Dad went to college?

Dad always told me he went to college.

Um-hmmm.  Dad, who always said he spent three years in 4th grade and finally had to be asked to leave.  Dad, who was not educated beyond 6th grade.  Dad, from the hills of eastern Kentucky where education was not always a priority and opportunity was just not there.

Chester Lee Clemens

On a recent genealogy trip to Kentucky, we thought we would broaden our usual route to include Berea College, where Dad said he attended.  Even if nothing panned out, we enjoy researching at college libraries, which can certainly be a treasure trove of information.

Berea College, from the web site

The first thing we noticed was the beauty of this community.  It was founded in 1855, and the trees and the buildings were stately on this autumn day. 

The second thing we noticed was the beauty of the students.  They were modestly dressed, dripping with manners, and they seemed so happy.  One of the things that sets this college apart is the work ethic.  Students may attend for free, but are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours each week in campus and service jobs. 

The college was the first interracial and coeducational college established in the south.  Its purpose was to help the youth of Appalachia gain education and better their lives.  There are now students from all over the world.  Every one that we encountered had a story to tell, and seemed to be grateful for the opportunity to attend there.

Although it took some effort, we found our way to the area where the student records would have been.  We weren't aware that we should have let them know ahead of time that we would be coming to look for our father's records, and that even some of those might not be available to us.

In the end, our trip was not in vain.  Dad was indeed a student at Berea College.



Chester L. Clemens' name is found just below the point of the pencil.

Unfortunately, Dad's stay at Berea College during the school year 1930-1931 didn't last very long.  He had been enrolled in the Junior High Program, Industrial Arts, but withdrew in the spring.  He went home to Olive Hill.  It was plantin' time.

Dad was never able to return to Berea.  And, the following year, in February 1932, he married my mother.

Both of my parents truly valued education.  They wanted their girls to have every opportunity to learn, and to keep on learning throughout their lives.  Mom and Dad tried - but times were different. 

They did the best they could...



The 2012 NGS Conference - A Treasure Trove for Genealogists!

Due to some previous commitments, I had the opportunity to spend only one day at the NGS Conference in Cincinnati.  And, I made sure that day was going to count in every way possible.

I chose to skip the classes and spend my day in the exhibit hall.

As a frequent genealogical speaker, I have spent many hours just this year in front of an audience.  This time, I chose to spend time just for me!

My experience in Cincinnati began as I was approaching the city.  Before I knew it, the beautiful skyline came into view, inviting travelers to come and be welcome in their city.


I had no problem at all finding the Duke Energy Center, or the easy directions to the different parking garages.  The garages were certainly filled, but not to capacity.  From the moment I stepped out of my car, friendly attendants were everywhere, helping me find my way across the skywalk into the Center.

Cincinnati is a different city than when my sister was there attending nursing school in the 1950's.  The downtown area is alive and vibrant and welcoming.
I LOVED the skywalk that connected the parking garage to the Center.  It took me several minutes to cross, for on one side I could view the exhibit hall, while on the other side there were tryouts for young Olympic hopefuls.
Once inside the exhibit center, I was immediately greeted by many genealogy friends from all over.  I'm not going to mention their names, for they are well-known in the genealogy circles and on the web.  They already have plenty of coverage.  I count them as my friends, and I cherish that friendship.  
But, my visit to the exhibit hall was not to elaborate on who or how I know.  I wanted to look at things from the perspective of just a normal genealogist who is just trying to "do" their genealogy.
The number of exhibitors seemed small, but I soon learned it wasn't because they were few in number.  It was because of the size of the hall.  That was a good thing! I have been to a few venues where it was difficult to navigate among the displays.  I was glad for comfortable walking shoes, for I'm sure I covered a lot of ground in that hall.
As in all exhibit halls, it becomes more crowded during class and lunch breaks.  At times, I mingled with the crowd.  At other times, I meandered alone.  It provided a wonderful opportunity to peruse the new gadgets and programs, to ask questions of the various societies, to browse through some books I hope to get, and to talk with those "normal genealogists" that were there to gain information and further their research.
I spent a lot of time at the Ancestry booth, as well as FamilySearch.  Both were quite willing to spend as much one-on-one time as I needed to answer some questions.  
I loved talking with folks from the Kentucky Library and Archives, the Kentucky Historical Society and the Melungeon Heritage Association.  And what better place to be able to talk with all of these groups, and more, under the same roof?  
But, the joy of it all was the people.  Whether I was listening to someone talk about their product, or listening to someone discuss their genealogical problem while sharing the same lunch table, I was enriched and enlightened.
This year was certainly a different experience, as I have attended conferences in the past and wore myself out trying to attend every class and every banquet and every event from morning till evening.  
Instead of walking away with a brain that was buzzing, I drove home savoring the time spent with the people - those "normal genealogists" that are just trying to do the same thing we're all doing.
This one was one of the best!

Once inside the Center, there were attendants on every turn to point me in the right direction.

Little Jordan's Prayer

Little Jordan’s Prayer

Jordan, our third child, was an absolute doll.  He was cuddly, bright, charming, and could worm his way into just about anyone's heart.  To see him was to love him.

One of the things I remember took place around our dinner table.  It was a place of a lot of festivity and talking.  We would ask about each other's day, about the best part of their day, Kerry would ask questions about US History, the Gospel, give them math problems, etc.

But, each meal began with a prayer - asking the Lord's blessing on the food and showing our gratitude for it.

One day, it was Jordan's turn to say the blessing on the food.  Like many little children are prone to do, he folded his arms on the table, plopped his head down on them, and proceeded to pray.  The problem was that his mouth and voice were pointed toward the floor.

No one could hear or understand anything.

At the end of it, he raised his head up and looked around.  I had one eye open, so I knew the prayer was over.  Everyone said "Amen" except me.

I told him, "Jordan, I'm not going to say amen because I didn't hear a word you said."

He looked at me and said, "I wasn't talking to you!"

Jordan.  You gotta love him...

Such a happy little feller...

Always Anxiously Engaged: How they got around

Always Anxiously Engaged: How they got around: I'm not much good at identifying cars.  If I were asked to identify a car, I would probably just say it was a blue one, or a red one.  If I ...

How they got around

I'm not much good at identifying cars.  If I were asked to identify a car, I would probably just say it was a blue one, or a red one.  If I can get close enough to read the brand, I can identify it even more!

My dad loved a new car.  It was important to him to have a good and reliable car, for I believe the cars he and my mom owned while young newlyweds in Kentucky would not have been known for being the most reliable cars.

On my parents wedding day, my dad was up underneath the car working on something when battery acid spilled over into his eyes.  Here is an excerpt from my mother's journal:

When I was about 18 years old I had made up my mind to be married so my mom &dad told me I could get married and my cousin Burl Stevens and Blanch Newland got married on the 28 day of January and on Sunday my Husband to be Chester Lee Clemens and I went up we was all ready to take off.  too my uncle Eddie’s to a Wedding dinner so we all had a good day and went out for a walk and took some pictures of the limestone mines where my father worked so we came home that Sunday night and Clemens ask my dad if we could get married so he said yes so the next morning my darling went to town Olive Hill Ky and got my wedding dress.  He got a very pretty one navy blue with a tan stripe in it it sure was pretty and he got me a nice scarf too so we was all ready to take off.  We wanted to go to morehead KY and be married by the Judge {?} in rowan co. 

We didn’t have no car but Richard & Alice Newton to go and drive the car and be or witness so we was on our way by noon {12} the weather was ice and plenty off mud and no good road at Lawton at the time in 1932.

Clemens had to put the battery in the car so he didnt no how and go up under and got battery watter in his eys and he took like he had been crying all day and people would ask him if he was hurt be cause he was getting married we was late getting back for we had got stuck in the mud and Clemens had to get out and pust so we looked like mud dobers.

Dad and my three sisters in West Virginia.  He was the only one in the coal camp to be drafted.  He served at Pearl Harbor.

Mom and her younger brother, Thearl Stevens.

I can remember when my bro thearl and I saw our first car we sure did get out of the way.

My dad lived with us for a few years before he passed away.  Although he had been the owner of several newer cars since those days in Kentucky, some things he never forgot.  He always felt we needed to get home before dark so we didn't have to use the headlights.  It wasn't until I was talking with my sisters that I learned that they drained the battery in those old cars.  He didn't want to use the windshield wipers or turn the heater on, either.

This is from an era I cannot relate to.  I have never had to crank up a car to get it to run, though I have had to jump-start several.  I never had to rush home before dark, though I did have Dad pushing me to do it.  I never had the experience of seeing a car for the first time and being afraid of it.

Maybe that's why my mom always preferred riding a mule.  She said they were more trustworthy and sure-footed.

Anatomy of a Genealogy Conference

It has been a wonderful experience at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference this weekend!

Though I was unable to be there when the conference first opened, I arrived just as soon as I could on Friday afternoon.  This year, the conference was held at the opulent Intecontinental Hotel, which is part of the campus of the renown Cleveland Clinic.

It was a big weekend for Cleveland, for it is also the time for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductees to be in town.  Nearly every hotel room was filled.  The good thing is that many of the genealogy attendees and speakers were flying home Saturday evening, and since many of the rock and roll fans were staying over until Sunday, it was easy to get a flight home - including being bumped up to first class!

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame

I have never been to a conference that was not worth the time and the money to get there.  I was a speaker at this conference, but I am also a learner.  It's important to be both.  So, after I presented my class at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, I was set for a day of learning.

Friday night was an absolute joy!  I was asked to be part of the "Panel of Experts",  where the speakers are asked to be part of a panel to field questions asked by attendees.  I was astounded at the vast amount of knowledge that was represented by those on the panel!  I was honored to be asked to be part of the panel, for I would have enjoyed it just as much if I were in the audience asking the questions.  Most of the panel members are quite well-known in the genealogy community, so when I say I was honored to be among them, I mean it with all sincerity.

Networking is such an important part of any conference, and this one was no different.  One of the first persons I saw was good friend Laura Prescott.  We picked up right where we left off when we saw each other in August of last year.  Soon, I was running into more genealogy "peeps" - Bruce and Laurie Buzbee, Gary and Diana Smith, Debbie Deal, Barara Renick, and on and on and on...  These are people I have grown to love and admire through the years, and have taught me many things.  I cherish their friendship.  And, I feel it is important to commend them when they have done a fine job in their respective jobs and assignments.  Someone I know was giving a brand new lecture for the first time, and I made sure they knew just what a great job they did. 

No one is more important than the attendees, the lifeblood of conferences.  I cherish their devotion and their input.  Many times, someone will approach me and thank me for classes that I taught over a decade ago, and begin telling me about their grandfather that they told me about way back then.  I smile, because most of the time I can't recall their particular problem, but am grateful for their gratitude.  This morning, they were already in my room when I was setting up my equipment at 7:15 a.m. - and the class didn't even begin until 8:00 a.m.!  I applaud their enthusiasm - it's contagious!

Conference co-chairs Diane Gagel and Jana Broglin did an exceptional job of pulling this conference together.  They always do.  Few of us know the frazzles that may be going on underneath it all, but on the surface it appeared that all went well.  I commend them!

But, in addition to the fellowship of fellow professionals and attendees, I feel my most important duty is to continue learning. 

Sometimes, I am amazed at what I didn't know that I didn't know...



The Best State Genealogical Society Ever!

Week 14. State and National Societies: Last week we paid tribute to local genealogical and historical societies. This week we’re going to think bigger. For which state, provincial or national society are you most thankful? What makes this society special? How do the publications and events of this group assist in your family history research?

I am one of the luckiest people alive!  I live just about 10 minutes from the headquarters of The Ohio Genealogical Society, one of the largest societies in the United States!!

The Ohio Genealogical Society had its beginnings in 1955, the year I was born.  Several local residents of Mansfield, Richland County (my hometown) met to form its humble beginnings.  Within a short time, even my parents became part of the the group and were among the workhorse group that began gathering cemetery information, personal genealogies, etc.

It has evolved, for sure!  There is even a chapter in Florida. 

Each year, it offers a top-notch state conference, bringing in some of the best of the best as speakers.  I have been a frequent speaker at these conferences, and have learned far more than I've ever taught.  The exhibit hall is worth going to, expecially if one is not able to afford to go to the larger national conferences.

The libary is in its new home.  This lovely building was completed just a couple of years ago in Bellville, Ohio - just a stone's throw from where I live.  It is truly state-of-the-art.  There is ample room to spread out and research, peruse its stacks, take advantage of the many classes and workshops that are held there, and be helped by the wonderful volunteers that man the information desk.

I am indeed fortunate, for I hear of many people from around the United States that would love to come to this library.  At the annual Summer Workshop, we even had an attendee from Switzerland! 

We are now getting ready for the conference, which be held in the Cleveland area this year.  Hundreds will be there.  Many will research at the Western Reserve Historical Society nearby. 

And why is there such an abundance of information and opportunity in our state?  Because Ohio was always on the way to somewhere!

It will be wonderful - again!