footnoteMaven

The Wexford Carol

2009-12-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

The Wexford Carol
("Good People All, This Christmastime")
(Enniscorthy Carol)

carol. French carole. Originally a song to accompany dancing,
but later, by common usage, it came to refer to old,
Christmas-season religious songs.

To Blog Carol this year I have selected probably the best known of Irish Christmas songs, "The Wexford Carol." The Wexford Carol has roots reaching back to twelfth century Ireland, traceable to the proximity of the County and town of Wexford. The Wexford Carol was included in The Oxford Book of Carols and tells the story of the birth of Christ.

It is interesting to note that Christmas carols were rare in Ireland, but County Wexford has a 300 year tradition of handing down carols from generation to generation. Families in the area were each entrusted with a carol and with sharing that particular carol with the generations. During Christmas the carols were sung in the homes of these families and in the church by the choir. The choir consisted of six men who sang the carols unaccompanied.

Caroling, also known as wassailing, actually began in medieval times as a pagan ritual. The wassail, a hot beverage usually made with hot ale or mulled cider, was a ritual honoring the apple and fruit orchards in the dead of winter. Farmers went from farm to farm pouring wassail on the roots of trees while making a lot of noise to scare off the bad spirits responsible for making the days shorter and colder. Eventually the custom of going door to door singing and drinking became a Christmas tradition. (This is one of the many versions of the story of caroling, but all agree it is rooted in pagan ritual.)

Please sing along to YoYo Ma and Allison Krauss performing The Wexford Carol.

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done,
In sending His belovèd Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas Day;
In Bethlehem upon the morn
There was a blest Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass:
From every door repelled, alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble oxen stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
“Prepare and go”, the angels said,
“To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
For there you’ll find, this happy morn,
A princely Babe, sweet Jesus born.”

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God’s angel has foretold,
They did our Savior Christ behold.
Within a manger He was laid,
And by His side the virgin maid
Attending to the Lord of Life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

Merry Christmas

Thank you! If you are blog caroling please
leave a link to your post in the comments!

Not All Merry and Bright!

2009-12-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

It happened last night. It started with the sound of carolers. I feel as if I can't breathe and the sound brings to mind a Christmas past. Not all family history is the way we would have written it if we were given a choice. We all know that from experience. This remembrance is of a Christmas tragedy, there is no happy ending; if you would like to stop reading here, I will understand completely.

It was December 21. I left my office at lunch to pick up those last minute odds and ends. Small things for the children's stockings and some food favorites for Christmas dinner. The world at that time didn't walk around with a bluetooth in its ear, a cell phone in its purse or pocket, or in my case even an answering machine.

When I returned to my office a Sheriff's Deputy was waiting for me. I knew something was desperately wrong, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't speak. "You need to call your Mother," he said. "I'm very sorry." I heard a loud and painful moan, and then realized it was coming from me.

The night before, my Father ("There'll Be No Hell For Dogs") had gone out in his front yard to listen to the neighborhood carolers and suffered a heart attack. The paramedics arrived, revived him and transported him to the hospital. My youngest Brother and my Mother went there with him. He was sitting up in bed and talking. He told my Brother he was fine, that he loved him, and that he should go home. My Brother left, my Mother stayed. My Mother was a cardiac intensive care nurse in the very unit my father was a patient, she would not leave him. Mom and Dad talked and decided to call the rest of us in the morning when Dad would be discharged.

Several hours later, during the early morning hours of December 21, my Father suffered a massive heart attack in the hospital and died.

My other Brother and I both lived in California. After speaking with my Mother we made arrangements and traveled to Florida. Going in the house was so difficult, Dad was everywhere. He had spent hours putting up the Christmas decorations, there were presents under the tree with his name on them, and his tools were sitting on his workbench in the garage, just where he had left them when he went out to listen to carolers.

Most of this time is a blur. I think the mind does that to make the memory of the pain less knife sharp. If only the family tragedy ended here, but it doesn't.

My Father's brothers arrived from Missouri for the funeral. They looked so much like Dad. It was a comfort and yet so visual a reminder that he was missing. During the funeral one of my Uncles stood next to me and held my hand, none of us knowing that at that very moment his pain was about to become immeasurable.

At that very moment, in Missouri, in my Uncle's backyard, his daughter, my cousin, was taking her own life. She left no note. The family has speculated for years on her reasons and her timing. My Uncle always believed she was murdered. The police reports were thorough and final, it was a suicide. She was obviously in pain, but this act of suicide was so selfish. Selfish and cruel.

As adults we know that not every Christmas is "Merry and Bright." Christmas memories are what you make of them. I have made some wonderful memories for my children and their children, I did it for them, for me, and for Dad. How he loved Christmas!

I work very hard for good memories, but every year at this time some memories of Christmas past slip into my conscious thoughts and they are still painful.

The original story was told December 2007.

The footnoteMaven's Tradition of Blog Caroling!

2009-12-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Yes, Geneabloggers have traditions. From the comfort of my blog, with Hot Toddy in hand, my flannel jammies and furry slippers on, I will blog my favorite Christmas Carol on Wednesday, December 16. (I sing so much better online than in person!)

So my fellow GeneaBloggers, I challenge each of you to blog your favorite Christmas Carol - Blog Caroling. We'll all sing along!

Blog Carol on Wednesday 16 December, post a note in the comments of my carol directing me to your Blog Caroling Post and I will create an article listing all our favorites.

You can view the first year's A Choir Of GeneAngels and last year's Do You Hear What I Hear.

My Genea-Wishes

2009-12-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

Select Christmas Card For
Fullscreen Version

Holiday Edition of The COG Part 1 & 2 Ho! Ho! Ho!

2009-12-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

86th EDITION OF THE Carnival Of Genealogy

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is:

“The Other Holiday Happenings! Part 1”
“Genea-Santa Wish List! Part 2”

- ¤ -

Often times December to mid-January birthdays and anniversaries get
over shadowed by the Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year holidays.

- ¤ -

So we're going to shine a spotlight on those family members
and ancestors this time around.

- ¤ -

Select one or more December to mid-January birthdays
and/or anniversaries on your family tree.

- ¤ -

Write a short tribute to or memory of those birthday guys and gals
and write a toast to the anniversary couples. Share it in the COG!

- ¤ -

And this edition will have a Part 2 as well (separate blog post)!

- ¤ -

We can't go into the Christmas holiday without our genealogy
wish lists for Genea-Santa!!!

- ¤ -

So write up a list of what you'd like Genea-Santa to bring you
and share it in the COG

- ¤ - ¤ -

The Deadline For Submissions Is
December 15, 2009

- ¤ - ¤ -

Attention All COG Participants

Please use a descriptive phrase in the title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction to your articles in the "comment" box of the blogcarnival submission form. This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest them in clicking on your link. Introductions for your articles will not be provided for you due to the volume of articles submitted. Thank you!

Also, check out Jasia's post "FAQs About The Carnival of Genealogy," for all you need to know about submitting a post. First-timers always welcome and greatly appreciated!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using the carnival submission form or select the 86th Edition COG poster in the upper right hand corner of this page. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.

An Orphanage

2009-12-02T11:17:00.001-08:00

The 85th Carnival of Genealogy asks that we discuss the two types of orphans associated with our family history research.

In my family history research there are three separate and distinct types of orphans. The first type of orphan refers to those ancestors or relatives who lost their parents when they were young. The second type of orphan would be those siblings or cousins of our ancestors whom we think of as “reverse orphans.” They are the relatives who, for whatever reason, died at a young age, never having married or had children, or having children who did not survive to provide descendants.

I have added a third type of orphan; those beautiful photographs we've inherited that remain unidentified yet gnawingly connected to our family and their research. No name indicated on the image; just those imploring faces, staring, challenging. They want to be identified, to be reclaimed for their sake and for the sake of our shared family history.

Last Christmas my sister, Biblio, sent me a box of orphan photographs, enough orphans to establish an orphanage. These are photographs that had been saved by my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother, and now by me. Saved, cherished, but darn it, not identified.

Each of these is a miniature mystery and you know how much I love a mystery. I developed a research strategy for individuals and areas/locations during my nine month course with the University of Washington. I am now applying those principles to a research strategy for identifying orphan photographs. I will share the process when it is complete.

A few of the orphans in the family orphanage.
Don't they look as if they are taunting me?

Come on fM, who am I?

(There are so many more!)

2009-12-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Last year Tamura Jones of Modern Software Experience created the GeneaBlog Awards.

This year, footnoteMaven is honored to have won the award for Citation Queen.

This description accompanied the award:

A blog with personality - and footnotes. footnoteMaven writes what she wants to write about, which is mostly genealogy, history and local events but includes anything else that strikes her fancy. Many a blog post has footnotes that mention sources - and that includes the posts about source citations.

Thank you Tamura, for this honor! You have been very very good to the footnoteMaven this year; an early Christmas present. And thank you for all those times you recognized my humor when many didn't (and I'm talking about Twitter as well).

Disclaimer - I really appreciate the Queen status, but I know that if the Citation Goddess, Elizabeth Shown Mills had a blog I'd be out of business.

Congratulations To All The GeneaBlog Award Category Winners:

Most Successful Genealogy Blog: The Graveyard Rabbit

Best Genealogy Vendor Blog: Generation Maps' The Chart Chick

Citation Queen: footnoteMaven

Geekiest Genealogy Blog: Me and My Database :: Geek Genealogy

Honourable mention: The Gramps Project Blog

Most Personal YouTube Genealogy Channel: Elyse Doerflinger

Honourable mention: Climb Your Tree by Lucy.

Most Challenging Blog: Forensic Genealogy

Best Looking Magazine: Shades of the Departed Magazine

Mannahatta by Walt Whitman

2009-11-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Bill West of West In New England has extended a poetry challenge:

1. Find a poem by a local poet, famous or obscure, from the region one of your ancestors lived in. It can be about an historical event, a legend, a person, or even about some place (like a river)or a local animal.

2. Post the poem to your blog (remembering to cite the source where you found it.)

3. Did it inspire you to research the subject of the poem and how it relates to your ancestor?

4. Submit your post's link here to me by November 22nd and I'll publish all the entries on Thanksgiving Day!

My contribution is Mannahatta by Walt Whitman. Whitman's Mannahatta (Native American for "land of many hills") is a celebration of New York City glorifying the metropolitan atmosphere that makes the city so unique. Whitman (1819-1892) was born on Long Island and educated in Brooklyn, New York.

My ancestors were some of the "Immigrants arriving, fifteen or twenty thousand in a week." My family also loved everything about New York City, so much so that as my mother lay dying of pancreatic cancer, all she wanted was to see New York one more time.

Below is a reading of the poem via a Cup of Poetry from the Penguin Radio Room, one of my favorite spots to spend time.

Mannahatta
by Walt Whitman

I was asking for something specific and perfect for my city,
Whereupon lo! upsprang the aboriginal name.

Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane,
unruly, musical, self-sufficient,

I see that the word of my city is that word from of old,
Because I see that word nested in nests of water-bays,
superb,

Rich, hemm'd thick all around with sailships and
steamships, an island sixteen miles long, solid-founded,

Numberless crowded streets, high growths of iron, slender,
strong, light, splendidly uprising toward clear skies,

Tides swift and ample, well-loved by me, toward sundown,

The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, larger adjoining
islands, the heights, the villas,

The countless masts, the white shore-steamers, the lighters,
the ferry-boats, the black sea-steamers well-model'd,

The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of business, the
houses of business of the ship-merchants and money-
brokers, the river-streets,

Immigrants arriving, fifteen or twenty thousand in a week,

The carts hauling goods, the manly race of drivers of horses,
the brown-faced sailors,

The summer air, the bright sun shining, and the sailing
clouds aloft,

The winter snows, the sleigh-bells, the broken ice in the
river, passing along up or down with the flood-tide or
ebb-tide,

The mechanics of the city, the masters, well-form'd,
beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the eyes,

Trottoirs throng'd, vehicles, Broadway, the women, the
shops and shows,

A million people--manners free and superb--open voices--
hospitality--the most courageous and friendly young
men,

City of hurried and sparkling waters! city of spires and masts!
City nested in bays! my city!

Sources:

Penguin Group USA. The Radio Room, A Cup of Poetry. Mannahatta by Walt Whitman. (accessed 20 November 2009).

“Orphans and Orphans”

2009-11-20T20:06:00.001-08:00

85th EDITION OF THE Carnival Of Genealogy

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is:

“Orphans and Orphans”

- ¤ -

The first type of orphan refers to those ancestors or relatives
who lost their parents when they were young.

- ¤ -

The second type of orphan would be those siblings or cousins
of our ancestors whom we think of as “reverse orphans.”

- ¤ -

They are the relatives who, for whatever reason – death at a young age,
never having married or had children, or having children
who did not survive to provide descendants

- ¤ -

They have no direct descendants of their own, so it falls to us,
their collateral relatives, to learn and write their story

- ¤ - ¤ -

The Deadline For Submissions Is
December 1, 2009

Greta, Greta's Genealogy Bog, will be the host this time around.

- ¤ - ¤ -

Attention All COG Participants

Also, check out Jasia's post "FAQs About The Carnival of Genealogy," for all you need to know about submitting a post. First-timers always welcome and greatly appreciated!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using the carnival submission form or select the 83rd Edition COG poster in the upper right hand corner of this page. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.

There'll Be No Hell For Dogs

2009-11-14T01:11:00.000-08:00

Carnival of Genealogy - 26th Edition - A Tribute To Fathers

Equal time has to go to my Father. How I loved him. How I miss him. The COG has always been very cathartic.

He was the most handsome man I have ever seen. Movie star good looks handsome, and he was my father. From little girls to little old ladies he could turn them all into babbling idiots just by acknowledging them. He was a farm boy from Missouri who was totally unaware of the havoc his good looks created with women. Oh, women noticed him, but he did not notice women. From the day he set eyes on my mother there was no other woman in the world.

They met in the Army during World War II. My mother was a nurse, a WAC Lieutenant. My father was a corpsman in a hospital for soldiers facing the psychological traumas of war. They met there. I remember my mother telling how she had seen him the first time, sitting on the floor in one of the corridors leaning against the wall. She said he took her breath away, he was so handsome; she hoped he wasn’t one of her patients. They knew each other just two weeks before they were married and it lasted a lifetime – his lifetime.

Yes, women noticed him and often that made me just the least bit jealous. When I was in high school and played in sports he would come to watch me compete. Female classmates who were not close friends would wait for him and sit next to him feigning interest in my performance just to be near him. It was the same if he brought my mother. She laughed, she didn’t mind, he made her feel that secure, and he even made those rotten girls feel comfortable.

To go with those good looks was a large dose of southern charm. That off-handed sense of humor that is natural and not the least bit contrived. My sister inherited his sense of humor and the way with words that were his. I hear him in her speech and when I do, I miss him. I have already told you of his tipping outhouses escapades, but there was so much more to the humor in his life, at least a book of stories more.

He was known for his little homilies. One of my favorites was “there’ll be no Hell for dogs.” What does it mean? I have absolutely no idea, but when he touched his belt buckle and uttered those words his children always ran for it. I still use it today at just the appropriate moment, when I want to daze and confuse. It’s always good for a smile.

He was my knight, my rock. He protected us all. His wife, his children, his mother, his sisters, his friends; we have all been rescued by him at least once. In my case he rescued me more times than I can count. He rescued us from broken down cars, the driving exam, tornadoes, abusive relationships, dementia, heartbreak, disappointment, fractions, and the reality of death at an early age. He did it with surprising good humor, under what were often the worst of circumstances. He always knew what to say and do. We could depend on him.

My very favorite memory of my father is of the two of us sitting on my uncle’s porch on a summers evening while he brushed and braided my hair. He loved my hair. One summer when I was nine my mother got it in her head to give me a pixie cut, without telling him. When he arrived home from work he cried and was completely inconsolable. I attribute my reticence to cutting my hair to that childhood memory.

His proudest moment of me was when, instead of taking Home Economics, I took an automotive class. He taught me to change a tire, the oil, to know all the parts of the car’s engine and to weld. I was the only girl in the class and I got the top marks. Little did I know at the time, he had a bet with the father of one of the boys in the class that his “little girl” would get the best grade and beat his son out for the top mark. He was so proud when I did just that. I think the prize was that infamous 3.2 beer again.

His life had not been an easy one. He was the seventh of eight children. His father died when he was eleven of pernicious anemia, something easily cured today. His mother took in washing to try to make ends meet, but it soon became apparent she couldn’t afford the clothes to send him to school, so he stopped going and got a job supporting his family at the age of twelve. He had no carefree youth. He often talked about how as a child he had wanted a wagon for Christmas, but his mother could not afford to buy him one. For their first Christmas together my mother gave him a shiny red Radio Flyer. He never forgot that gift.

He was plagued by poor health. My first memory of his illness was when he collapsed at thirty-five of a heart attack and my mother and I had to carry him to the car and drive him to the hospital. I have never been so frightened in my life.

When I was a junior in high school he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The pain was excruciating, but he never complained. He would get out of bed and balancing on crutches would fix our meals. We were at school and mother took on the burden of supporting the family. He didn't complain and he didn't give up.

I think it was his absolute joy and love of life and his endless curiosity as to what would happen next that kept him going through the pain; that and the plot for his next practical joke.

I could not have had a better Father, in that I won the lottery. Happy Father’s Day Dad - thank you for the laughter, the curiosity, the extra large dose of common sense and the good hair.
There’ll be no Hell for dogs - or for my father.

A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

2009-11-13T01:22:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed the research and writing of this, my submission for the 48th Edition of the COG. But most of all I enjoyed meeting my Mother as I never knew her.

Until I started this article, I hadn't really thought of my Mother as a school girl, as the 14 year old bobby-sockser you see in the photograph to the right. She was just Mom. I took her intelligence for granted. As most children do, I took everything about her for granted.

She placed a very high premium on education and had a tremendous amount of reverence for the written word. The written word was sacred she always said. When I took down her high school yearbook and started to look through it for this article, I realized there were no autographs on the autograph page. Typical Mom, she would never have written in a book. They're sacred after all.

I've had her Bayside High School yearbook for many years, but I've never really looked at it, looked at the high school girl that was my mother. I guess I've thought I knew everything about her.

I'm looking more closely now, trying to be an objective researcher and historian, trying to suppress that familiarity born of being her child that kept me from really knowing my Mother the person. Looking at her the way others saw her or knew her.

Each entry in the Triangle Yearbook, Class of 1942, was accompanied by a saying - Gentle of speech, beneficent of mind - Desiring success, you shall have it. Some of the entries sounded a bit forced, as if those writing them really had to work to come up with something to say about the person pictured.

Bayside High School
32nd Avenue and 208th Street
Bayside, New York

My Mother's saying was - A pretty girl is like a melody, from the 1919 Irving Berlin song that had become popular again at that time. It didn't sound forced to me. It sounded as if the person writing it actually meant it. She was a pretty girl and she certainly came from the house of melodies (Carnegie Hall). At least, that is what I choose to believe.

Yearbook Entry

I wasn't surprised she was in the History and English Honor Classes, she was always a great homework resource, but I was surprised at all the sports; volleyball, tennis, and small games (whatever that might be). The only sport she discussed that I can remember was fencing and it's not listed here. Perhaps she had given it up by her senior year. She also had three years of Latin and spoke German. She had taken German, she said, so that she could talk to Papa. Papa was Louis Salter's father John, her great grandfather. So as a child I learned to sing German Christmas songs and say a phrase "telling others my name and asking if they spoke German."

She must have approved of the saying beside her name, because she was a member of the Triangle yearbook staff. She would never have allowed it to be printed if she didn't approve. Mother's that little thing in the middle of the picture below. Were you ever so young or so small? Somehow I thought you were born - well, my Mother.

Triangle Yearbook Staff

The yearbook also contained a Class Prophecy in which my Mother was prominently mentioned.

Rustling silk, shimmering velvet . . . Evening in Paris . . . immaculate white shirt fronts . . . shiny black top-hats . . . sables slung carelessly over shoulders . . . soft golden lights, a buzzing stream of chatter--all the glamour, suspense, and excitement of a gala Broadway opening night.

Not an ordinary opening night, mind you; not even Orson Welles, that fond memory, who has since gone to his eternal rest (onMars), was ever able to assemble such a sparkling galaxy. And no wonder. For that new bright light on the dramatic horizon is none other than that famous producer, Tommy Emma, preenting an original venture, which, according to advance press reports whould be the first on your "must see" list. And quite naturally too, for the whole show is studded with alumni of the Bayside High School.

While the audience is getting settled, let's take a look at the playbill "Variations on a Theme":

PROGRAM

1. AMERICAN PRELUDE

Aaron Ladman at the piano

2. "SNOW AND ICE"

featuring Janice Hamilton,
internationally known
performer
Chorus led by Veronica Kern

3. "PAN AMERICANA"

Spanish Serenade
Pat Zarth, vocalist

Tropic Tempos
Dances interpreted by
Gloria Cutting and
Harriet Waite

4. "MEMORIES"
Glee Club under direction
of Jimmy Lynch

5. "POETESS IN LOVE"
The Cast
The Poetess . . . . .Bette Taylor
The Hero. . . . . . .Ken LaBarre
The Villain . . . . .Harry Gardner

Play written by Joanne Michelson
Produced and directed by T. Emma
Settings designed and executed by
Jane Reynolds
Advertising by Regina Reckholder
and Margaret Cahill
Fire Notice: The exit indicated
by a red light and sign, nearest
to the seat you occupy, is the
shortest route to the street. In
the event of fire or other emergency
please do not run--WALK TO
THAT EXIT.
Joe Badger, Fire Commissioner.

With the conclusion of the first part of the show, we find ourselves at intermission time, and, having nothing to do, we follow the carpeted footsteps into the buzzing lobby. Familiar faces begin to emerge from the sea of sables, velvets, top-hats, and shirt fronts. Behold the famous society matron, Lillian Uppity (nee Greene), admiring the celebrated diamond necklace of Joyce Van Sniff (nee Lenz), who in turn is being guarded by our master detective, Bob Bingham. . .

How can I reconcile the young woman her friends thought was destined for sable, diamonds, and society with the woman who stood in our backyard in Missouri wringing the chicken's neck that was about to be dinner. I can't, I really didn't know her.

She went on to graduate that year and from there went directly into a four year degree nursing program. Until I read her yearbook I never knew that nursing had always been her goal. What was it that made your decision such an obvious one for you? There are no nurses in the family.

Graduation Photograph
1942

It was just a month shy of her graduation from nursing school when something happened that changed my Mother's life forever. War! The father and brother she adored had both enlisted. There was a parade down Fifth Avenue, a drive for war bonds with handsome young men in uniforms marching down the famous avenue. She told me there were soldiers who had been wounded that marched as well.

She was hanging out a window on Fifth Avenue waving as they marched by, when she was struck by the fact that she had to do something to contribute to the war effort. The next day, she dropped out of nursing school and enlisted in the Army. She did not go on to graduate, something she regretted all her life.

This wasn't the end of her education, she continued to take classes, even after I'd left home. She was one of the most intelligent women I've ever known, but there's so much more I should have known and I don't.

48th Edition

Warm and Welcoming

2009-11-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

My first post, Shelter From The Home and Hearth, was also my first contribution to the Carnival of Genealogy. I was so new, my hand shook as I hit the blog submission button. I had been reading the Carnival of Genealogy and its famous bloggers for months. They and their writing was so polished, so professional. I wanted to test the waters, but I was certain that I was not worthy. With that first Carnival post I was about to prove my worth to the world.

I joined the 19th Carnival with my blogging idols, Randy Seaver - Genea-Musings, Jasia - Creative Gene (the reason I started blogging), Miriam Midkiff - AnceStories, Becky Wiseman - kinexxions, Craig Manson - Geneablogie, Apple - Apple's Tree, David Bowles - Writing the Westward Sagas, Tim Abbott - Walking the Berkshires, and Chris Dunham - The Genealogue.

This is how Jasia described my first submission:

I'm not the only one whose family lived in the same building they worked in... footnote Maven shares with us Shelter From the Storm, Stories of the Home and Hearth. posted at footnote Maven. You'll never guess where the footnote Maven's great grandfather lived. The only hint I'll give you is that it's a world famous building. Check it out, it's a great story!

These were the Old Guard and I was jumping into the deep end of their blogging pool. As you can see, Jasia was kind, generous, and welcoming. Encouraged, I wrote more Carnival submissions. Then, miracle of miracles, I received my first comment. A comment for my Carnival submission, Only Woman-Built Boat On Long Island. Here is that memorable comment and my response:

Apple said...

A very interesting story. Your comment that she evaded her family for most of her life is very intriguing. I hope you'll share more about her in the future as you learn more.

The footnoteMaven said...

The stories of Lois Green have not always been kind. They are the type of family lore that you must be certain of before you plant your ancestral foot in your mouth.

Apple holds a special place in my blogging heart for being the first to comment on an article I had written, an article that was my submission to the COG. You have no idea how excited I was, then again, perhaps you do.

Then I wrote a post about being hopelessly addicted to the COG and designed my first badge.

Another blogger warned me of the perils of my addiction.

While I understand your addiction to the Carnival, I trust you will keep it in proper proportion.

GENAnon is currently supporting hundreds of family historians who have stepped over the line into genealogical addiction.

By all means Blog the Cog (and I like your widget very much) but please, for the sake of your families, don't let it goo too far.

Kind Regards
Thomas Hamburger Jnr
GENAnon

But I was hooked.

July 4, 2007, I created my first Carnival specific poster attached to the post for the 28th Edition Surnames COG. I created other posters and they can be seen in the COG Posters :: A Retrospective.

People have often asked why I create a Carnival of Genealogy poster twice a month when the Carnival is Jasia's and not mine. It's really quite simple. I owe my blogging life to the Carnival and Jasia. It is my homage to her for my online start. I will be forever grateful.

I hosted the 29th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. It did not go smoothly. The subject I selected was Smile For The Camera. Heard that somewhere before? There was some trepidation by other bloggers as to posting photographs. Boy things have changed.

Another subject was selected and announced: "Having had the proverbial bucket of cold water thrown on the choice of topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, the footnoteMaven has officially changed the topic to: Moral or legal dilemmas in genealogy and genea-blogging, which ones have you had to deal with and how did you resolve them, if you did?" Deep, really deep! There were 15 submissions and six comments. Again, Jasia and the COG were there to encourage me:

Take a bow, Maven! Great job with this edition of the COG. Thank you so much for hosting it. I appreciate all your effort. And you found time to create a new graphic for the next edition too... I'm impressed! <-Applause-> Jasia

My favorite COG posters have been the Swimsuit Editions:

And my favorite posts have been submissions to the COG; so from today until November 15, I will reproduce some of my favorite COG submissions and their posters.

The Carnival of Genealogy is a brilliant idea, just like its creator, Jasia. I would not be the footnoteMaven if it were for Jasia and the COG. Thank you BBF!

Two Of My Favorite COGs

There'll Be No Hell For Dogs
26th Edition Of The COG

A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

48th Edition Of The COG

A Traveling Man

2009-11-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

I wrote an article about this photograph of Clark Gable stepping out of the "Globe Trotter," entitled Yes It's Who You Think It Is. It was taken by my Grandfather Edward J. Greene. I knew he worked for MGM and had something to do with the "Globe Trotter," but I didn't know what he did for MGM or what exactly the "Globe Trotter" was.

I've also written about the time, as a child, my grandparents came to visit and brought films of the "Little Rascals" for us to watch in our living room. I remember my mother saying that Grandfather was a talent scout and that he had discovered the "Little Rascals." Nothing that I could substantiate - until now.

Recently, my interest was reignited in this aspect of my family history research when I received an email from Sherry Stewart of British Columbia. Sherry was in Los Angeles doing research on her father and mother, Russ and Phyllis Stewart, who handled the advance publicity for the "Globe Trotter." Sherry's son had found my article "Mr. Denver Colorado," that contained a photograph of Eddie Carrier. Carrier was a friend of my Grandfather and her parents and the conductor of this interesting group of people. Carrier worked in MGM's Exploitation (Publicity) Division, as did my Grandfather.

Sherry was researching at the Margaret Herrick Library turning the delicate pages of The Distributor, an in-house publication of MGM Studios. She had many photographs of the "Globe Trotter" and the men and women who traveled with it, but could not identify all the people in the photographs. She directed me to her website MGM Movie Train. There on the front page was a photograph containing my Grandfather. Sherry had photographs and articles found during her research at the Herrick Library.

I'm now finishing the research and writing the story. This is an update with some new information. The article and photographs will of course debut here.

Edward Jesse Greene was a member of the crew of the "Globe Trotter." The train traveled from city to city promoting new films and screen testing young hopefuls as potential new stars. The Globe Trotter was billed as "A Motion Picture Studio on Wheels - Complete in every detail!" Newspapers announced its arrival as "The traveling advance agent of MGM's Great Stars and Big Hits of 1932-33."

I also have found a wonderful article that talks about Eddie Carrier having discovered Spanky MacFarland of the "Little Rascals." This is the link I've been pursuing. The pieces are beginning to fall into place. Sherry and I are sharing information and photographs. Thank you, Sherry! If you have any information about these people or the marvelous "Globe Trotter," please contact me.

Stay tuned, it's turning out to be a wonderful story!

Sources:

Clark Gable by Edward Jesse Greene. Edward Jesse Greene. Print. ca. 1934/35. Privately held by the footnoteMaven, Preston, Washington. 2008.

Eddie Carrier and Edward Jesse Greene. Anonymous. Print. 1935. Privately held by the footnoteMaven, Preston, Washington. 2008.

Wisconsin Magazine of History and The UW Certificate in Genealogy and Family History Program

2009-11-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am a member of the Advisory Board of the Certificate in Genealogy and Family History Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. As you know, I am also a 2005 graduate of this outstanding program. The following is the program description:

Learn to unearth new facts about your ancestors and view the information within the political, economic, and social changes that shaped communities of that time. Focus in depth on a selected project to better understand the course of your ancestors' lives and the lives of the subsequent family members. Uncover fascinating stories not just about your past, but also about the forces and people behind societal transformations.

We were all exceptionally pleased to find that one of the recent program graduates, Nancy K. Plant, an attorney in Seattle, has had her program project published in the Wisconsin Historical Society magazine, Wisconsin magazine of history. It is an exceptionally well written and researched article.

She Taught Him to "Hear With His Eyes"

By Nancy K. Plant

At the turn of the 20th century, Wisconsin had the most progressive program to educate deaf and speech-impaired children in the entire nation. As part of this movement, Maude McGinty touched the lives of many young students by giving them the gift of communication. This article details the growth of the deaf education movement in the United States and Wisconsin, focusing on the extraordinary devotion Maude had for her students and the impact the chance to communicate had on these children.

Writing your family history may be of interest to a broader audience than just your family. Have you considered writing for the historical journal of the state where your family lived? The historical society publications publish guidelines for written articles that can be found online. Many of the state historical societies also honor written family histories with special awards.

The Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society give an award each year for a published genealogy detailing the history of a Wisconsin family.

The nominations are evaluated by the following criteria:

-- The quality and depth of research and documentation (inclusion of more than just names, dates and places)

-- Accounts should include activities, achievements and personalities of individuals described

-- Attractiveness of presentation and ease of use (do the illustrations, table of contents, index, tables, etc., contribute to the quality of presentation?)

When writing your family history look to expanding your horizons. And if you're looking for a fantastic genealogy program please consider the University of Washington's nine month Certificate in Genealogy and Family History. I highly recommend it.

How Do I Love The COG?

2009-11-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

84th EDITION OF THE Carnival Of Genealogy

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is:

“What The COG Means To Me”

- ¤ -

The COG has been published twice a month for over three years now, 83 editions thus far! It's covered a wide variety of topics and introduced many, many new bloggers and even a new carnival. Here's an opportunity to look back and reflect on when you first discovered the COG and when you first participated in it.

- ¤ -

What was your favorite topic to write about?

- ¤ -

Have you guest hosted the COG?

- ¤ -

Is there an article you've read in the COG that stands out in your mind?

- ¤ -

What have you learned from reading or writing for the COG?

- ¤ -

Have you ever recommended the COG to anyone?

- ¤ -

If you haven't participated in the COG thus far, why not?

- ¤ -

How has the COG helped your family history research?

- ¤ -

Has it impacted your life in any way?

- ¤ -

Share your COG experience with us and please indicate the number of COG editions you've participated in at the end of your article.

- ¤ - ¤ -

The Deadline For Submissions Is
November 15, 2009
Edition (#84) returns to its home at the
Creative Gene blog.

- ¤ - ¤ -

Attention All COG Participants

Also, check out Jasia's post "FAQs About The Carnival of Genealogy," for all you need to know about submitting a post. First-timers always welcome and greatly appreciated!

Have You Voted?

2009-11-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, today is "Election Day" around the country, but there is voting here in the blogosphere as well. Have you voted for your favorite genealogy blog? The genealogy blog that inspires you, educates you, makes you laugh, makes you want to blog. I have!

Good luck to all the blogs that have been nominated. We who blog know blogging is hard work. Now, let's take another look at the blogs that have been nominated in the Family Tree Magazine 40 Best Genealogy Blogs.

Family Tree 40 Voting! Congratulations to all the blogs that have been nominated. Voting ends Nov. 5.

The 40 Best Genealogy Blogs will be named in the May 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine. The nominees have been divided into 10 categories. In each category you are to choose the number of blogs specified in the question (you'll get an error if you choose too many).

You can read more at the Family Tree Magazine Genealogy Insider.

1. THREE Blogs from the ALL-AROUND category. These bloggers give you a little (or a lot) of everything: news, research advice, their own family stories, photos, opinions and more.

- AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors
- CanadaGenealogy or, "Jane's your aunt"
- Creative Gene
- footnoteMaven
- GeneaBloggers
- GeneaBlogie
- Genea-Musings
- The Genealogue
- Tina's Genealogical Wish List
- Transylvanian Dutch

2. TWO blogs from the CEMETERIES category. These blogs focus on cemetery research, gravestone photos and the like.

- Blogging a Dead Horse
- Granny's Genealogy
- Graveyard Rabbit of Grey County, Ontario
- Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay
- Granite in My Blood
- The Association of Graveyard Rabbits

3. ONE blog from the GENEALOGY COMPANIES category. Blogs in this category are written on behalf of a genealogy company, and contain helpful (but not overly advertising-oriented) information on the company’s products, as well as other resources.

- Ancestry.com Blog
- dynastree Blog
- GenealogyBank Blog
- MyHeritage Genealogy Blog
- Roots Television Og Blog

4. ONE blog from the GENETIC GENEALOGY category. Blogs that are primarily about genetic genealogy and family health history.

- Dienekes' Anthropology Blog
- On-line Journal of Genetics and Genealogy
- The Genetic Genealogist
- The Spittoon

5. FOUR Blogs from the HERITAGE category. Here, blog content focuses on a particular heritage group, such as African-American, Jewish or Irish.

- AcadianRoots
- African American Genealogy Examiner
- Al's Polish-American Genealogy Research Blog
- George Geder
- JewishGen Blog
- Le Chercheur Nomade (The Nomadic Researcher)
- Mad About Genealogy
- Museum of Family History Blog
- Small Leaved Shamrock
- Scottish Genealogy News and Events
- Steve's Genealogy Blog
- The Professional Descendant
- Thoughts from Polly's Granddaughter
- Trace Your Dutch Roots
- Tracing The Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog

6. THREE Blogs from the HOW-TO category. These blogs have instructional content on genealogical resources and methodology.

- Family Matters
- Family Tree Maker User
- Genealogy Roots Blog
- Genealogy Guys
- Genealogy How To.com
- Genealogy Tip of The Day
- Personal Past Meditations
- RootDig
- Relatively Curious About Genealogy
- The ProGenealogists Blog
- ThinkGenealogy
- Treasure Maps Genealogy

7. THREE blogs from the LOCAL/REGIONAL category. Most posts in these blogs cover resources, genealogy events and history for a city, town, state or region.

- California Genealogical Society and Library Blog
- Dead Librarian
- Hill Country of Monroe County Mississippi
- Itawamba History Review
- Midwestern Microhistory
- MoSGA Messenger
- Nutfield Genealogy
- Pennsylvania Research Blog
- Sandusky History

8. FOUR Blogs from the NEWS/RESOURCES category. Blogs in this category deliver a range of genealogy news and information about new resources.

- About: Genealogy
- Anglo-Celtic Connections
- DearMyrtle
- Destination: Austin Family
- Eastman's Online Genealogy Newslettter
- Genealogy Blog
- Genealogy Gems News
- Genealogy's Star
- GeneaNet Genealogy Blog
- Megan's Roots World
- Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
- Renee's Genealogy Blog
- The Ancestry Insider
- The Chart Chick

9. TWO blogs from the PHOTOS/HEIRLOOMS category. Content on these blogs is primarily about sharing, researching and preserving family photos and/or heirlooms.

- Above the Trees
- Photo-Sleuth
- Sense of Face
- Shades of The Departed
- The FamilyCurator
- The Practical Archivist

10. TWELVE Blogs from the PERSONAL/FAMILY category. These blogs primarily cover the blogger's (or, in a case or two or more, bloggers') own research and ancestors. Family historians write what they know and what’s important to them, so this is our biggest category.

- A Canadian Family
- All My Ancestors
- Ancestral Notes
- Apple's Tree
- BeNotForgot
- Brenda Dougall Merriman
- Circle Mending
- Debby's Indiana Genealogy
- Educated Genealogist
- Elyse's Genealogy Blog
- Ernie's Journeys
- Everything's Relative: Researching Your Family History
- FamHist
- Family Stories
- Fermazin Family
- Find Your Folks
- GenBlog
- Genealogy: Diggin up Dirt
- Ginisology
- Grace and Glory
- Greta's Genealogy Blog
- Gtownma's Genealogy
- Heritage Happens
- Herstoryan
- Hesch History
- Janet The Researcher
- Just Thinking
- kinexxions
- Leonard Family Legends & Legacies
- Lineagekeeper
- Little Bytes of Life
- Looking4Ancestors
- My Jamaican Family
- MyNolaHeritage
- Our Georgia Roots
- Rare Ramblings
- Saturday's Child
- Spence-Lowry Family History
- Spiker Family Gathering Place
- Still More Genealogy
- Taneya's Genealogy Blog
- Tangled Trees
- Tennessee Memories
- The Fonda Blog
- The Ties That Bind
- TheYouGoGenealogyGirls
- Untangled Family Roots
- West in New England
- WeTree
- What's Past is Prologue

VOTE - IT'S ELECTION DAY!

I Once Was The Great Pumpkin

2009-10-31T01:33:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and snow stormy night. The witching hour had finally come to pass. I gazed at myself in the mirror - the "Great Pumpkin" look was me all over.

The trip in this blizzard would be a long one and I had to arrive at my destination in time for Halloween. As we drove, I hung my head out the passenger door window to help the driver follow the lines painted on the road. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I was developing freezer burn, but that was the least of my worries. I kept yelling "hurry" but thanks to the weather there was no hurry this Halloween.

At last, the lights of my destination appeared. I was met at the door by a woman wearing a nurse's uniform. "Great costume," I remarked. She was not amused.

"How far along is your pumpkin?" she asked. "Nine months, six days," I answered. "Is it your first pumpkin?" First and most likely last I thought. "Yes," I answered. She informed me I had probably made a mistake in calculating my pumpkin growth chart, as my pumpkin wasn't large enough to be delivered for this Halloween celebration.

"Go for a walk," she suggested. "Your pumpkin will be late for the celebration. No Halloween winner for you this year."

Walk? She wanted someone dressed as the "Great Pumpkin" to walk. How long, how far? O.k., this pumpkin was getting really heavy and it was evident I would soon be viewing it from a spot on the corridor floor.

Where did that woman dressed as a nurse go? All the doors down the corridor were closed. I started opening them, one by one, looking for the pumpkin patch.

Aha! A man dressed as a doctor was placing a recently arrived pumpkin in the patch. "I've got another one for you," I called to him. The woman in the nurse's uniform shook her head and whispered to the doctor. "Check her anyway," he ordered.

The disbelieving woman in the nurse's uniform reluctantly checked and found to her surprise that my pumpkin was well on its way. Minutes later I participated in the Halloween celebration. A new pumpkin for the patch.

"A witch or a warlock?" I asked the doctor. "A princess," he replied.

My little princess was six years old before she realized that people did not come to our door on the 31st of October asking for candy because it was her birthday, but rather because it was Halloween.

It is her favorite holiday and she firmly believes that everyone should celebrate because it is her birthday after all.

This was originally published for the 34th Carnival of Genealogy, October 2007. It's one of my favorites. A footnoteMaven Halloween Classic. Happy Birthday Tracy.

A Hunter Update

2009-10-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Love this Nellie McKay song. And that's just what I've been doing - walking my dog. I don't want to say it too loudly, the gods may hear and take it away from me, but Hunter is much improved.

He is almost back to his old self. Tail wagging, trash investigating, soap opera watching best friend. Now don't tell my husband that his fierce hunting dog is becoming accustomed to my lap and the lap of luxury. Not yet anyway.

With special thanks to Wonders Never Cease for steering me to Nellie.

Show and Tell

2009-10-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

I received an email that left a lump in my throat. I have done several articles on Grace Mathewson and her collection of postcards on Shades; to her from friends and parents as they traveled the world. I'm sure you can all empathize with me; that as a researcher you find the ephemera and photographs, you trace the life stories, and you always want more. Today, I was honored to have more.

Another branch of Grace's family found the homage to her on Shades. I have received several wonderful emails from Kathie Stafford, Grace Mathewson's Granddaughter.

I asked if Kathie had a photograph she would be willing to share, wanting very much to see the woman about whom I've written. Kathie has sent photographs and information as well as inviting me to meet with her and her father, Grace's son David, to talk more about Grace. I could not be more honored. Grace's photograph is below.

I traveled to Montana last month for my son's wedding and went back to the antiques store where I had purchased those postcards hoping to find more. The postcards were gone and I was told they had been taken to an auction out of state and sold. I was heartbroken. Heartbroken for myself and now much more so for Grace's family.

There is a lesson to be learned here. When confronted by family treasure. Buy it. Please tell my husband it's my duty.

So here are the articles on Shades about Grace Mathewson. Enjoy them now that you have made a connection with her.

From A Simple Postcard
Close Encounters Of The Best Kind
Friday From The Collectors - Makes A Connection
That Simple Little Postcard Connects Again!
Water Water Everywhere

~ Wander The Web ~
You Never Know When You Might Make A Connection

An Accent - Have You Got One?

2009-10-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago, I wrote the article below. I was reminded of this post by the following commercial. A commercial I always stop and watch. Don't miss the young woman at the end of the post, she's killa. So, what is home to your ear? Can you find it in the video?

We have the same biological parents. We were both raised by those parents. We shared the same room in the same house for seventeen years. So how is it that my sister sounds as if she's been drinking out of a Dixie cup all her life and I have no accent?

I lay this anomaly directly at the good intentions of our Mother. Mother was a New Yawker, with a mirra (mirror), arange (orange), Linder (Linda) sort of accent. She always believed a southern accent somehow made you sound less intelligent. Her daughter, the intelligent one - as opposed to the beautiful one, would have no southern accent.

I, on the other hand, loved the genteel old money Mint Julep southern accent. The drama queen found it very Tennessee Williams. Some of my friends had that accent and they seemed so elegant, so lady-like, so filled with southern charm.

But Mother had other plans. Years of work, and a speech teacher who shared my Mother's goal, left me with no recognizable accent. It was a difficult task getting a good southern girl to give up her accent. A difficult task and a lot of time. So much time that my sister and brothers went unchecked into the dark abyss of the dreaded southern accent.

It's best they did, because they never needed an interpreter at family gatherings. They spoke the "git, teched, stove up, leave me be" language of the clan. I always roamed the outskirts asking, "What did they say?" Until I was much older most of the family thought I was deaf. Once they found I wasn't they determined the problem was not my ears but my nose; it was a little too high in the air.

I never found my place with the New Yawkers either. One summer vacation to visit put me in my place with them. I was continually forced to repeat mirror (mirra), orange (arange), Linda (Linder) and it was never to their satisfaction. They laughed and taunted me. I was their summer amusement. They sent me home self-conscious of every word I spoke. I didn't belong on either the Northern or Southern side of that famous line.

As an adult I found a home for my accent among the out of work actors of Southern California. No accent to be heard until the director yells "Action." Then they can sound like anyone they please. Yes, I have more in common with them then my own family.

I miss the sound of the South. Hearing it in a crowd always causes me to turn and search. Even now the accent comes to me in my dreams, not to mention five minutes talking with my sister has us sharing the same Dixie Cup. The South, home to the ear, how I miss it.

Citation Geeks - Elizabeth Shown Mills Bats Cleanup

2009-10-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

As for tickets, I don’t give them out. In fact, in my own lectures on sourcing,
I give folks that same advice about not getting so uptight
over the citation police.

~ Elizabeth Shown Mills ~

When you give advice you want it to be the best advice possible. Such was the case with my article, Good Citations - A FindAGrave Question. As we all know, there's always room for improvement.

That said, thank you Elizabeth Shown Mills (ESM). After some wonderful discussions via email, we have liftoff regarding a citation for Find A Grave that has the consensus of both ESM and fM (like she'd ever need my consensus). We are that strange breed that enjoys discussing the finer points of citation late at night. I think that makes us citation geeks.

First, ESM thanked Thomas and me for our "excellent points" and agreed with the enhancements suggested. Whew! No ticket!

The following is the citation consensus for Find A Grave:

Source List Entry:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave. Digital images. http://www.findagrave.com/ : 2009.
Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave. Databases. http://www.findagrave.com/ : 2009.

First Reference Note:

Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 October 2009), photograph, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey (1881-1974), Memorial No. 15616487, Records of the Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas;” photograph © Walter Dunn.

Subsequent Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave, photograph © Walter Dunn, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey(1881-1974) Memorial No. 15616487.”

So, what has changed?

Several things. After going back and checking the Find A Grave website and reading the About page, it was determined that the name of the website was Find A Grave rather than FindAGrave.com. While Inc. is not generally added after a company name; here the website and company name are the same so it is added to differentiate.

In the First Reference Note the punctuation following Texas should be a semicolon rather than a period and photograph should then not be capitalized. (Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas;” photograph). Rationale: In a reference note, when we cite a source and then put a “final stop” (i.e., the period), we mean that we are through with our citation of that source. If part of the detail about that source appears in a second sentence, then most readers will read it for what it appears to be—a different source. ESM

Now regarding the Source List Entry; I ascribe to the Tim The Tool Man, School of Citation. More ~~power~~ information. That is not a pristine definition of a source list. A source list is a master list of the materials we've used and does not document any particular fact. The above is a more correct reflection of a Source List Entry.

Note: I have differentiated between the digital image portion and the database portion of Find A Grave for the Source List Entry. ESM says, "seems to work just as well as combining both types in one source list entry. Which one might be preferable could depend upon how our own gen software handles citations." Our discussion was that a Find A Grave Source List Entry was analogous to a Census Source List Entry.

Here is how I would do A Find A Grave Database Reference:

Source List Entry:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave. Databases. http://www.findagrave.com/ : 2009.

First Reference Note:

Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 October 2009); Record, Roscoe Benton Martin (1911-1957), Memorial No. 8494172, Records of the Taylor Cemetery, Vienna, Illinois;” record copyright Ann Brown. (Provided she hasn't relinquished.)

Subsequent Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave, database, “Record, Roscoe Benton Martin (1911-1957), Memorial No. 8494172.”

~***~

Now, do any of these work for those of us who blog our family history? Or do we need a new citation note called a Blog Note? This is a question I've been struggling with and that I've discussed with Kathryn Doyle of the California Genealogical Society and Library Blog.

If we number within the article and footnote, then the First Reference Note and Subsequent Note would work. I don't think Source Note entries would be necessary for every blog post/article.

Writing a blog is its own unique brand of writing. Writing a blog we are not always structuring for a publishable quality product. Yes, we should, but if we edited and rewrote to achieve that level of writing we'd never get the information out there.

What is our goal as blog documentors of family history? Aren't we striving to get important information regarding our family history online so that we can make those necessary and wonderful connections? Yet, we want our work to reflect our excellent research and show our sourcing stuff. You're only as good as your sources.

So, would an Enhanced First Reference Note work for blogging if used as a Source List Note listed in the order used and placed at the end of the blog post/article? Enhanced by the addition of links where applicable. I'm asking, do you have an opinion? Sound off in the comments.

Good Citations - A FindAGrave Question

2009-10-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

Good good good good citations
I'm pickin' up good citations
You're giving me excitations
Good good good good citations

I received the following Twitter question from @Herstoryan regarding her article, Citation: Is it ever okay to enhance the standard? Opinions, Please...; @footnoteMaven ... would love your opinion - Citation: Is it ever okay to enhance the standard?

The Genealogy Citation Goddess, Elizabeth Shown Mills, has answered this far better than I ever could:

Citation is an art, not a science. As budding artists, we learn the principles — from color and form to shape and texture. Once we have mastered the basics, we are free to improvise. Through that improvisation, we capture the uniqueness of each subject or setting. . .Yet records and artifacts are like all else in the universe: each can be unique in its own way. Therefore, once we have learned the principles of citation, we have both an artistic license and a researcher's responsibility to adapt those principles to fit materials that do not match any standard model.

So the short answer is yes, it is okay to enhance the standard once you have learned the principles, if a genealogical citation doesn't match any standard model. I, on the other hand, believe there are other situations where a standard may be enhanced. This subject was discussed on footnoteMaven with Craig Manson of GeneaBlogie in "Add Copyright Notice To Citation."

Here, Herstoryan's discussion is of an image of a tombstone acquired from Findagrave.com and used in Herstoryan's Wordless Wednesday post.

Evidence Explained, by Mills directly addresses this situation on pg. 229, 5.16 Images: Markers & Plaques; Images Online. Accordingly the image should be cited as:

Source List Entry:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com. Digital images. http://www.findagrave.com: 2009.

First Reference Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 21 October 2009), photograph, gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey (1881-1974), Amarillo, Texas.

Subsequent Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com, photograph, gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey (1881-1974), Amarillo, Tex.

Here, is one of those situations where I would add more information that could be relevant in locating this particular online photograph of a gravestone. I would combine the Evidence Explained Citation for Images: Markers and Plaques Citation p. 229, with the Photographic Files Citation of pg. 622 for a hybrid citation as follows:

Source List Entry:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com. Digital image. http://www.findagrave.com/ : 2007. Memorial No. 15616487. Photograph © Walter Dunn.

First Reference Note:

Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave.com, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 October 2009), photograph, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey (1881-1974), Memorial No. 15616487, Records of the Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas.” Photograph © Walter Dunn.

Subsequent Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com, photograph © Walter Dunn, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey(1881-1974) Memorial No. 15616487.”

This would be my citation for an online reference in a blog, as an online blog offers a unique way to enhance the citation. That enhancement would be a direct link to the photograph in the citation, as above, as well as a direct link to FindAGrave.com. Here I added the link to the" Memorial No." I have also added the copyright notice for Walter Dunn. This is predicated on the photographer not relinquishing his copyright to FindAGrave.com. The copyright notice is for the photograph not for the digital image.

If I were fashioning a citation for a written, real world document, I would do it this way:

Source List Entry:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com. Digital image. http://www.findagrave.com/ : 2007. Photograph © Walter Dunn.

First Reference Note:

Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave.com, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 October 2009), photograph, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey (1881-1974), Memorial No. 15616487, Records of the Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Texas.” Photograph © Walter Dunn.

Subsequent Note:

Find A Grave, Inc. Find A Grave.com, photograph © Walter Dunn, “gravestone for Mary Nancy McCaskill Massey(1881-1974).”

There is no absolutely correct answer. Two different researchers can cite this same information two entirely different ways. You must ask yourself, "Does this citation meet the purpose of citing a source?" Does it record the specific location of the piece of data, and does it record details that affect the use or evaluation of that data? The answer is yours.

Please cite, don't be afraid the citation police will ticket you. Learn to do it properly, but cite while learning. Consistency is paramount and finding the source is the ultimate goal. No naked facts!

For a similar, yet differing and equally correct opinion, read Thomas MacEntee's "How To Cite A FindAGrave Headstone."

Sources:

Wilson, Brian, and Mike Love. “Good Vibrations.” Lyrics. Good Vibrations, Single. Brian Wilson, 1966. Copyright ©1966 & 1978, Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Lyrics Freak good+vibrations_20013757.html : accessed 18 October 2007). (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beach+boys/)

Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained. Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007.

Play Me At The COG

2009-10-19T11:23:00.001-07:00

83rd EDITION OF THE COG

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is:

“Musical Instruments!”

- ¤ -

Do you play a musical instrument or
did one of your family members?

- ¤ -

What instrument did you or they play?

- ¤ -

If no one in the family played an instrument,
tell what is your favorite instrument or band
and what is your least favorite one.

- ¤ - ¤ -

The Deadline For Submissions Is
November 1, 2009
Hosted By Janet Iles who authors the blog,
Janet the Researcher.

- ¤ - ¤ -

Attention All COG Participants

Also, check out Jasia's post "FAQs About The Carnival of Genealogy," for all you need to know about submitting a post. First-timers always welcome and greatly appreciated!

Geneabloggers Cocktail Recipe Book

2009-10-18T12:25:00.001-07:00

It all started with Rob Stanhope, @maineroots on Twitter. He sent out a link to a cocktail called Corpse Reviver No. 2.

I commented that the recipe looked great, but the name was to die for! Then our geneablogging rock star, Amy Coffin of We Tree, remarked that we needed a Geneabloggers Cocktail Recipe Book.

I'm no good at mixology, but I've got a name for one. I know all the very creative geneabloggers out there can come up with a few relevant cocktail names. So leave them in the comments!

My contribution:

Brick Wallbanger

A Member of Society

2009-10-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm too late for the COG. I'm afraid life happened. I'm posting anyway, because I am a part of this society.

Well, I was too late, but kiss the host Kathryn Doyle - California Genealogical Society and Library Blog for giving Maven a reprieve. Thank you so much, Kathryn.

What exactly is a society? In doing my research for this submission I found and enjoyed the following definition of society:

a society is an economic, social or industrial infrastructure, made up of a varied collection of individuals. Members of a society may be from different ethnic groups. A society may be a particular ethnic group, such as the Saxons; a nation state, such as Bhutan; a broader cultural group, such as a Western society. The word society may also refer to an organized voluntary association of people for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. A "society" may even, though more by means of metaphor, refer to a social organism such as an ant colony.

I must say I don't relate to the ant colony aspect of a genealogy society any more than I do to an organized voluntary association of people for cultural purposes version. I've decided recently that I'm unsociable (having or showing a disinclination for social activity) and a solitary individual. None of these characteristics are conducive to society.

I belong to two real world genealogy societies; the MacGenealogy group of the Seattle Genealogical Society and the alumni association of the Genealogy and Family History Certificate Program at the University of Washington. I am also honored to be a member of the University's Advisory Board for this program.

I enjoy participating in these two organizations because they embrace new technology and look to creative ways of connecting with their members. Good on them.

But, my real satisfaction comes from being a member of what may be called an online Society of Geneabloggers and the Association of Graveyard Rabbits. Not tangible societies, but they are the most warm and welcoming group of genealogists I've ever known.

They meet the definition of society and are everything I could hope for in doing family research. They are always there with an answer if you posit a question, their information is current, immediate, and spot on. There is an online expert in every category of genealogical research and they are all approachable. There are no power struggles, cliques, or egos. I love it here.

Join me?