Fieldstone Common Interviews The Family Curator: BlogTalkRadio Staff Pick

Listen anytime to the latest episode of Fieldstone Common Blog Talk Radio where Marian Pierre-Louis and I talk about the "backstory" to my book How to Archive Family Keepsakes. Although Marian and I have never met in person, we share a common passion for old houses and family treasures.

I had a great time as the guest on Fieldstone Common and enjoyed answering listener questions on preserving keepsakes. If you have questions or comments after listening to the program, please feel free to leave a comment to this post for my response.

The 60-minute program is now available for listening via web or iTunes podcast at the Fieldstone Common website, and was named a Staff Pick for this weekend.

YOU Helped! Michael Savoca Receives 2013 Suzanne Freeman Student Genealogy Grant at SCGS 2013 Jamboree

Michael Savoca, a college student from Toms River, New Jersey was awarded the Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Student Genealogy Grant Award at the Scholarship Breakfast on 9 June 2013 at the annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California.

Funding for this year's grant was partially assisted by the proceeds from sales of Denise Levenick's new book How to Archive Family Keepsakes during the Blog Book Tour in January 2013. Thank you!

Denise May Levenick with Michael Savoca,
recipient of the 2013 Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant

The Freeman Student Grant was established by family and friends in 2010 in memory of Suzanne Winsor Freeman, family historian and life-long volunteer, and an enthusiastic annual attendee at the SCGS Jamboree. Each year, Jamboree has included a complimentary full-registration package for the recipient.

Denise Levenick, Grant Chair, and Paula Hinkel, Jamboree Co-Chair introduced Michael to the breakfast attendees where he received a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the conference. Mike's father, Vinny Savoca, traveled with him to the conference and they were able to reconnect with California cousins while in Burbank.

Mike has been researching his family history for over a decade, and participating in online genealogy forums and message boards for nearly as many years. His expertise in Italian and Croatian research have made him a popular volunteer online and at his local Family History Center. He has been able to travel with family to their ancestral village in Croatia and complete research in original records provided by the parish. He has also worked extensively with Italian records and assisted with the records of the Gente di Mare genealogy website. 

"Mike is a wonderful representative for genealogists of his generation," noted Denise Levenick. "He brings enthusiasm, expertise, and a willingness to 'give back' to the genealogy community. It's obvious that Mike has a great future in genealogy, and we are delighted to encourage his research and genealogical education with this award."

In addition to researching his Italian, Croatian, Irish, German, and Hungarian roots, Michael is interested in learning more about using DNA for genealogical research and about professional archival management. He is a history major at Kean University and would like to become a Certified Genealogist.

You can contribute to the 2014 Grant Fund by donating HERE. 

Get Started Archiving Your Family Treasures With Free Worksheet from Preserving Keepsakes Workshop

When I first started working with the boxes of family photogaphs, old letters, and documents inherited from my maternal grandmother I was overwhelmed by the seemingly limitless selection of archival containers. I didn't know if letters should be stored upright in file folders or flat in drop front boxes (answer: either). I was confused by plastic sleeves vs. paper sleeves for photo storage (answer: either). And, I really didn't understand all the archival terms like acid-free, lignin, buffered, and P.A.T.

My presentation Paper or Plastic?: Preserving Keepsakes Workshop at last weekend's Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California was designed to answer those questions. I wanted it to be the workshop I needed all those years ago. The 90-minute format gave time for a slide-show presentation followed by discussion of product options and lots of Q&A.

Use the Hands On Worksheet

To make it even more useful, I put together a Hands On Worksheet to walk through the first three steps of working with family collections. Answering these questions will help anyone wondering what do first when you inheirit family treasures. You may not have attended the Paper or Plastic Workshop, but I hope you will find this Worksheet useful for your own family archive.

Download the Preserving Keepsakes Workshop Worksheet HERE.

Here's a brief overview of how to get started:

1. Decide on your role and goal.

Do you see yourself as a Curator, a Creator, or a Caretaker of the collection? 

• A Curator arranges, selects, and finds meaning in a collection.
• A Creator might be more focused on how to refashion items (or information) into an artistic creation like a scrapbook or family tree.
• A Caretaker, is one of the most underrated roles, but we owe a debt to those Caretakers whose main goal is to preserve and pass on family keepsakes.

2. Name your collection.

Instead of "Grandma's Stuff" start referring to your inheiratance as a collection, The Arline Kinsel Papers, The Brown Photo Collection, etc. You are preserving history, after all, the history of your family.

3. Decide where to locate your collection.

Find a place within your living space where the temperature is consistent, not too hot, not too cold, relatively dry and clean, and free of pests and pollution. It should also be fairly dark, as light hastens the deterioration of almost everything. An interior closet or even a metal filing cabinet are good choices.

Get Ready to Store Your Family Keepsakes

Next, you'll need to make notes about the kinds and quantity of items you need to store and select appropriate containers. The Worksheet also includes: 

• a form to get you started listing items, quantity, and container options
• photos of the most popular archival storage containers
• contact information for archival suppliers

You can download the FREE Workshop Worksheet Here and Get Started Archiving Your Family Keepsakes. Please let me know in the comments if you find it helpful! 

... and now a word from our sponsors

Disclosure: The Preserving Keepsake Workshops featured popular archival products kindly supplied by Hollinger Metal Edge and Sentry Safe. I received samples from the company but no other renumeration. If you order from Hollinger and use FAMILYCURATOR in the Code Box, I receive a small referral commmisson. If you order supplies through Amazon using my links, I also receive a small affiliate commission.

Family Curator on Fieldstone Common Blog Talk Radio This Thursday

Fieldstone Common with Denise Levenick

Host Marian Pierre-Louis will interview Denise May Levenick, The Family Curator, tomorrow Thursday, 13 June 2013 at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Fieldstone Common internet radio show, .

The weekly program features "authors and historians who bring history alive" with a focus on New England and the Northeast. Marian is also a House Historian and Genealogical Lecturer who is active in New England historical research. 

Tune in Thursday to hear Marian talk with author Denise May Levenick about her new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes, and discuss the challenges of safely caring for family photographs, documents, and artifacts. Listeners to the LIVE program will also have an opportunity to win a free copy of Denise's book and ask questions about their own preservation challenges.

Show time is

1:00 pm EDT
12:00 pm CDT
11:00 am MDT
10:00 am PDT

All shows are available on the Fieldstone Common Archive for listenting at a later time, as well. 

We're Puttin' on Our Shades for Golden Rule Days, Tuesday's Tip

Miss Penelope Dreadful is pleased to endorse Golden Rule Days, the latest edition of Shades of the Departed Magazine published by footnoteMaven.

Inside the over of this beautifully illustrated full-sepia journal, the reader will find 122 pages filled with perfectly precious photographs, handsome heirlooms, attractive artwork, persuasive prose and various verse, along with a short work presented by yours truly, Miss Penelope Dreadful.

As readers may (or may not) know, this reporter has enjoyed weaving tales of suspense, intrigue, and near-truth for many issues of Shades of the Departed, (now available in back issues from the Publisher). These various pieces of protracted prose are inspired by Miss Maven's extensive collection of Photographs of various subjects. Miss Maven proffers the photograph and Miss Dreadful delivers the deed, er goods. 

Our latest tale involves unraveling the story behind the old photograph, and takes into consideration the Science of Phrenology as revealed by a careful analysis of the photograph on exhibit, that of Schoolteacher Alice B. Olver. Please enjoy "Penny's Dreadful Secrets Unlocking the Clues in Old Photographs" beginning on page 18 of the current issue of Shades of the Departed Magazine. Feel free to address your compliments to Miss Dreadful ℅ the Publisher.

Tweet It --

Miss Penny Dreadful LOVES Shades of the Departed #oldphoto Magazine. RT if you do too! -- Click to Tweet

It's Here! Shades of the Departed New Edition #oldphotos #genealogy -- Click to Tweet

5 New Things I Learned at #SCGS2013 Jamboree Including New Data on the Hockey Gene

. . . and a few wild and crazy discoveries about my genealogy friends.

Next Gen MeetUp at Jamboree #SCGS2013 

1. The Genealogy Generation Gap Has Been Zapped!

The Chart Chick Janet Hovorka is really on to something with her new book, Zap the Grandma Gap -- If you didn't know it already, genealogy has become a multi-generational passion, and a look around the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree conference proves it!

The exact numbers haven't been released, but as a long-time Jamboree attendee, I could see that Y- and Z-generation Jamboree attendees, speakers, and exhibitors were present in greater numbers than ever before at the 2013 event.

The 2013 Student Genealogy Grant recipient Mike Savoca was a first-time Jamboree attendee, but he found plenty of student-company with Elyse Doerflinger, Anthony Ray, Mike Melendez, and other young genealogists.

The new NextGen Genealogy Network held a standing-room only virtual meet-up organized by Elyse to introduce Jamboree to NextGen organizers. 

A look 'round the exhibit hall showed new faces with new products, too. Treelines' Tammy Hepps was on hand to show off her online new story-telling software after winning the Developer's Prize at RootsTech 2013.

2. Genetic Genealogy is HOT!

Everyone was talking about the DNA Day held as a pre-conference event on Thursday, June 6. Each session sounded better than the last, featuring respected scholars and researchers presenting on various aspects of genetic genealogy.

I was sorry to miss this event, but will be sure to catch it if there is an encore next year! You know a conference is good when the audio-visual recording staff is still talking about it two days later.

Bloggers' Summit, Host Thomas MacEntee; 
from left Paula Stuart-Warren, Judy G. Russell, Denise Levenick, CeCe Moore
(photo courtesy J. Paul Hawthorne) 

3. Genealogy Blogging is Not Going Away

I was privileged to join Paula Stuart-Warren, CeCe Moore, Judy G. Russell at the Bloggers' Summit moderated by GeneaBloggers' Thomas MacEntee. This annual event is a touchpoint for genealogy bloggers and gives a good sense of how we got where we are and what to look for in the future.

With over 3,000 genealogy blogs currently listed at the GeneaBloggers website, it's clear that blogging has found an audience in the genealogy community. You'd think that everyone was reading genealogy blogs, but in reality, I heard a comment after the summit that only about 10% of genealogists regularly read blogs. If that figure is correct, a lot of family historians are missing out on some great resources.

Although each panelist admitted that there just isn't time enough to read all the blogs we'd like to cover, no one saw blogs diminishing in popularity anytime soon. In fact, one of the first questions from the audience was about starting a genealogy blog.

4. Genealogy Can Be Really Really Funny

Dan Poffenberger's presentation at the Sunday morning scholarship breakfast was the best early-morning wake-up call I've heard in a long time. He gave a VERY humorous look at some of the actual records he's found along his research career, including pre-cradle to post-grave excerpts of parish registers, census records, wills, and other documents. Dan also revealed a hint of what it's like growing up with an unusual surname.

5. Researching the "Hockey Gene"

Inquiring minds wanted to know: Is "hockey love/obsession/passion" acquired or inherited? So, I went to the best source I know for All Things Hockey: Rhonda R. McClure (aka "nationally  recognized genealogist and lecturer on New England, immigration and naturalization, Italian, German, institutional, fraternal and computerized genealogy. . ."). 

Rhonda's name pops up frequently as a genealogy lecturer, and nearly as often on Facebook cheering on her ice-favorites. I figured she was the go-to resource for this specialized research query.

The question: "How did you become interested (read: obsessed) with ice hockey?"

Her answer: "I'm from New Hampshire."

So, there you have it. Geographic Genetics. 

Tweetables --

•  The Hockey Gene and Geographic Genetics revealed #scgs2013 via @FamilyCurator -- Click to tweet...
• Generation Gap Zapped #scgs2013 via @FamilyCurator -- Click to tweet...
• GeneaBlogging is NOT going away #scgs2013 @FamilyCurator -- Click to tweet...

Meet Mr. Curator at #SCGS2013 Jamboree: Vintage Treasure Chest Thursday

We sold the truck, but Mr. Curator is still in the picture!

Come by and say "Hello" at the Family Tree Magazine booth VM003 at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, Calirfornia Friday through Sunday, June 7-9. I will be signing my book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes all weekend, and Mr. Curator will be helping out on Sunday.

Bring your family heirloom, archiving, and organizing questions for a free consultation, and plan to attend the presentations on organizing and preserving family keepsakes --

Paper or Plastic: Preserving Family Keepsakes is a 90-minute hand-on workshop that will include lecture, demonstration, and plenty of archival storage samples for your examination. SU019 10:00 am to 11:30 am.

Lessons from the Archive is a traditional lecture-presentation, and will be Live-Streamed to home viewers. This session will highlight dos and don'ts for working with inherited collections, and specific case study examples from my home archives. You must pre-register to view the Live-Streamed session by signing-up HERE. SU029 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

See you there!

Touchy Feely Time with Archival Boxes and Folders at #SCGS13

Join me at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree to get up close and personal with the most popular archival storage products -- and a few new surprises in preservation containers -- for Paper or Plastic? Preserving Keepsakes Workshop on Sunday, June 9th.

I am especially excited to be showing off some new-to-me (and maybe to you) products from Hollinger Metal Edge and Sentry Safe. Both companies were kind enough to send me sample products and a lot of great information to share with attendees. I will also have a limited number of archival product catalogs available from Hollinger Metal Edge.

This 90-minute workshop could also be called "Everything I Wish I Had Known When I Inherited My First Family Collection." We will discuss how to safely preserve an assortment of family artifacts, including documents, correspondence, photographs, and artifacts, and attendees will have a chance to see and handle a selection of archival storage containers.

Paper or Plastic will begin with a presentation highlighting 

• What Makes It an Heirloom?
• Roles and Goals for Collectors
• Archives 101
• Preservation Case Studies
• Make It Yourself Archival Options

Following the presentation, there will be time for product demonstrations and questions, and hand-on with the sample products.

When I first inherited my grandmother's treasures, I was overwhelmed by the huge assortment of archival storage boxes. Should I use an upright box or a flat box? Drop front or telescoping lid? Is there a difference between grey archival board and black or tan? It took hours to unravel the mysteries of the catalog and finally begin to move my keepsakes into appropriate storage. I hope Sunday's presentation will cut through the infusion and help you organize and preserve your family treasures.

Sunday, June 7 10:00am - 11:30 am SCGS Jamboree
Paper or Plastic? Preserving Keepsakes Workshop

Attendees will find a 4-page handout in the Jamboree Syllabus and a Workshop Worksheet to use during the session on the Jamboree App (look in the Exhibitor listing under The Family Curator for the downloads).

Lessons from the Family Archive: Streamed from SCGS Jamboree

Are you scratching your head over what to do first with your inherited family keepsakes? Wondering how to save your treasures from damage without breaking the bank? Join me Sunday afternoon June 9th for Lessons from the Archive streamed live from the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California. 

I am excited to be presenting one of the fourteen live-streamed events from the SCGS Jamboree as part of JamboStream, sponsored by Ancestry.com. You must be pre-registered to view the sessions, and you must register for each individual session you with to attend. Click here for the complete schedule and registration information.

I inherited my first BIG family archive from my grandmother about 2000. Everything had been stored in an old trunk for decades, and was moved into cardboard beer boxes by the time it came to me. Gradually, I moved the letters, photos, newspapers, and documents into archival storage boxes and started scanning individual items.

Then, another relative passed away and their treasures came home with me.

And another.

And another.

Along the way I've picked up a few tips that have helped me keep my sanity and keep things organized. The biggest lesson learned is certainly 

Maintain Order in the Archive -- keep collections together and avoid orphan heirlooms.

I will be sharing some of my favorite tips and photos from my own inherited treasures at Sunday's presentation. Sign up here to join in from home, and feel free to come back and leave any comments or questions.

Aprons from Auntie's Hope Chest for Treasure Chest Thursday

It's "Easy as Pie" to see that these handmade vintage aprons were made to be admired. My aunt received nearly two dozen aprons for her wedding shower in 1958 and carefully packed them away in her cedar hope chest with the hand-embroidered pillowcases, sheets, and towels. When my sister and I opened the chest two years ago, everything was still in the original paper but marked with the folds of time.

These two aprons are my favorites. "Easy as Pie" is made with a printed kitchen towel as the center panel design surrounded by cheery yellow cotton. "Flower Garden" (on the right) is made by joining crocheted flowers to form a colorful border around a plain mesh dishcloth. The flower pocket adds another splash of color.

Of course, sometimes a new bride wants to look frilly and pretty. That's when she brings out the nylon and lace aprons:

Pink nylon (now turned brown with age) adds a pretty touch to the pink floral cotton. The lavender nylon and lace would look dainty over a plain dress or skirt.

And, when there's work to do, the 1950's woman will turn to practical attire like these simple cotton aprons:

It's unfortunate that the cotton discolored with time, but both the flower print and blue check would have been cheery and washable coverings for everyday housework and cooking. It (almost) makes me want to wash the dishes!

With Gratitude for Their Service

U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Edwin May (from left),
with Seaman Gilbert, Seaman Noren, and Commander MacCubbin.
Lighter Than Air Base in Tustin, California, January 1955.
(Official Photograph U.S. Navy.)

Corp. Walter G. May, U.S. Army, Camp Funston
1917

Col. Maynard N. Levenick, U.S. Army

Treasure Chest Thursday: Vintage Postcards Picture the History of Decoration Day

First There Was Decoration Day

 

This 1909 Decoration Day postcard depicts a U.S. Army vet, sabre in hand to salute his fallen comrades. The Grand Army of the Republic, as the Union Army was known, is celebrated in the five-star membership badge of the G.A.R.

According to a 1910 history of the G.A.R, the badge was "struck from captured Confederate cannon" and the bronze "issued to the G.A.R. by the War Department as needed."

The design includes motifs representing charity, liberty, loyalty, and fraternity surrounded by the insignia of the various branches of service -- bugle (infantry), crossed cannons (artillery), crossed muskets (marines), crossed sabers (cavalry), and anchor (sailors).

The design was adopted in 1866, revised in 1868 and again in 1869. A few changes were made again in 1873 and 1886. This postcard dates from 1909 per the postmark, and probably shows the latest medal design.

Shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War, communities began commemorating the fallen soldiers by decorating graves with flowers. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed the first major observance May 30, 1868, held at Arlington National Cemetery where both Union and Confederate graves were decorated.

The same fascination with symbolism that created the G.A.R. medal is evident in the postcard design in these examples. 

In this illustration a young child, probably a granddaughter, slips a flower in the lapel of her grandfather. He wears the G.A.R. veteran medal on his coat near the pinned sleeve, silent testament to his loss in the war. 

In the bottom left of the card is an artist's version of the famous battle in March 1862 between the first iron-clad warships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. The battle ended in a stalemate, but introduced a new phase of warfare to America. 

This postcard obviously continues the series shown above, but the painterly scene on this card recalls the infantry's efforts in the war, in the same way that the previous card depicted naval war maneuvers. Presumably, other cards in the series pay homage to other branches of service. It would be interesting to locate other cards in the series and see the entire set together.

The main image shows a war widow (note the grandmother's photo cameo brooch) with her grandson who playing at being a soldier. He wears a miniature G.A.R. medal, a too-large belt, and is holding his grandfather's saber. 

And Then There Was Memorial Day

This Memorial Day card bears a postmark on the reverse of 1908; it seems that the holiday was known by both names. The images here are probably meant to depict the new and old Navy warships. The card sends "Memorial Day Greetings" rather than a message for "Decoration Day," although the term Memorial Day did not become official until 1966.

I found these cards at a local Vintage Paper and Ephemera Show in Southern California. If you love family history, and haven't discovered these shows yet, you are missing out!

Sources:

Naval History and Heritage

The Grand Army Badge

This Day in History

Roundup for Memorial Day FREE Record Access for Researchers

Block out a few hours and take advantage of these great offers for free access to U.S. military records this weekend.

My Heritage Free Access to US Military Records

Researchers can take advantage on one week of free access May 21-28 to the MyHeritage U.S. military record collection. Available databases include 

• U.S. WW II Army Enlistment
• Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
• WW II Reserve Corps Records
• Air Force Register Extracts
• US WW II Prisoners of War 194101946
• Vietnam Casualties 1956 - 1998 
• US Army Casualties 1961 - 1981
• Korrean War Casualties 1950 - 1957
• and more

If you've been curious about MyHeritage, this would be great time to check out the website and database collection. I especially like the clean fresh design that makes the search form easy to see and understand.

Fold3 Offers Free Access to New USCT Service Records

Compiled military service records of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) including over 3.6 million images is now available at Fold3.com through a partnership between Folde and the National Archives. Access to this collection is a free through May 31st.

Available records include images scanned directly from documents as well as those digitized from microfilm. The collection consists of images for:

• 1st through 1389th USCT Infantry
• 1st gthrough 6th USCT Cavalry
• USCT Artillery

Read more about the collection and highlighted records at the Fold3 blog. American Veterans and their families are also eligible for a 50% discount on a Fold3 membership. More information is available here at the Fold3 website.

FindMyPast Offers Free Access to US and International Military Records

 

In honor of Memorial Day and Military Appreciation Month, Findmypast.com is making their U.S. and International military records available free Friday May 24 through Monday May 27. 

 

Records include:

• American Prisoners of Korean War, 1950-1953
• Korean War Casualty File
• Korean War Deaths, 1950-1954
• United States, World War One (WWI) Draft Registration Cards,1917-1918
• US Army Casualty File, 1961-1981
• Vietnam War Casualties
• Vietnam War Casualties Returned Alive
• Vietnam War Deaths
• World War II Army Enlistment Records
• World War II POWs
• and international military record collection

The Findmypast.com Blog also features a series of great infographics from MyMilitaryBase.com about U.S. military families.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary subscription to MyHeritage, but have no obligation to favorably review the website.

Wordless Wednesday: Can You Identify This Military Unit?

This image was digitized from a negative found in my grandmother's trunk of old photos and documents. The date and place are unidentified, but it seems to be part of a series of photos that may have been taken in Texas. Any ideas what these young men might be up to?

I first discovered this photograph in 2008 and wrote about it in Treasure Revealed! but I'm no closer to knowing more about the picture today than I was then. Any ideas?

Don't Miss #SCGS13 Jamboree

Geneabloggers Lisa Alzo and Thomas MacEntee always have a great time at Jamboree!

Early Bird Registration Closes 24 May

You still have time to register for the upcoming Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank June 7-9, and the Family History and DNA Day on Thursday, June 6. Jamboree gets bigger and better with something new each year.

The 2013 conference will kick-off Thursday with Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013 featuring Spencer Wells, PhD. and Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Then, on Friday, the 44th Annual SCGS Genealogy Jamboree will open with 50 speakers, 70 exhibitors, and 150 sessions.

Join us for the Sunday morning Scholarship Breakfast where I will introduce Michael Savoca,  recipient of the 2013 Suzanne Winsor Freeman Student Genealogy Grant. Jamboree is Mike's first national conference -- be sure to say "Hi" when you see him in June.

Register soon to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing!

Randy Seaver and Angel Linda will be there too!