I am truly enjoying reading the novels of Willa Cather recently. Set in the Plains states during the late 1800s, I am getting an opportunity to experience what would've been the life of my Swedish ancestors. Many of Cather's main characters are of Swedish descent, and the reasons for their migration across the Great Plains was often financial opportunity and the promise of carving out a life. Although fictional, much of Cather's life is recorded in these stories. I did not select the Cather novels because of these factors. In fact, I had no idea what she wrote. I just knew her name.
Imagine my great surprise when the topics of her novels allowed me to connect with my Swedish ancestry. To date, I have completed "My Antonia" and "O Pioneers". I have started "Song of the Lark"; I am not sure what to think about it yet.
My other trip through history comes with "Downton Abbey". It only offers a glimpse of history related to the United States such as the Spanish Flu and the homefront during World War I. Because of my attachment to the characters, I continue to watch and list possible research topics for later.
Working on genealogy is cumbersome. At times, trying to put things in perspective is almost impossible. As I work backwards with each generation before me, I study the art, culture and history of that previous generation. Because the working class does not often record its daily existence, there is no guarantee that what happened in art, culture or history had any impact on the ancestors. What I mean by this is: as each person lives in the day, the basic survival sometimes makes enjoying the life impossible. Here in Austin during this beautiful March day is the well known South by Southwest (SXSW). In all the years I've lived here, I've never participated either because of the cost or because of conflicting work schedules. Neither have I ever journaled my perspective on the event. Social media does allow us to interact in so many amazing ways that just were not possible 20 or 30 years ago; but yet, the random posting of quotes, complaints and pictures still does so little to document the daily perspectives of the working class.
As a social historian, it is the daily existence, or survival, of people that interests me most. Those primary documents that survive, that are preserved, often are those from the wealthy, the powerful and the infamous. Novels, songs and movies are made about those same people. Although the last 30 years has seen a slight change in this (think "Norma Rae"), the majority of culture that remains preserved comes from the wealthy classes. Steve Jobs' biography will be remembered long after Chris Kyle's.
I have made it my mission in the last 10 years to preserve the story of my family. Through the collection of photos, stories, primary documents and observations, I work to tell the story of a lower working class family. As George says, "Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community."
I love ancestry.com. It so beautifully places all my research together into a format that allows a story to unfold. I want to know my ancestors, to understand the time frame of their lives in hopes of understanding their motivations and desires.
Imagine my great surprise when the topics of her novels allowed me to connect with my Swedish ancestry. To date, I have completed "My Antonia" and "O Pioneers". I have started "Song of the Lark"; I am not sure what to think about it yet.
My other trip through history comes with "Downton Abbey". It only offers a glimpse of history related to the United States such as the Spanish Flu and the homefront during World War I. Because of my attachment to the characters, I continue to watch and list possible research topics for later.
Working on genealogy is cumbersome. At times, trying to put things in perspective is almost impossible. As I work backwards with each generation before me, I study the art, culture and history of that previous generation. Because the working class does not often record its daily existence, there is no guarantee that what happened in art, culture or history had any impact on the ancestors. What I mean by this is: as each person lives in the day, the basic survival sometimes makes enjoying the life impossible. Here in Austin during this beautiful March day is the well known South by Southwest (SXSW). In all the years I've lived here, I've never participated either because of the cost or because of conflicting work schedules. Neither have I ever journaled my perspective on the event. Social media does allow us to interact in so many amazing ways that just were not possible 20 or 30 years ago; but yet, the random posting of quotes, complaints and pictures still does so little to document the daily perspectives of the working class.
As a social historian, it is the daily existence, or survival, of people that interests me most. Those primary documents that survive, that are preserved, often are those from the wealthy, the powerful and the infamous. Novels, songs and movies are made about those same people. Although the last 30 years has seen a slight change in this (think "Norma Rae"), the majority of culture that remains preserved comes from the wealthy classes. Steve Jobs' biography will be remembered long after Chris Kyle's.
I have made it my mission in the last 10 years to preserve the story of my family. Through the collection of photos, stories, primary documents and observations, I work to tell the story of a lower working class family. As George says, "Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community."
I love ancestry.com. It so beautifully places all my research together into a format that allows a story to unfold. I want to know my ancestors, to understand the time frame of their lives in hopes of understanding their motivations and desires.
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