats that usually came soon after. Floods me with memories.

There really is nothing like fruitcake.

Mom, ca. 1967
Personal archives of the author.

Create Your Own Genealogy Blog Stock Images

Read just about any article on "how to blog", and one of the first suggestions is always related to having images in each article. It's good advice, and it's a proven method of generating - and keeping - readers. In our technology laden society, we are being inundated with more and more information, you need something flashy and attractive to keep those that are interested in your stories coming back.

If you Google "stock photos", you can literally find millions of results. Some of them are free, some are not. Some are very high quality, some are not.

There is an easier way, however, and if you have a decent digital camera or a smartphone, it becomes relatively simple. Here is the warning: once you start taking pictures on your own for your genealogy or family history related blog, you may not stop. You've been told.

Inspiration comes easily, just look at the myriad of other bloggers out there, focusing of course on similar topics to yours. If your blog discusses a memory of your grandmother, take a photo of your heirloom tea cup that was passed down to you. Is the objective of the post a book review or include mention of a article or magazine? Use the cover of the text, a notepad and pen to create an image of studying or reading. Have a new research idea, that you want to write about? Fantastic! Even a stack of unidentified books in front of a computer screen makes a compelling image.

I've been doing this, consistently, now for a couple of months, and truly love it. The ideas that come to mind are really endless, and your imagination is all you really need!

Here's a few of mine:

My husband's toy wooden truck, placed on top of a map
from the general area where we grew up.

My own childhood toy! Mounted on a track and using
the same map. I used the macro setting on all of these
images to get the blurred corners.

My grandmother's tea cup and saucer, one of
a small collection. Placed on top of a family tree chart,
next to her name. 

Same tea cup and saucer, with a larger view of the chart.

To display continuing education...
classic texts with a genealogy conference
website in the background. Combining classic
"education" with new formats.

Use your community. Talk a walk around your neighborhood and look for interesting architectural details on local homes, flora and fauna that catches your eye, cloud formations above buildings that create an interesting scene. Use your creativity and have some fun with it! If your ancestors were farmers, get up close and personal with a grain of wheat or a leaf, if there are in a location with limited access to farms. Take pictures of gears, bike spokes, lunch boxes... anything that you can use to tell the story, behind the story.

The Rotary Snow Plow Park in Breckenridge, CO.
They have a fantastic engine, but the box car is
photographed very rarely.

Rotary Snow Plow Park, Breckenridge, CO.
A unique perspective on rail history, perhaps. 

My back deck, with the addition of my daughter's art work.
A good color / neutral tone combo.

Two suggestions, however. Find a way to have and label your images with copyright text, unless of course, you do not mind if anybody and everybody uses your ideas. Secondly, use your "macro" setting on your camera (it's up to you to research that, if you don't know what it is, there are far too many options to be discussed here), or Instagram on your smart phone to create unique, visually stimulating images.

A few moments of self-teaching on your equipment will go a long way, here. Take advantage of the tools you have at home to create unique, creative images for your blog. Your readers will appreciate it, and your stories will become more personal.

ACCM: December 10, Christmas Gifts

Throughout the month of December, I will happily be participating in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories blogging prompts, from Geneabloggers. 

December 10, 2012: Christmas Gifts

After my grandparents retired, and before Grandpa got too sick, they spent their winter's in Palm Springs, California. When I was quite young, I just knew that they were gone, and that my Dad had to go to their house down the road every once in a while to check in on things. I missed Grandma's cookies.

Each year, though, without fail, they would send us an entire box of grapefruits.

Image courtesy: Wikipedia.

I hated grapefruit.

To me, it was always, the "dreaded grapefruit."

Mom would make me eat at least one of them, and I would pile so much sugar on that thing, you were hard pressed to tell what it was. I don't know that any of us were ever really huge fans of the fruit, but there it was anyway, sitting in our kitchen.

Looking back, of course, it would be grand to have someone send me an entire box of fresh fruit from the heat of California!  Now living in Colorado, we truly appreciate good produce during a long, cold winter.

My grandmother, Elsie, closest to the Christmas tree.
Christmas season, 1962-1963.
Personal archives of author.

Bravery: Found in the Depth of our Youth

This has been a week of bravery. I seem to have found it everywhere, in all facets of my life.

Bravery.

What does that look like? Is it a picture of soldiers, or rather, the memorial of soldiers' boots, helmets and rifles? Is it the ideal of "jumping off a cliff"? Personally, I find it to be a much more personal image.  A woman or man, sitting in a chair with a blanket, hooked up to IV's full of horrific chemicals, fighting a disease called cancer. It's facing your parents, your family, yourself, with a failure, with an admission.

It's making a decision: I will not be full of guilt, I will not regret. I will risk, and I will live the life I dream of living.


Within History, It Is Everywhere

On Thursday, 6 Dec 2012, Mariann Pierre-Louis hosted an interview with Megan Smolenyak on her blogtalkradio show; "Fieldstone Common." The interview was based primary on the most recent book from Megan Smolenyak, Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing. I always enjoy listening to these podcasts, and this was certainly no exception.

During the 60 minute show, they specifically discussed one chapter in the book that addressed the identification of Annie Moore as the first person to come through Ellis Island in New York. It was an interesting discussion, and you could certainly hear the passion in Mrs. Smolenyak's voice as she addressed a particular photo, that had to be proven to 1) be Anne and 2) be at Ellis Island. She indicated that she would like to see this image presented to all of our nation's children in their history lessons; how powerful it would be for them to see another youth making history. Being history.

This Annie must have been terribly brave. How intimidating! Little did she know she would become history. One particular comment from Mrs. Smolenyak stood out to me: she was sent across to the United States with her brother to meet up with her parents. Meaning, the parents were already here, and the children traveled by themselves. Can you imagine that? Forgive me for not being able to recount all of the details of Annie's life, and I do not have a copy of the text here with me, but can you possibly comprehend what it must have been like?  Getting on board that immense vessel, being the oldest, the one "in charge" of the situation to her younger siblings. Then traveling across an ocean to this huge, new world. To a huge, new city. Her family was living in New York City, so the destination alone had to be incredibly overwhelming. Then, she departs the vessel to find strange men (and women?) celebrating her? With cameras, a special coin; it was done up, it was a big deal. What a phenomenal young lady.

Then there is this post by Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, A different kind of loss, and her account of a mother, and her four sons. All four went off to war, fighting for the Confederacy, and only one returned. She states towards the end of the story that the third young man to die was only 21 years old at the time... I know there were numerous young men who served, some even lied to be able to enlist. Did they go unknowingly? Did they blindly follow their fathers and brothers, neighbors? Perhaps, but the moments spent in battle would have taught them so much; would have stayed with them their entire lives.


Today's Youth: Brave Souls

Image Courtesy:
www.projectwrap.com

Fast forward 150 years or so. Today, we live in a society that is engulfed in technology, merchandise, a "commercialization" of the holidays. Just a few days ago, I read a comment (on Twitter, I think?) about how "sad" and "heart wrenching" it was to see all the ornaments with children's names on them in the stores, stating their wants for Christmas: new socks, shoes, a backpack. Simple, need to have items. As I write this, I'm literally watching inches of snow accumulate on my window sills, and of course, the idea of not having a decent pair of socks to wear is appalling. I do not think, though, that those children are sad. I think they are brave.

They are brave to face reality and understand that their parents - try though they might - just cannot put enough together to pay the bills, feed and house the family, and give them a Christmas filled with "stuff". They just need some socks.

(Yes, some people take advantage of these programs, and that is unfortunate. I believe, and I hope you will too, that most are truly in need to make the season special for their families. I must, therefore, also honor the parents with their own bravery; their ability to do that most difficult act in admitting that they simply can't get it done this year, and ask for help from these types of programs. If you are in doubt, I would urge you to read this letter.)

Soon, I will have to pull myself up by my boot straps (I just love that phrase!) and show some bravery myself. I plan on keeping all of these children in my mind, in my heart, so that I can be like them.

I would invite you to spend some time this holiday season making a donation, purchasing a gift, participating in a local program to help those in your community that are in need. Women's shelters, medical research, programs like Angel Tree, or the Red Cross. They could all use a little extra help right now, if you have it give.

Incredible Stories of Incredible Women

I'm a pretty lucky gal. I have a lovely family, a nice home, a good life, really. I enjoy what I do, and I'm challenged by thoughts of what I could do. I have mentors in my field, I have people in my past that inspire me. And, I have people that I'm just getting to know, just reading their stories. Incredible, awe inspiring, jaw dropping stories.

If you are at all interested in the life of women in the Colorado Rockies from the Gold Rush (1859) through the turn of the century, here are a couple must read's:

• The Magnificent Mountain Women by Janet Robertson (University of Nebraska Press, 1990.)
• They Weren't All Prostitutes and Gamblers by Sandra F. Mather, PhD. (Summit Historical Society, 2009.)
• Doc Susie by Virginia Cornell. (Manifest Publications, 1991.)
• Women As Tall As Our Mountains, Collected Short Stories. (P.E.O. Chapter F.U. 1976.)

Four great reads.

We all know life was hard for our ancestors'. This very special collection of women makes that abundantly clear. This is by no means a comprehensive list, however, it is a good start to understanding the difficulties faced by the first female pioneers of this difficult country.

ACCM: December 1, The Christmas Tree

Throughout the month of December, I will happily be participating in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories blogging prompts, from Geneabloggers. 

December 1, 2012: The Christmas Tree

Winter in Enumclaw, Washington.
Photo Copyright M.T. Photo,
used with permission.

Oh, the tree. One of my favorite things. I grew up in rural Washington state, southeast of Seattle. Dairy cows, logging and a pickle factory dominated my childhood environment commercial world. We lived on about two acres of land, less than a mile from my Grandparents home and the farm they retired from. With Mt. Rainier constantly in our sights, my outdoor world was incredibly important to me. Bringing the outside in for a week or so at Christmas was a true joy. 

Our tree was always this: short, stout and still alive. We purchased tree's that still had the root ball attached, tree's that you had to water every day so it would remain healthy enough through a week in the house. We typically brought it in just a day or two before Christmas Eve, and decorating was always a family ordeal. It meant more than just the tree, it was the nativity scene, the decorations around the rest of the house. Meeting the objective of making the house feel like Christmas. 

The tree was short. We had a large tub it sat in, usually on top of the coffee table, and a home made tree skirt was draped around to cover it, and make it "pretty."  The angel on top was the same each year, fragile and delicate; my parents still have her. Tinsel, lights, ornamental balls... we all had our special favorites. I had a white wooden stocking, with a picture of a bear hanging out the top. Sometime during my childhood, I really don't know when, it was a craft project of sorts, and I glued my initials to it. It hangs on my tree today.

My childhood ornament, a little worn, but still with me.
Photo copyright Ancestral Journeys, 2012.

After Christmas day, as in, the day after, the tree was taken apart.  Dismantled, and everything packed back up. It was important that it was done efficiently, because the tree was still alive. Dad would have prepped the spot, sometimes we helped him pick, sometimes not. The tree was taken outside and put in the ground, where it would grow. It would be our Christmas tree for years. The entire front border of the property was lined with trees, from year's of special holidays. 

 Our family property through the ages...

Image taken in the 1920's or 30s. Notice, not a single
tree in front of the house.
Personal archives of author.

Photo taken about 1976-1977, when my parents were the
perspective buyers. My grandparents took the picture and
sent it to my parents.
Personal archives of author.

The entire property, year unknown.
Notice the start of the tree collection along the road at the very
front of the property.
Copyright M.T. Photo, used with permission.

The front yard as I remember it. It's stamped May 1985, so the
smaller tree center right would have been a recent addition,
possibly from December, 1984.
Copyright M.T. Photo, used with permission.