Archive for the ‘Kid Guest Post’ Category
This is a guest post written by my Branching Out series of books editor, Stephanie Pitcher Fishman. The books launch Wednesday!
Where Our Lines Intersect
I come from good stock: Corn and Cotton. One line grew up among the cornfields of Ohio and roaming through the beautiful lands of New England. Another is deeply rooted in the cotton fields growing in red Georgia clay and proud of it. I’ve been blessed to spend half my life in each, and I’m finally starting to feel as though both are home. What seemed so different to me growing up has become nearly the same in my adult years. Yes, there are differences, but they boil down to the same good stuff: once you step foot into either house you are home. I feel the same way when I search the genealogical records of each branch of my family. They may have been on opposite sides of the Mason-Dixon and the Civil War, but they are both mine. And, I’m proud of each.
The study and practice of genealogy is as different to people as my corn line and my cotton line may
appear to those on the outside of my research. Whether you consider yourself a hobbyist or a
professional, or someone caught between the two, genealogy is far more than can be defined by those two designations. Genealogy is built on relationships. It’s a passion of the heart and a longing of the soul to connect to relatives unknown to us. We call them ancestors and descendants, and we place them neatly on their branch of a chart. However, they are much more than that to us. They are family.
Whether we are new to research or seasoned with discoveries we all long to find just one more connection before we quit for the day.
My journey into family history started when I was looking for an activity to do with my cotton Granny. Unknown to me at the time, she was in the beginning stages of dementia. The project that started as a time killer grew into one that created memories that I would soon cherish. It saved names and places that we may have lost with her a few years later. It created in me a desire to know more about our past generations than I did. And, it shaped who I would become nearly two decades later. As genealogists we look at the facts and records, and we take note of the accomplishments of those around us. However, we rarely stop to ask why a person was drawn to their research in the first place. I’m sure if we did we’d find that we all have the same motivations even if our starting and ending points are different. Our community is large and loving, and we need to recognize our similarities rather than our differences just like I did with my lines. Whether hobbyist or professional, if we look closely enough we’ll find that we are all the same. We are all corn and cotton. We just need to find where our paths intersect like my lines did in me.
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Stephanie Pitcher Fishman is a freelance writer, editor, and genealogical researcher specializing in Midwestern and Southeastern United States family history, specifically within Ohio and Georgia. Stephanie also writes the Columbus Genealogy column (http://www.examiner.com/genealogy-30-in-columbus/stephanie-fishman) for Examiner.com. You can learn more about her research, writing, and editing services at Corn and Cotton: My Family’s Story (http://www.cornandcotton.com).
Related articles
- Book Review – “Finding Your Chicago Irish” (generationsbiz.com)
- Are you Reading other Genealogy Examiners? (examiner.com)
Thank you to Jennifer Shoer for her second guest post for kids! If you missed Part I, you can still read it here.
Turn the Camera on Your Parents and Grandparents – Video for Family History – Part 2
The holidays are right around the corner. No matter what holiday you will be celebrating, I bet you will be spending time with your family. Sometimes it seems boring to spend time with older people, but when was the last time you sat down and asked them questions about their lives…what they love, what they remember and what it feels like to be X years old?
In my last post I told you about my grandfather, Bubba, who was an amazing family historian. He recorded the details of our lives in both photos and movie film. Bubba died twelve years ago. I will always remember how many years it has been because my youngest son was born the same year. Bubba did get to hold him, make a wish (Do all families make wishes on new babies?) and call him the ugliest baby in the family (the newest was always the ugliest).
I like knowing that Bubba lived to hold all of my babies and I love looking at pictures of him, but do you know what I really wish? I wish I had taken movies (or videos as they are known today). I wish I could hear his voice and his chuckle. He told my sister and me so many stories. I tell my kids the ones I can remember, but how much cooler would it be if they could hear his stories and his chuckle as if he was sitting in the room. Some people might find that creepy and it might have been hard to watch the videos soon after he died, but now twelve years later I would love to hear and see him tell one of his stories again.
Turn the Camera on Your Parents and Grandparents
When you get together with your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents over the holidays, do me a favor and turn the camera on your parents and grandparents. Borrow a video camera or whip out your smart phone and ask one of them (or the eldest) to sit down with you. Tell them you want to learn more about them and their lives and that you would like to create a video of your conversation.
Create a Video for Family History
- Make a list of questions before the interview or look at websites for questions:
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
http://articles.scrapbooking.com/family_history.htm
- Be sure your video camera is fully charged and that you have extra batteries or a charger.
- Ask as many or as few questions as you would like. There are no rules! This is your interview.
- Prop the camera up so that your hands are free and so that your subject does not get distracted by it.
- Let your subject talk without interrupting him or her. If you think of something to ask while they are talking, write it down and then ask it when they finish.
- Thank them for their time and for sharing their stories with you!
- Upload the video to your computer and share it with your family members. Burn copies to DVD or flash drives.
I hope you get a chance to make a video soon.
Happy Holidays!
Scrappy Gen
Let’s Remember!
Photo credits: Jennifer Shoer’s personal collection. Used with permission.
Want to know more about Jennifer? You can find her at the Scrappy Genealogist blog or on Twitter @ScrappyGen. Thank you Jennifer!!
This continues a series of guest posts from my friends around the blogosphere who can offer specialized tips for kids.
Jennifer Shoer talks about Recording it for Posterity – Video for Family History – Part 1
Have you ever thought about creating videos of your family? If you are over the age of ten, you probably already have made at least one video of yourself or your friends. Many of you even have phones that video. Let me tell you about my grandfather and his videos.
My Grandfather, known to his grandchildren as Bubba, recorded thousands of feet of video tape during his life. He recorded his children, his siblings, his nieces and nephews and of course his grandchildren. It is possible for me to view in video most big events in my growing up years right through and including my wedding. Bubba taped that too.
If you listen to the later movies after Bubba bought a video camera with sound, you can hear his chuckle, or his quiet prompts for you to do something for the camera. I loved his chuckle. If we ever complained about being taped (I remember not loving it when I was a teenager.), he would remind us that we were “recording it for posterity.” At the time I didn’t know exactly what posterity was, but Bubba said it, which meant it was important.
Posterity means all future generations. How cool that Bubba recorded our lives as they unfolded for our children and our children’s children and their children. He was our family historian, creating an amazing record of the lives of his family members.
Bubba recorded his movies on film. Digital didn’t exist yet. His first sound camera was immense. Now, video cameras fit in your pocket. At the holidays this year, whip out your video camera and try recording your family members. Ask them questions about what they are doing. If they have a special skill, ask them to perform it. Ask them how they celebrated the holidays when they were younger. If they complain, tell them you are recording it for posterity. Your children’s children’s children will thank you.
Scrappy Gen
Let’s Remember!
Photo credits: Jennifer Shoer’s personal collection. Used with permission.
Want to know more about Jennifer? You can find her at the Scrappy Genealogist blog or on Twitter @ScrappyGen. Thank you Jennifer!!
This continues a series of guest posts from my friends around the blogosphere who can offer specialized tips for kids.
Lorel Kapke on using Sort Your Story
Finding your grandparents name listed in a document can be very exciting, not just for you but for your parents as well. My dad Raymond Kapke, was 5 years old when his father Walter Kapke died and he new little of his fathers life. He took the train from Milwaukee to Cedarburg, WI to visit his grandparents, John Kapke and Mother Marie Nero but they passed away when Ray was 7 and 8 years old. Ruby Toll, Walter’s wife, was left to raise Ray and his three older brothers, this left little time to discuss their family history. Ruby and her mother Bertha Gilbert ran a boarding house and while cooking and baking they would talk about family with little Ray under foot, this was during the 1930’ and 1940’s, during troubled times.
So back to finding those documents and forming a picture of your family as you put the pieces of your puzzle together.
I went into Ancestry.com and entered my grandfathers SURNAME (last name) and First name and found my grandfather in the 1920 Census. Walter was listed with Ruby and dad’s older brothers but my father would have to wait until the 1930’s census as he was born in 1923. Each Census offers different data and 1920 Census offered this information.
I transcribed and placed this valuable information into the Sort Your Story Profiler and included thumbnails of both the 1920 Census and the Ancestry.com 1920 Template Census for reference.
Now it is time to print out this data and add to the KAPKE PROFILER BOOK!
I’ve acquired valuable information to continue the search for more information about my grandfather.
Walter A KAPKE.
Have you found a Census of your grandparent???
Thank you Lorel for sharing your story about Walter Kapke!
Yesterday I posted a set of questions I gave my son. Below are his answers and my responses.
Why is my family history important to me?
Son: So I can learn how far my family goes back in history.
One interesting thing I learned about my family history is:
Son: My cousin was a Flying Tiger.
If I were interviewing my parents, I would ask these five questions.
1. Did you get expelled? Mom: No. Your father and I were never expelled from school.
2. Favorite food Mom: Chocolate and Home Run Inn pizza.
3. Worst grade Mom: F. I’m fairly certain I flunked out of one college course early on.
4. Favorite teacher Mom: Mrs. Willis my first grade teacher. She was so nice.
5. Best subject Mom: Band and English/Literature. I loved playing my clarinet and I loved to read. I still love to read. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.
Other things I want to know about my family history:
1. How many family members served in a war? Mom: On my side, Michael Kokoska WWI, Frankie Winkler WWII, Robert Brouk WWII, your great uncle John Vietnam. Those are the ones I have confirmed. There were a few other Kokoska men who were stateside during WWI either training or working in the Army. On your father’s side I have not identified anyone who served yet.
2. How many cousins do I have? Mom: Too many to count.
3. What is my oldest living family member? Mom: Currently that would be your great aunt Bea I believe.
4. Was my family rich? Mom: Not that I am aware of.
5. Was my family ever famous? Mom: Robert Brouk could be considered famous as he was one of the Flying Tigers in China between 1941-1942.
Kids, what would your parents answers to these questions be? What other questions do you have? Write them down and start talking. You never know what interesting facts you will uncover.
Related articles
- May I Introduce You at Geneabloggers (chicagofamilyhistory.wordpress.com)
Hey Kids, it is Family History Month!
The month of October has been designated as Family History Month. A month where people are encouraged to start or continue working on their family histories.
Who is in your family tree? Anyone famous? Do you have a connection to a President or King? Do you not have anyone famous in your family? Do you think your non-famous family was boring? If so, why? My family is in no way related to Abraham Lincoln. However, if I examine the life of that family, I may find some similarities to my own.
Every family, famous or not, has an interesting story. You just have to keep talking to your family and digging into records to find it.
With this in mind I decided to post a set of questions I gave my oldest son. If your mom or dad asked you these questions, what would you say?
Why is my family history important to me?
So I can learn how far my family goes back in history.
One interesting thing I learned about my family history is:
My cousin was a Flying Tiger.
If I were interviewing my parents, I would ask these five questions.
1. Did you get expelled?
2. Favorite food
3. Worst grade
4. Favorite teacher
5. Best subject
Other things I want to know about my family history:
1. How many family members served in a war?
2. How many cousins do I have?
3. What is my oldest living family member?
4. Was my family rich?
5. Was my family ever famous?
Check back tomorrow and I’ll answer my son’s questions.
When Tyler found out I was interview Luke and then letting Luke interview me, he had to get in on the action. If you missed Tyler’s interview, check out the previous post. Today, he is interviewing good old mom.
Q: What kind of book do you like to read outside when we are biking?
A: I like to read almost anything. Historical fiction, history, genealogy, love stories. Books that grab my attention.
Q: What’s your favorite book out of these cat in the hat books?
A: I like One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish the best.
Q: What kind of food you like best?
A: I like chocolate, pizza, ice cream, salad, and steak.
Q: So which kind of book is coming that you want?
A: I want Deborah Harkness to release the second book in the three book series of A Discovery of Witches. I loved her first book and cannot wait for the second and third.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do?
A: I have a few favorite things. I like to research my family history. I like to travel, especially to warm, sunny beaches. I like to read and see movies and I like to scrapbook.
Q: Why is it that you can’t let Drew watch his TV at daytime?
A: Drew is at school so he can’t watch TV during the day.
Q: What is your favorite number?
A: 6
I typed the questions as Tyler asked them. If you read Luke’s interview then you will see his questions are very different than the ones Tyler asked me.
Thanks for interviewing me Tyler!
This picture really sums up Tyler’s personality. Big, bold, loud, ready for anything, always on the move. Right now he’s sitting quietly next to me waiting for his interview to start.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do at home?
A: Throw snowballs. Ty is being a little uncooperative currently. I think his favorite thing is to play on the computer. He is very good with the computer.
Q: How old are you?
A: Five years old.
Q: What is your favorite toy?
A: My hockey gear, my toys outside, and my toys in the sandbox.
Q: What are some things you like to do outside?
A: Ride my bike, play baseball, swing, cook (pretend cooking). “I’m Chef Tyler.”
Q: What is something fun you do with mom?
A: Go to the library.
Q: What are some things you do at school?
A: I play basketball in the gym sometimes. Play when it is time for centers. Play with the toys.
Q: Tell me about your favorite book.
A: I have a lot right now. All Dr. Seuss. Hop on Pop, Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and Green Eggs and Ham. (I should note today is Dr. Seuss’s birthday March 2, when I am interviewing Tyler.)
Thanks for the interview Tyler. I know he is very anxious to interview me so come back and check out his interview with me in a couple days!
In January I published my first book, To Soar with the Tigers, about my cousin Robert Brouk. Robert was a Flying Tiger in China 1941-July 1942. My twins, Luke and Tyler, have really become interested in Robert and his airplane. The plane of course had the tiger teeth on the front by the nose.
In the course of finishing the book, publicizing it, and putting away the photos and notes I had accumulated, Luke in particular wanted to know more. He asked questions mostly about the plane. Asked for copies of pictures of Robert with his plane to take to school to show his kindergarten class. And, he built his own Flying Tiger plane.
Here is Luke with his plane. Isn’t it nice when kids listen to the stories or information you throw out there? At five years of age I don’t expect him to be tremendously interested but it is nice to know he thinks so highly of Robert and his service.
This is Luke. He’s a Chicago Blackhawks hockey lover and this is how he is usually dressed when he’s at home. Sometimes he wears more gear and plays goalie. He is a great ice skater and is amazing at roller blading.
Luke is interested in his family history, especially his cousin Robert Brouk, who was a Flying Tiger in China 1941-1942. Luke is sitting here with me ready for an interview. Let’s see what he has to say.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do at home?
A: Play hockey.
Q: Why do you like Bob Brouk? Why do you think he’s cool?
A: I like the Army and his airplane. I made his airplane out of paper and colored the teeth on the front and colored the wings.
Q: What else do you like about your family history?
A: I like the military guys in our family like Frankie.
Q: What other things do you like?
A: Helicopters, airplaines, firetrucks, ambulances, and police cars.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in kindergarten?
A: Making new friends.
Q: What is something your mom makes you do at home that you don’t like to do?
A: Cleaning my bedroom! But I kind of like cleaning the bathroom sometimes.
Q: How old are you now?
A: 5 years old.
Q: Have you lost any teeth yet?
A: I have a loose tooth.
Q: What are your favorite things to do in the summer?
A: Swimming. Play outside. Make pictures of outside and me in the pool.
Q: What is something fun you do with your dad?
A: Play hockey and play grizzly bear.
Q: What are two things you have that you love more than anything in the whole world?
A: My Auntie Patti Blanket and my Chicago Wolves Hockey t-shirt.
Q: Tell me something you are very good at.
A: Drawing. (Luke can draw very well and is always trying to draw new things like “Bob Brouk Stuff” as he says.)
Thanks Luke for the interview. Mom will keep this for your scrapbook.
Parents, if you want to interview your kids, write down what they say, how they say it. You may look back on it some day and laugh at how they worded certain things.