2019 - Gratitude Month #23 - Education

Gratitude Day #23

Today I am grateful the opportunities I have had for education.

I owe that thirst for knowledge to my parents. They didn't have nearly the chances I have had. Mom went to 8th grade, dad went to 6th grade and spent 3 years in 4th grade.

But, they were two of the smartest people I have ever known.

Mom knew the land. Her gardens, both vegetable and flower, could rival anyone's.

She took me through the hills and hollers behind her parents' house in Kentucky and taught me everything I could ever live on for survival.

Dad was an engineer without a degree. He could build anything he needed.

As a young married, I really wanted/needed a wheat grinder. He promptly went to the dump and scavenged an old washing machine motor, built a plywood housing and ordered two burr stones. The final thing was a long funnel like truck drivers use.

That was over 40 years ago, and it's still the best one I have ever had.

Opportunities exist on every turn for me to learn, for as Kerry's mission president used to say, "When you're green, you're still growing. When you're ripe, you're almost rotten."

I want to be green.

Gratitude Day #29 - Opportunities for Education

Gratitude Day #29

Today I am grateful for the many avenues that I have had for the education of my own self.

I was born to learn. I thirst in learning about new things! I feel that every single day affords me a new opportunity to learn about new things, to internalize them, and to apply them to my life.

Our house has always been a library. There are approximately 20+ bookcases filling our home. These books are my wealth. If I could never leave my home again, I would not cease to learn.

The homes that both Kerry and I were raised in were also libraries. In his childhood home, there was an entire library on the mezzanine of his parents' upper floor. I loved to go in there and curl up with a quilt to read books we didn't have in our own library.

My parents always had a book in their hands. There was always classical music (long haired) music that my dad loved that was part of that library. They didn't have a good chance for education, due to the time period and location they lived in. Mom finished 8th grade; dad went to 6th grade, but spent three years in the fourth grade.

When we married, our libraries blended together with very few duplicates.

I did not have the opportunity for formal education. My life was spent in raising a family. And, I never really pursued it, for I felt I probably wouldn't make it. When I worked at the University of Akron, I had the opportunity to take any classes I wanted to for free. I took one -- harmonica -- from a man that used to play with Freddy and the Fendercats. Now I don't have enough breath to even begin to blow into one.

I did take one class on Ohio history at the Ohio State University. I needed to hone my skills on Ohio's history for the many researchers who ask me about it. This man took us clear back to the glaciers. I didn't need to go back that far...

So, I have educated my own self. I have tried to take advantage of every possibility to learn something that may come into my path. And, when I teach, I learn - probably more than anyone else in the room.

Kerry and I love to visit historical sites, and have stopped and learned from dozens of people all across the country. We have refreshed ourselves on our trips as we journey on trails, along rivers, over mountain passes, by oceans, etc.

When we traveled as a family, we would stop at a battlefield, or historical location. Kerry would tell the kids what happened there; I would talk about the ancestors who served or lived in the area. Then, when they studied about it in school it became more real, and they could connect.

One of our favorite activities as a family was to pile into the van and go to the library on a rainy, drizzly day. I told the kids they could each check out ten books. That's forty books! We hauled them home in milk crates, only to return the following week.

So, I'm going to make it a goal to do as Kerry's father advised; to always keep my mind active and learning. He was a good example of that, right up until his last days.

I will do what his mother set the perfect example of; to watch people in action and learn from their skills. She could do anything.

To do what my dad quietly set the example of; to expand his mind at every opportunity. Dad always, always had a book in his hands.

To do what my mom counseled; that there are opportunities and blessings on every turn that can help us help ourselves. Learn to recognize them, and be grateful that person, or that book, or that class was put in your pathway.

To continue on with what Mr. Kerry does; to keep a running journal (24 volumes!) to record his impressions and notes from meetings he has been in, lessons he has learned, and events he doesn't want to forget. He has handwritten over 4500 pages.

And, my advice to my own self; that when I am speaking at a conference, recognize the tremendous gift I have been given -- to attend every class I can. It is another opportunity for learning. Another opportunity for growth.

No, I am not formally educated. But, I am filled with knowledge and experience. And, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to expand my knowledge; that my brain and my intellect have been functional and capable of learning.

The Ohio Genealogical Society - Archive Tour

I live in the best place in the world.

My house is only about seven miles from the

Ohio Genealogical Society headquarters;

one of the largest genealogy societies 

in the United States.

It's beginnings go back to the year 1959, 

and my parents were among the first to attend the meetings at

Dr. David Massa's home.

Since my parents never, ever left me with anyone,

I'm sure I was at a few of those meetings, too.

Our own Richland County chapter meets in the building monthly.

This past week, our very own, much-appreciated Director,

Tom Neel, was our speaker.

He took us on a "behind the scenes" tour of 

the Archival Room.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have been in this room.

But again, Tom showed us things I never knew were in there.

It was another opportunity to learn!

The above photo is of a German newspaper that existed in 1892.

There were two newspapers in Mansfield.

Think how many obituaries, marriage announcements, etc.

are in there; just waiting for someone who is able to read them

in German!

These photos showing brown paper packages tied up with string

are the Bibles that people donate.

 Some of these Bibles are huge!

I was particularly interested in the very old book on the

History of the Mission of the United Brethren.

I grew up hearing this story in my Ohio History classes in school

The United Brethren Church, also known as Moravians, 

 had sent missionaries to convert the Native Americans.

Unfortunately, it led to a very sad time in Ohio's history;

the converted Native Americans were massacred in a town

southeast of where I live -- Gnadenhutten.

You may read the story here:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnadenhutten_massacre

Tom also showed us this book containing 

Oaths of County Officers.

I never thought to even look for a book like this.

If you were looking to join a lineage society,

think how valuable it would be to connect your family member

using a tool like this.

These dates were from very early 

Richland County - 1814 and beyond.

This book had me drooling.

It is an original copy of

The Wyandott Mission at Upper Sandusky Ohio.

Reverend Finley wrote those book 

about his experience in the mission.

And, in the back of the book,

he has written about and interviewed several Natives.

If you look carefully below, 

he writes about how "Brother Between the Logs" has gone to rest.

The following photos show why I would have no business

ever working in a library or archives.

Because, I would want to keep everything.

Absolutely everything.

A monument company in Cleveland 

donated its entire collection to OGS.

This is what it looked like when it arrived.

I love the gravestone sketches below.

This monument company made many of the statues

that were torn down in recent months

because of their association with the Confederacy.

So, when was the last time you visited your own 

local genealogy society?

When was the last time you attended a meeting,

and heard an excellent speaker?

Have you recently made a road trip across town,

or across the state, to visit the library and archives 

that may house the information you need

to further your research?

Even if you don't have ancestors that resided in the area you live in,

there are always opportunities to further your own learning.

OGS has a tremendous collection that goes beyond Ohio's borders.

Every state that touches Ohio 

has books and materials that may help you.

There are materials on the shelves 

from all parts of the United States.

My advice:  Join your local society.

Join your state society.

Go to learn.

Leave ready to research and help others.

Forward Thinking - The Moonlight Schools

I have taught about the value of school records in many of my presentations. One of those that I mentioned were the "Moonlight Schools", which began in Rowan County, Kentucky.

It was the beginnings of adult education in America, and was held on the nights the moon was full enough for the students to walk through the woods and the fields to go to school. Mothers were especially grateful, for they could read the letters their children were writing home from WWI.

It was begun by Cora Stewart Wilson, who is pictured above.  She saw the need of adult men and women to read the newspaper, write checks, and read and write correspondence.  In turn, this led to more confidence.

The first Moonlight School

Moonlight School attendees, Everman's Creek, Carter Co., KY

It would soon spread to 34 states.

Here is a wonderful page from Morehead State University in Rowan County to learn more about it.

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/moonlight_schools_collection/

Learning and Teaching -- at the same time!

2 Jan 2018

Seventy.

I did seventy presentations across America last year.

I traveled to 34 different states, some with Mr. Kerry and some without.

I met and talked with hundreds, if not thousands of people. I reconnected with colleagues, and met dozens I had only known from Facebook. I met people who had heard me on webinars. Now, I have new friends.

I did it with a torn and recuperating rotator cuff and labrum, and a torn meniscus. I hobbled. I had one good arm. I yelped a couple of times, and hollered a couple of more times.

Sometimes I had to think about what hotel and what city I was in after Kerry called and sung to me to wake me up in whatever time zone I was in.

But, I did it. And, I loved it. And, I hope the people who invited me were pleased that they did.

And so, this year we begin again. I must admit I am scaling back a bit from what I did last year, for I need to catch my breath. I also need the therapy that comes from getting on my little tractor and mowing my field. I have solved every problem in the world on the back of my tractor.

So, some of you I will see again this year! Some of you I'll "see" during webinars. It's good to jump back into the saddle after being off for a couple of months.

3 Jan 2018

Today I'm going to piggyback off of yesterday's post.

One hundred and seventy-nine classes.

Yes, 179 classes that I have had the opportunity to attend or listen to via webinar.

I keep a list of every single class that I've ever taught or listened to, and save them year by year in a Word document. First of all, I do it to report to ICAPGen every five years that I am making an effort to keep my own self current.

But, most of all, I do it for me.

I've had the opportunity -- for free -- to listen in on classes about asylums, chancery court, Freedman's Bureau records, the Fugitive Slave Law and the Underground Railroad, early US religions, funeral homes, new technology, and on and on and on...

I am often asked what I do in between the classes that I am actually teaching. Are you kidding me? I'm in there taking more classes! These are opportunities that may not come around again soon. Every now and then you may find me hanging out with a colleague or two, for we all need a brain break.

But, more often than not, I'm sitting in a classroom learning right along with everyone else from the best in the industry.

Plus, the webinars! Geoff Rasmussen has led the way in providing free education, plus a vast webinar library to draw from.

I am forever grateful for the opportunities for the opportunities and invitation extended to me for speaking, for while I'm there I have even more opportunities to learn.

And, I did that all in one year.

Now, I'm perusing through the schedule for #RootsTech to see what classes I'll attend during my "down time". I've made it a goal to attend classes taught by people I've never heard of before. I did that during a conference this summer, and was totally delighted in the new offerings.

Kerry's dad always counseled his children to "keep their minds active and learning".

And, his mission president advised the missionaries:

"When you're green, you're still growing.

When you're ripe, you're almost rotten."

I want to be green.