Politics & Color - The Making of Your Ancestor

Several years ago, the Wild Ones, fellow bloggers, Carol, Anne, and non blogger Diane and myself were all talking - and somehow, not certain at this point how, but the term "Color" came into the discussion.  Not color as in race, but color as in the things that make you who you are. 

In one of my talks we cover the ways to add "color" to your ancestor so that he's more than just a birth & death date.  You know - the stuff on the little dash. 

One of the things I think adds color, helps bring your ancestor to life is Politics!  Yep I said the "dirty" word.  With so much mud slinging and ugliness in today's world of politics, many people shy away from it. BUT, hear me out here....  you really DO need to think about it!

Do you remember how your school text books covered elections & politics?  Do you remember that there really wasn't any thing "learning" there?  Nothing made you WANT to be part of that whole political scene?

With the historical election of the first African American president, you really need to take the time to record your thoughts, your efforts in this historical election!  Did you go to a rally?  Did you volunteer?  Do you know what voter # you were on voting day?  What were your thoughts about the things that transpired during that election?  What do you think about the politics of today?  I see many times in county histories & such things like, "...in politics he was a __________ " (fill in the blank for your ancestor).  Well that's all fine & dandy but how did he feel about women voting?  How did  he feel about taxes?  Did he like Grover Cleveland?  What did she think of Jimmy Carter? 

Only you can pass on to the desendants of tomorrow YOUR thoughts, YOUR insights into the things that are transpiring in our universe today. 

As family historians I feel it is also our job to make sure that we share our views of our changing world in a way that can preserved for those who come after us.  Not the slanted views of tv editorials or newspapers, but our views, views that are backed up with what we believe & the things we stand for. 

Why not take the time today, make a new fact on YOUR entry in the family tree and start recording YOUR thoughts & impressions about the history being made NOW.  Make some family historian of tomorrow happy - you know you'd love it if you found something like that!  So go do it NOW!

Happy Researching!
Karen

Happy Birthday Wild One Diane!

Happy Birthday to one of my best friends and fellow Wild One, Diane!

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas in July 2010

Yep, you guessed it, Wild One Christmas in July 2010 - You can match up the couples, they are lined up perfectly - Anne & Mr. B right in front, myself & my husband Mark second up, next Diane & her husband Chuck and last but certainly not the least Carol and her husband "Man" down on the end in the blue... now you have faces to go with all the mentions of the wild ones on Relatively Speaking Monday's....

And a good time was had by ALL!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Yep, Its time for the yearly Wild One Christmas in July! Blogger cousin Anne of Gene Notes shown on your right here, is in town from Tennessee. So all the Wild Ones, including myself & Carol from over at Reflections From The Fence, and our non blogging Wild One Diane are getting together today. The husbands are lurking about somewhere, probably downing a cold one or two.

So you folks enjoy your Saturday & the heat, we are going to think Christmas...

(not sure about the holiday clothes aka sweaters though)

Above photo taken Christmas 2005.

Relatively Speaking...

Today is Relatively Speaking - Cousins who blog and today's blogger is Cousin Anne over at Gene Notes.

Of all the wild ones, I think Anne is the most driven. She never ceases to amaze me with her ability to locate material - obits, death certificates, newspaper stories etc. on her ancestors. Its pretty amazing the stuff that she manages to find on line.

I think all the wild ones have pretty amazing research skills, all different but yet all coming to the same basic theories. A few examples -

• Sourcing - we all do it a bit differently but we all agree you should source all your material
• Data input - we all do it differently and to different degrees but we all agree that its important to include good notes about the things that you discover in your research (or don't discover as it sometimes seems to be)
• Scanning - in today's world of genealogy, how can you not make good use of your scanner?
• Digital camera's - we all own at least one and boy do they get work outs. No end to the ways a digital camera can work for you in your genealogy.
• Software - although we don't all use the same software we do agree that a good piece of software that WORKS for YOU is very important. Note the emphasis on WORKS FOR YOU.
• Good genealogy friends - someone who understands the excitement & joy of a major find, or the disappointment of not finding it at all. Someone who will do lookups at the library for you. Some one you can bounce your theories off of and they really do understand.

Happy Researching!

Karen

Relatively Speaking

Fellow blogger & Cousin Anne is up today for the Relatively Speaking blog with her take on Reaching Out - something not enough of us take the time to do. Stop on by & get her take on it.

I'll be back tomorrow - I'm speaking three times this week, you can see my speaking schedule here for the locations nearest you. Use member last name Krugman.

Happy Researching!

Karen