SCGS 2013 Jamboree Extension Webinar Series Announced

The Southern California Genealogical Society has announced the webinar lineup for the 2013 Jamboree Extension Series, and I'm honored to be included in the April 2013 program with over two dozen outstanding genealogy speakers offering free genealogy and family history educational programs.

The series offers FREE live genealogy webinars open to anyone, and archived on-demand versions for SCGS members. If you plan to attend the SCGS Jamboree, it's definitely worthwhile to join SCGS and take advantage of this additional society benefit.

The 2013 webinar series will include presenters from Alzo to Woodward (no "Z") on topics as diverse as Mobile Capturing of Your Ancestor's Documents and Pictures by Leland K. Meitzler and Time Travel with Google Earth by Lisa Louise Cooke. Read the entire schedule at the Jamboree website here.

I will be presenting Break Down Brick Walls with Home Sources: Solve genealogical mysteries with clues in family sources on Saturday, April 6 at 10 am Pacific Time. Using artifacts from family archives, I will share photos and examples of where to find hidden details about our ancestors' lives in the things they left behind. Registration for the webinar is now open here.

Hope you can join us for the SCGS 2013 Jamboree Extension Series.

Back to School: Online Genealogy Education

Monterey Peninsula College is now accepting registration for three genealogy courses taught by Karen Clifford, AG, for the Spring 2013 term. The session runs February 3 through May 30, 2013.

Courses are offered through the Library Services Department and are part of a four-course program in Family Research Studies. Monterey Peninsula College is one of the only two institutions of higher education offering online courses in Genealogy. Each class is three units and meets once a week for one semester. California residents pay $46 per unit; non-residents pay an additional $179 per unit. This is a real bargain for California students.

I have taken both Genealogy 1 and 2 through MPC Online Studies, and highly recommend the program for anyone looking for a solid foundation in genealogy research or for a helpful refresher. Genealogy 1 (LIB60) is a general introduction to genealogical research, and Genealogy 2 (LIB61) continues with an introduction to basic record groups. Each class required discussion, weekly reading, and assignments. The instructor feedback is a great way to learn if you analyzing information effectively and seeking logical sources.

Karen Clifford has been teaching the series at MPC for several years and also presented a popular organizing webinar for the Legacy FamilyTree series. She's also the creator of the genealogy paper filing system detailed at www.FileYourPapers.com. Read student testimonials about the MPC courses here.

The spring genealogy program includes:

LIB60 Genealogy 1: This online course introduces students to family history research methods and sources (1850-present), including basic Internet and library sources as well as research methodologies for locating ancestors. Students are taught fundamental organization skills for preserving family materials by assembling a family history archival notebook using a genealogy computer program. Basic knowledge of computers and the Internet is recommended.

LIB61 Genealogy 2: This online course helps students find their families by applying new methodologies for searching and analyzing genealogy's primary record groups for the 18th and 19th centuries: census, tax, probate, land, property, newspaper, biography, and military records, as well as learning how to read the handwriting of the period, focusing on the years 1750-1850 while using Internet, traditional, archival and specialty library resources. Students should complete LIB60 prior to taking this class.

LIB62 Genealogy 3: This online course covers advanced genealogy research methods, as well as Internet, traditional and specialty library sources, federal records, and unique ethnic sources in order to research foreign records and resources. Included are methodologies focused on extending family lines beyond the U.S. to the countries of origin for the students' ancestors. Students should complete LIB60 and LIB61 prior to taking this class.

If you would like to learn more about the courses offered or to register for 2013 Spring Courses, please use the following link: https://webreg.mpc.edu/SR_ScheduleOfClasses.aspx?Mode=text&TermID=20133&CourseDiscipline=LIBR

Karen Clifford, is an Accredited Genealogist Professional (AG), and a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association (FUGA). She is President/CEO of Genealogy Research Associates, Inc. www.GRAonline.com; and a part-time faculty member, Distance Education Instructor, in Family History Studies, under the Library Department at Monterey Peninsula College. She has authored 7 college textbooks on genealogy and credentialing in genealogy, and numerous family histories.  She serves as Co-Chair of the Testing Committee of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (one of the two major credentialing bodies for genealogists in the United States see www.ICAPGen.org).  She served 10 years on the board of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and was the founding President of the Monterey County (CA) Genealogy Society.  Karen was the Director of the Monterey California Family History Center for ten years.

You can also contact Karen Clifford for more information at karenmpc (at) aol (dot) com. 

 

Treasure Chest Thursday: Top 15 Family Heirlooms

A family heirloom isn't worth nearly as much without the story that goes with it. This seems to be the notion behind The Learning Channel's Top 10 list of the most common items passed on to the next generation. Jewelry leads the list in the #1 spot, but is nudged by Stories as #2. After all, unless the item is valuable itself, why would someone save and cherish anything at all?

It's all about the stories. . .  which got me thinking about the jewelry I've inherited from my ancestors. . . funky 30's costume clip-on earrings from Grandmother Arline, designer costume bracelets from Mom, and ropes of polished amber from my mother-in-law. None of the pieces are especially valuable, and none were itemized in a list of personal property to be distributed to certain heirs. Do most people inherit valuable jewelry, or is it more the everyday bits and baubles that find their way into our jewelry boxes?

I found this sweet brooch in Arline's trunk, mixed in with letters, photos, and documents. There's no identification, but I know the photograph is Arline's first child, Lucile Mae Paulen, my aunt. She must have been four or five years old at the time. By then, Arline and her first husband Roy were divorced and Lucy was living with Roy and his parents. Arline was heartbroken by the court's custody decision. Great story.

What other things do people tend to save and pass on from generation to generation? Almost all kinds of memorabilia are included in TLC's list, and each one depends on the story behind the artifact: 

1. Jewelry
2. Stories
3. Furniture
4. Quilts
5. Weapons
6. Letters and Diaries
7. Photos
8. Recipes
9. Clocks
10. Musical Instruments

I think a few popular categories are missing from this list, especially the proverbial Family Bible. Here's my version from Bible to Christmas baubles, with the reminder that each one needs a story to become an heirloom.

Top 15 Family Heirlooms

1. Bibles
2. Photos, Albums and Scrapbooks
3. Letters, Diaries, Datebooks
4. Clocks and Watches
5. Jewelry
6. Furniture
7. China and Silver
8. Weapons
9. Military Relics
10. Quilts and Samplers
11. Recipes
12. Clothing
13. Dolls and Toys
14. Musical Instruments
15. Christmas Decorations

What do you think? Have you inherited something that should included in the list? Check out The Heirloom Registry for a great place to identify your family treasure and record its story for the next generation, and receive three free Heirloom Registry stickers with our special partnership when you purchase The Family Curator's new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes. Click here for details of this offer.

Chasing Descendants and Finding Family History

We've just returned from a trip to London and France and It's no surprise that our two-week itinerary looked a lot like a genealogy research plan. Priority #1 was to meet the newest leaf on our family tree and spend time with the big brother and parents. And like any careful plan, we discovered unexpected surprises and new adventures along the way.

It's been a very long time since Mr. Curator and I traveled without a genealogy research agenda. Last year at this time, after a New England research trip, I was writing 10-12 hours every day on my new book and nursing a fractured elbow. It seems like one thing rolled into another and now here it is December once again and finally time to step back and take a breath. I do remember a time when a vacation included a break from mail, phones, and daily routine, and I miss it sometimes. 

For this trip we decided to forgo the wonderful travel apps on our iPhones and use the devices in wireless mode to retrieve email and as handy unobtrusive cameras. Limited cell-phone coverage also meant limited blogging, and and days filled with playing firefighter, snuggling baby, and exploring the neighborhood shops and parks gave new meaning to "social" network. 

"Unplugging" technology, even minimally to wireless-only, sounded a little scary, but it added so much freedom to our travels that I'm thinking it would be worth doing more often. Instead of shooting out a quick tweet or status post as an instant reaction to sights, and events, pocketing your cell phone gives you time to sit back and reflect on an experience and spend some time thinking about what's going on around you.

 

St. Luke's Church, London

As it was, it took about a week for that "aha" moment to occur when I realized a particularly unique feature of our itinerary. Each night we went to sleep within earshot of church bells, whether we were in a London neighborhood, a Paris hotel, or the Cathedral square of Strasbourg. What a treat to begin and end each day hearing chimes and bells calling out the hour. That doesn't happen at home, but it did make me think of how so many of our ancestors' lived within a parish where everyday life was directed by the sound of church bells. (I think there is a post for The Catholic Gene in here, too.)

We also experienced a taste of ex-pat life as we celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the midst of London's Christmas preparations. I was surprised to see that the local grocery store sold turkeys and all the fixins from fresh cranberries to Libby's canned pumpkin pie mix. Turkey is a more traditional Christmas dish in England, so there weren't too many to choose from and they were rather small. Size was vital, we discovered, because the range oven was smaller than American ovens. 

Mr. C carefully measured the oven and went back on the streets out to stalk our Thanksgiving bird. He didn't have to go far, just around the corner to the local butcher who took the order for the next day -- 5.44 kilos (12 lbs) "dressed" to roast. When I unwrapped that bird I knew it was going to be delicious. Unlike our U.S. grocery store turkeys that arrive in plastic and emerge gooey and messy, this bird was wrapped in white waxed butcher paper, trimmed of excess fat, cleaned of bit of gore, washed, dried, and tied with twine. The "innards" were neatly wrapped in a separate package for the stockpot.

Behold: The Bird! Why doesn't my U.S. supermarket prep poultry like this?

We didn't need to do more than season the turkey and slip a little butter under the skin. Our daughter-in-law mixed up her grandmother's special dressing using local sausage in place of Italian, and we made another grandmother's signature sweet potato and apple dish. The only thing we missed was Auntie's Cranberry Jello dish (that hardly anyone eats anyway). In her honor, we made orange finger jello (brought from the U.S.) which was a huge hit with the pre-schooler. It was a wonderful meal. When family members can't be present at a holiday table, food is the next-best way to savor a memory of the past. 

Ex-Patriot Thanksgiving founded on family recipes.

Thanksgiving isn't exactly much of a holiday in Britain, and we emerged from our turkey coma to see that the countdown to Christmas was in full swing along the streets of London. Twinkle lights cascaded down storefronts, illuminated trees decorated lampposts and starry banners crossed the streets.

London Holiday Decorations

The Story of Dick Whittington and His Cat,
as told in Fortum & Mason's Chrismas window displays

We trekked to the local tree lot and brought home a tall fir to decorate. Grand-boy was more interested in the salesman's hatchet than the tree, and decided that every fireman needs a yellow hatchet in his pack.

Grocery shopping, cooking family recipes, celebrating traditional holidays with a new generation was an early Christmas gift. We had time in Paris and Strasbourg for our own adventures, but it doesn't get much better than chasing descendants around the walls of the Ding Ding Church.

Tech Tuesday: Streamlined Scanning with a Genealogy Photo Workflow, Part 2

 

The Library Module in Adobe Lightroom3 shows the keyword and
metadata tagging windows in the right-hand

Using a scanning workflow speeds up my digitizing project and helps maintain consistency. This post continues with the genealogy scanning workflow I use for family history photographs, documents, and letters. Last week in Tech Tuesday: Streamlined Scanning with a Genealogy Workflow, Part 1, I described my typical scanner settings and scanning process.

This week, we tackle Part 2, and move the digital image files to a photo organizer/editor such as Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, or iPhoto for tagging, cropping, and editing.

After scanning my photographs and storing the images on my external MyBook hard drive (Western Digital), I turn to Part 2 of my Photo Workflow.

Importing Images to a Photo Organizer/Editor:

Note: TIFF Images are stored on an external hard drive.

1. Connect hard drive to desktop computer.

2. Open Adobe Lightroom, Import photos, with settings to retain file names.

3. After import, tag photos with useful keywords, location, names of subjects, place, date.

4. Rename files with descriptive file name prior to original scan filename. For example: aak-001 becomes 
kinsel-arline_1912_ portait_aak-002 
I use a hyphen to separate names and placenames and an underscore to separate categories, thus name_year_description/place_original file name

Note: I decided to continue using a file identification number for correspondence rather than try to develop a suitable meaningful filename. This makes the post-scanning work much faster.

4. Convert files as JPG and store in same folder as originals. File extension will differentiate TIFF and JPG.

5. Back up file on second MyBook hard drive.

6. After tagging, converting, and backing up, TIFF files are never touched! All edits are made to jpg files. In Adobe Lightroom, all edits are “nondestructive” meaning you can return to the original without loss of data. Files may be resized, emailed, cropped, etc. all without damage to the original image file.

Other photo editing software can do a similar job with tagging, renaming, and converting from TIFF to jpg. Adobe Photoshop Elements is a great program and easy to learn and use; Apple iPhoto or Adobe Photoshop Elements for Mac does the job for Mac users. But, to the best of my knowledge, Adobe Lightroom is the only software that offers “nondestructive” editing. If you use a program that records changes on the original file, it is wise to always work from a copy, and save an archived original.

With my originals safely archived on MyBook (#1), and backed up to MyBook (#2), I am comfortable editing and working with the jpg images on my hard drive. 

Learn more about digitizing your family keepsakes and your genealogy papers in my new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes. Special Offers now available from Family Tree Books, regularly priced $24.99, now $15.49, and save an additional 10%. Click here for info.

This article is updated from Tech Tuesday Setting up a Genealogy Photo Workflow, Part 2 published 28 July 2009.

You might also like -- Using Adobe Lightroom to Manage Genealogy Images

Thanksgiving Blessings from The Family Curator

At this certain time of year,
We think of friends both far and near.
We count our blessings, one-two-three,
And give a heartfelt thanks to Thee.

Happy Thanksgiving
from The Family Curator

Postcard from the collection of Arline Allen Kinsel.

Tech Tuesday: Streamlined Scanning with a Genealogy Photo Workflow, Part 1

Professional photographers call it a “workflow," but it's really just a “routine.” It’s the standard order of doing things that results in getting things done. Routines work. You don't have to use Adobe Lightroom or any particular photo organizing or editing software to get the benefit of a genealogy scanning workflow. Whether you use Photoshop Elements, XnView, iPhoto, Picasa, or Flickr to organize and store your photos, a consistent procedure for scanning, file naming, tagging, and editing will make your photo work run smoother and faster.

A photography workflow can help a genealogist or family historian process a photo collection efficiently and carefully. I first wrote about my Genealogy Photo Workflow in 2009 when I was using the photo management software Adobe Lightroom2. The program is now up to version 4, although I continue to use Lightroom3. It looks like Lightroom version 4 has some great new features, but haven't felt to try them out… yet.

My Genealogy Photo Workflow

After a few years and considerable trial and error, I’ve tweaked my original photo workflow a bit, but it remains essentially the same as it was in 2009. I've come up with a photo workflow that continues to work well for me. . . today, at any rate.

I have broken the workflow into separate activities; this works for me because I can process the photos in smaller chunks of time. I can scan or import depending on the time available, and still make progress toward completing the project.

Supplies and Equipment Needed --

computer 
flatbed scanner, (Epson Perfection V500) 
2 external hard drives, (MyBook) 
photographs 
white cotton gloves 
archival drop-front box 12 x 15-inch (for oversize photos) 
archival flip-top box  8 x 5-inch 
archival sleeves, 5 x 7-inch and 8 x 10-inch 
permanent ink pen, archival safe 
Adobe Lightroom 3 software

Part 1: Scanning Workflow

Set up --

1. Connect and turn on scanner to warm up 
2. Connect external hard drives to computer
3. Put on gloves 
4. Clean scanner glass with soft cloth 
5. Start scanner software: set for color scan, TIFF format, sent to folder on my Desktop named Scans, file name + sequential image number; check option to open folder after scanning [this is my confirmation that I have completed the scan]

Note: for file name, I use a general name for my current archive [aak] plus the next number in my series [045]. I will edit names in Lightroom when I add metadata.

Scanning --

Note: I scan both sides of every photo, front first, then back [thanks for that tip, footnoteMaven!].

1. Set resolution, TIFF file format 
   I use 600 dpi for photos (1200 dpi for photos needing restoration or images that are very small), 300 dpi for documents
2. Preview Scan front side of image; rotate image on Preview panel if needed 
3. Scan; folder will open showing new file image with name of filename-number [aak-045] 
4. Turn photo to reverse side and Scan; folder will open showing new file image with name of filename-number [aak-046]. Notice that front sides of photos are odd numbers, reverse sides are consecutive even numbers. 
5. Remove photo from scanner, place in archival sleeve and set in box lid [will be used later] 
6. Repeat for each photo; I usually scan in batches of 20-25.

This is a good place to stop working and tidy the work area. I'm not finished with the original photos, so they remain in the box temporarily. The next part of the workflow is to Import photos to Lightroom for tagging and jpg conversion. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Streamlined Scanning with a Genealogy Photo Workflow coming next week.

Blogger Michelle Goodrum at The Turning of Generations wrote about using a similar workflow for her project to digitize her father's early correspondence, Letter Scanning Work Flow.

Why Lightroom?

In my years as a computer-user I have worked with many different photo editing and organizing programs on both PC and Mac computers. I've gone back and forth between PC and Mac a few times, so one of my "requirements" has been to select cross-platform software. I typically purchase a medium-speed computer, not something with a super-fast gaming processor, so my second "requirement" is a program that isn't a big memory hog.

I was an early user of Adobe Photoshop Elements and used the tagging feature extensively with my genealogy photo scanning projects. However, when I started working with huge TIFF and PDF files, I found PE running slower and slower and slower. At the time, PE did not play nice with TIFF files so I had to use another program to manage these files. I found XnView, a cross-platform, free program that handled all kinds of file formats and managed batch renaming, file conversion, resizing, etc. in an easy and intuitive interface. I used both software programs for a few years, generally preferring XnView for management tasks and PE for photo restoration.

In 2007, I was intrigued by the buzz about Adobe's new professional photo management program, Photoshop Lightroom 2. I attended a Scott Kelby Lightroom Workshop and came away ready to get to work. Lightroom is powerful, yet simple. In my opinion, it's aimed for pros who would rather be shooting photographs than managing files. It suits me very well, and I am happy with my current setup.

One of my favorite features in Lightroom is non-destructive editing -- any changes are made to the file instructions rather than to the original file itself. You can always go back to the original. Lightroom expert David Marx explains this well: Photoshop and Elements save changes to the original, Lightroom "builds simulations."

I continue to use Photoshop Elements for design and editing work because I like the layers feature As PE has matured through various versions, it has become friendlier to other file formats, too. If I were starting out with a new program right now AND had a smaller image archive project, I would probably seriously consider using only one program. But, for my current purposes, the combination of Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop Elements work very well together.

Learn more about digitizing your family keepsakes and your genealogy papers in my new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes. Special Offers now available from Family Tree Books, regularly priced $24.99, now $15.49, and save an additional 10%. Click here for info.

You might also like -- Using Adobe Lightroom to Manage Genealogy Images

Revised and Updated, from an article originally published 21 July 2009 Tech Tuesday -- Setting Up a Genealogy Photo Workflow, Part 1

Join Me at the Ventura County Genealogical Society

Saturday, 17 November 2012 I will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ventura County Genealogical Society in Ventura, California. Our topic will be one that all genealogists and family historians can relate to: The Paperless Genealogist, Organizing Our Genealogy Research with Digital Files.

From pedigree charts to priceless heirloom photos and documents, we've all got paper, and lots of it. If you are in the area, plan to join us Saturday as we discuss the secrets to scanning success, efficient filenaming, and moving toward a paperless office.

For directions and more information, please visit the VCGS website here. The meeting begins at 1 pm.

Digitize, Organize, and Archive with Genealogy Gems' Lisa Louise Cooke

How to Archive Family Keepsakes is featured in the newest Genealogy Gems Podcast, Episode 144, as Lisa Louise Cooke and I chat about the challenges of organizing family history photos and documents, genealogy research, and digital files. 

I love talking with Lisa about genealogy and family history. Like me, Lisa inherited treasures from from her own family and her husband's family, too, and likes to use these special items for family history projects and genealogy research. Creating a home family archive can make it easier to locate photos for a quick photo project or find documents for a family tree; one trick is maintaining a good inventory list.

Lisa and I also talked about using digitization to help preserve family artifacts, and how to move towards a paperless genealogy office when we're dealing with mountains of our own research papers. And yes, you can make real progress toward reducing paper in only seven steps!

Tune in to the Episode 144 of the Genealogy Gems Podcast for tips and strategies from my new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes, and ideas for digitizing, organizing and archiving your own family treasures.

Saluting Our Veterans: Walter G. May, U.S. Army

Walter G. May, training days 1917, reading a letter from his sweetheart, soon to be wife.

Before the Pirate Toy Chest Became an Heirloom: Treasure Chest Thursday

Fire! Fire! Fire! 

As I researched the manufacturer of our newest family heirloom -- Mr. Curator's childhood "pirate" toy chest -- I discovered that we may own a unique relic of a once-thriving American toy company.

Fire at former Cass Toy factory, January 19, 2012
Photo by Gary Beauchemin, K&G Photography, Used with Permission 

The more I read about the Cass Toy Company, the more I was intrigued by the story of this successful three-generation business that was devastated by fire over and over again.

Although this complete history may be somewhat lengthy for our toy chest entry at The Heirloom Registry, I am sure a summary version will give future readers some idea of the story behind our family heirloom.

Less than one year ago, in January 2012, the former Cass Toy Factory on Canal Street in Athol, Massachusetts was completely demolished by a massive fire that set off several explosions and called in over 100 firefighters to fight the blaze. The wooden building was being used for storage.

Ironically, the Cass Toy warehouse on nearby South Athol Road suffered a similar fate on May 16, 1996 when fire broke out in the building causing nearby homes to be evacuated. The huge fire destroyed the warehouse and an adjacent home, and damaged six other homes on the street.

Throughout it's long history, Cass Toys had been hit by fire at least once before. In 1917, The Standard weekly insurance newspaper reported

March 20, fire in the plant of the N.D.Cass Company caused loss est at $10,000. The building formerly owned by the Eagle Furn Co frame and unsprinklered O.J. Powers 6 Sons, hat mfgrs, loss of $2,000 on mdse stored in the building and Ira D. Cass had a partial loss on automobiles, insured for $12,000.

The total devastation of the 1996 fire, however, must have come at a time when it was more prudent to retire than rebuild. According to newspaper reports, the Cass Toy Company closed its doors in 1997.

Former Cass Toy Factory, Athol, MA, 2010
photo wcvg.com

For over 100 years, Cass Toys manufactured and sold a wide variety of children's toys and musical instruments, including pianos, drums, chalkboards, and wooden furniture. Founded in 1893 by Nathan D. Cass, at one time the firm boasted factories in Athol, Hingham, and Somerville, Massachusets and in Brent, Alabama, with showrooms on Fifth Avenue in New York City. In 1921, the company proposed expanding to with a plant in Manchester, Vermont. 

Cass was well-known for the popular Casspinette children's pianos, sized from table models to baby grand, all produced at the Athol toy factory. A 1974 newspaper article notes that the Brent plant produced planned to add piano manufacture to it's 15,000 toy chests, 60,000 blackboards, 100,000 child's rockers, and 22,500 play and peg desks. 

A 1943 advertisement in the trade magazine, Playthings announced

We’re Busy on Two Fronts

The Home Front – Thanks to your cooperation – in spite of present difficulties – our popularly priced, individually boxed military toys and train sets will be as widely and equitably distributed as is humanly possible under existing conditions.

The War Front – Yes, we’re backing the attack by devoting the major portion of our extensive manufacturing facilities to Uncle Sam. And when war’s over over there, our enlarged plant with additional modern equipment will enable us to serve you better than ever.

Wood Toys have been featured by America’s leading wholesalers and retialers for three generations.

Buy War Bonds!

N.D. Cass Co. W. F. Cass, Gen Manager

Factories, Athol, Hingham, Somerville, Mass.

Showroom: Room 314, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York 10, N.Y.

Cass Wood Toys have been featured by America’s leading wholesalers and retailers for three generations.

Cass wooden toys were well-positioned to weather the wartime shortages of the 1940's. With metal in short-supply, Cass could meet the demand for children's Christmas gifts with their quality wooden furniture, accessories, and toys.

Who were these three generations of American wood toy makers?

Nathan D. Cass was a native New Yorker, born in 1875, the son of an English machinist. By 1900, he was married to Grace M. Fish of Massachusetts and the couple was living with Grace's parents in Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Nathan's occupation was listed in the federal census as paper box manufacturer.

In 1906, William F. Cass is born; the young family continues to live with Grace's parents, and by 1910 Nathan is in the toy business. In 1920, Nathan Cass is listed in the federal census for the first time as a Head of Household, although his mother-in-law, presumably a widow, is still living in the home. William F. is now 13 years old and has a young sister, Grace, just over one year old. Nathan now makes a living from a "toy shop."

In 1930, Nathan and Grace move to Florida, leaving William F. Cass in charge of the Athol toy business. William appears in the 1930 federal census age 24 with wife Hazel E. Cass. They own a radio set and live in an average-priced home on Union Street in Athol. 

By 1940, however, William has a new address and a new wife. He is now married to Mabel E. Cass, age 38, and the couple has a five year old son, William F. The family now live on Old Keene Road in Athol and their home valued at $8000 is the most expensive on the block, nearly three times the value of their neighbors. At an annual salary of $4420 with other income as well, William is also the highest wage-earner on his street.

A 2007 obituary for William F. Cass, Jr. fills in some of the story of the Cass family. The late toymaker, son of William F Cass, Sr. and Mabel E. (Peppard) Cass. He was survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha (Still) Cass, and by two daughters, Gina L. Cass and Lori Stewart, and two sons Bradford N. Cass and William Brent Cass, as well as 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. 

Mr. Cass was the past president of N.D. Cass Co., Inc., of Athol, N.C. Cass Co. of Brent, Alabama and Cass Sales Company in New York City. For many years he operated Cass Dairy Farms in Athol. Mr. Cass was a life long member of the Athol-Orange Elks Club. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, Camp Cheneo, Petersham Curling Club and the Toy Manufacturers of America. Mr. Cass owned harness race horses for over 40 years. His passion for the sport took him from Maine to Florida. He was a member of the Standardbred Owners of New England, New York, New Jersey and Florida. Bill enjoyed many years of retirement in Pompano Beach, Florida. Bill was known to enjoy an occasional bet now and then and loved his trips to Las Vegas and Foxwoods. 

Abram Cass was a craftsman machinist who must have taught his son Nathan something about creating things with his hands. Nathan went on from making paper boxes to make wooden toys, and created a thriving business that weathered two world wars, the Great Depression, and the rise of computer games. Abram's legacy grew into a business that  employed hundreds of people in Massachusetts and Alabama, building toys and furniture that would be enjoyed by thousands of children.

I'm saddened that the legacy of Cass Toy Company went up in flames with the warehouse in 1996. It would be nice to think they are still turning out sturdy toy chests with brightly painted pirate scenes. On eBay, Cass Toys have become somewhat collectible and chests like ours are fairly hard to find. I'm glad we saved it from the estate sale, and happier yet that it is once again a Pirate Toy Chest.

You are invited to read the history of our Pirate Toy Chest at The Heirloom Registry--

Go to The Heirloom Registry website http://www.heirloomregistry.com

Enter the registration serial number in the photo below.

Enjoy!

Article and Photographs Copyright Denise Levenick, The Family Curator, 2012, All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise noted.

Fingerprint Your Heirlooms

Learn how to preserve your own heirlooms with The Family Curator's new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes and receive three free Heirloom Registry stickers with purchase during the Fingerprint Your Heirlooms special offer.

The Family Curator has partnered with The Heirloom Registry and Family Tree Magazine for this special offer through December 31, 2001. Purchase your copy of my new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes, from www.houstory.com or www.shopfamilytree.com and receive three free Registry stickers to identify your own heirlooms.

Sources:

Barnes, George. “Fire destroys former Athol toy factory: Blace closes Canal Street.” Worcester Telegram & Gazette – telegram.com, 19 January 2012, http://www.telegram.com/article/20120119/NEWS/120119451/0

Ed Watkins, NewsWest Alabama Editor, “Santa may do his shopping in Brent,” The Tuscaloosa News – Dec 15, 1974, 16A, Sunday Google news.

Johnson, Patrick. “Former Cass toy factory in Athol goes up in flames,” Masslive.com, 19 January 2012, http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/print.html?entry=/2012/01/former_cass_toy_factory_in_ath.html

Playthings, Oct 1943, pg 69, http://www.antiquetoycollections.info/catalogs/CassAds.pdf

The Standard, March 31, 1917, Volume 80, pg 349.

William F. Cass, Jr., 73 of Athol, 22 July 2007, http://www.fiskemurphymack.com/obits/obituary.php?id=134375

Copyright Denise Levenick, The Family Curator, 2012.

How to Freeze Water Damaged Photos for Future Conservation

Water damaged photographs can often be salvaged, but you may not have time or resources to take care of your family memories immediately. The Northeast Document Conservation Center recommends this simple method for postponing photo recovery efforts --

1. Air drying is the preferred method for dealing with water-damaged items, but when this is not practical, or if photos are stuck together, freezing is a viable alternative.
2. Use waxed paper to wrap or interleave individual photographs before freezing to make later separation easier.
3. Work with high-priority items first.
4. Label containers.
5. Place items in freezers at below 0 degrees F to prevent thawing and refreezing.
6. DO NOT freeze audio and video tapes, computer tapes, discs, or CD-Roms, ambrotypes, daguerreotypes or tintypes.
7. Items may remain in the freezer indefinitely and will eventually dry out.
8. Consult a conservator for assistance when you are ready to work with your photos again.

For More Information, see

Northeast Document Conservation Center Preservation Leaflet Series:

Emergency Salvage of Wet Photographs

Freezing and Drying Wet Books and Records

Women of Colorado! You Have the Vote!

WOMEN OF COLORADO!
YOU HAVE THE VOTE
HELP GET IT FOR WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE NATION
BY VOTING AGAINST WOODROW WILSON AS THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS
THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S PARTY

Mom sent me a photocopy of this image a few years ago showing my grandmother Arline posing in front of a Colorado campaign poster. Mom was able to decipher the entire sign by using other pictures taken the same day of Arline's friend and her little boy standing with the same background. Little Gaylord was so small that the lower half of the sign is quite visible in his photo. 

Although women in Colorado were granted full voting rights in 1893, when this photograph was taken in 1915 some states were still barring women from the polling booth. It would be a full five years until the 19th Amendment gave women in all states the right to vote.

Women -- and Men -- remember to vote Tuesday, November 6th.

Keep Up With Your Keepsakes

 

Fingerprint Your Heirlooms

Find practical ideas and step-by-step guidance to help you care for heirlooms in How to Archive Family Keepsakes, and for a limited time recieve three free Heirloom Registry stickers to use in identifying your family treasures for future generations.

The Family Curator has partnered with The Heirloom Registry and Family Tree Magazine for this special offer through December 31, 2012. Purchase your copy of my new book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes, from www.houstory.com or www.shopfamilytree.com and receive three free Registry stickers.

Visit The Heirloom Registry to watch the video and see how the registry works.

Learn How to Write the History of Your Heirloom, from The Family Curator.

Read how to decide: Heirloom, Treasure, or Trash?

For more information on this special Fingerprint Your Heirloom promotion, click here.

5 First Aid Tips for Water Damaged Family Photos

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, thousands of family historians may be facing the task of salvaging precious family photos, papers, and heirlooms. Salvage efforts should begin within 48 hours, according to the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

Here are a few first steps to help with your recovery efforts of family photos:

1. Photographs and paper items will be extremely fragile when wet; handle with care. Avoid touching the print surface.

2. Framed photos that become wet should be removed from the frame to air dry flat, when possible. Remove frame backing, loosen edges, and gently free prints from frame.

3. Rinse photos gently with clear water to clean off silt and debris without touching the surface of the print.

4. Air dry wet items indoors if possible. Encourage air circulation by opening windows, running room fans,  air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. 

5. Do not store damp items in plastic bags -- this will cause mold to grow. If you need to store temporarily in plastic containers, leave the lid off or ajar and encourage air circulation.

Consult a professional conservator for further restoration treatment.

This information is adapted from Disaster Response & Recovery, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and Disaster Recovery Conserve-O-Gram, National Parks Service, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

Further Resources

National Institute for Conservation
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFRespRecover.html
National Parks Service, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
http://ncptt.nps.gov/managing-collections-in-a-disaster/

Download NCPTT Disaster Recovery Conserve-O-Gram pdf

Photo: NCPTT Wet Recovery Workshop, 2008.