That’s what Tom D Ellison said to me as he swept his arm towards the boxes holding the files of his sister, Julia Mae. And, indeed, my recent trip to Texas was motivated by the knowledge that Tom is now the caretaker of Julia Mae’s work. They were…
Thus begins a “simple statement of my ‘War Record'” penned by George Washington Walling, Sr. a few years before his death in 1916, at the request of his son Thomas Burrowes Walling. (1) This document is one piece of the Walling Papers, the discove…
One of the first posts in Family Epic was about my visit to Darnestown Presbyterian Church and Cemetery – many Offutts are there, the family of our father’s mother. But the patriarch, James Offutt (1803-1857), is not among them. Resources consulte…
Another unique find in Tom D’s garage among Julia Mae’s papers was this set of autographs and birthdates of the Williams family in Sierra Blanca on Christmas day in 1946. What if every family had a Christmas book and we each signed it every Decemb…
“EXPERIENCED―RELIABLE—ENERGETIC” That’s how my grandfather described himself to New Mexico voters, and he did not exaggerate. Though his origins were humble, and he attended only two years of high school, he “could do about anything.”[1] That he did just about everything is the hallmark of his remarkable life. Jesse Clarence Williams was born in Texarkansas, … Continue reading “Jesse C. Williams”
This is the third assignment I’ve posted from the National Genealogical Society’s Home Study Course, through which I am s…l..o…w….l…y progressing….(yes, OK, I am still on CD 1, but I have found the assignments worthwhile. Best Practices …
If you have any Frederick County (MD) research – or even if you don’t – don’t hesitate to hit the road for the City of Frederick. It’s only about an hour west of both Baltimore and Washington, but feels much further. I chose a Thursday because it …
I am missing Salt Lake City this week – it’s where I’ve been in January the last two years – enjoying classroom learning and the wealth of the Family History Library. But I’ll be OK – a geographically fortunate researcher, I visited the Library of…
“Ephemera” is defined as “anything short-lived…items designed to be useful or important for only a short time, especially pamphlets, notices, tickets, etc.”That is the catalog term used to describe what I recently viewed at the Portsmouth (NH) A…
Day 15 Rome-Home TWA jets you non-stop, arriving same day. I didn’t see how it could be Day 15 already – but on the other hand I wondered how we’d seen & done so much in the 14 days just passed After breakfast we finished packing and put our bags …
Family Epic 