Category: Uncategorized

More Keeping in Touch

I’ve continued to transcribe the correspondence of sisters-in law Ocie Williams and Dora McBride, which documents our great grandparents’ (challenging) migration from Arkansas to Texas in the 1890s. (1) The invented spelling evident in the first p…

I’ve continued to transcribe the correspondence of sisters-in law Ocie Williams and Dora McBride, which documents our great grandparents’ (challenging) migration from Arkansas to Texas in the 1890s. (1)  The invented spelling evident in the first post prompted family discussion about formal schooling in that era, making the thoughts expressed in the third letter particularly interesting.  Continue reading “More Keeping in Touch”

Who Kept in Touch?

That was one of the research prompts presented by Paula Stuart-Warren at my Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy class. It reminded me of another Texan find that I had yet to document here. And you thought the Texas trip was over! I posted earlier abo…

That was one of the research prompts presented by Paula Stuart-Warren at my Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy class.  It reminded me of another Texan find that I had yet to document here.  And you thought the Texas trip was over! Continue reading “Who Kept in Touch?”

Family History Library, Take 2 [Scene 2]

Here are the five biggest arenas of discovery and ensuing analysis resulting from my second trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I make note of them to form a (very public!) post-ProGen-proof-argument-assignment-work plan. That’s …

Here are the five biggest arenas of discovery and ensuing analysis resulting from my second trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  I make note of them to form a (very public!) post-ProGen-proof-argument-assignment-work plan. That’s due at the end of February and I have to keep my eye on the prize for now.  But I can’t wait to dive into… Continue reading “Family History Library, Take 2 [Scene 2]”

Family History Library, Take 2 [Scene 1]

I’m just back from Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, my second year of attendance at the week-long institute, and my second trip to the Family History Library. On both trips, I squeezed in every available moment among the vast book and microfilm h…

I’m just back from Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, my second year of attendance at the week-long institute, and my second trip to the Family History Library. On both trips, I squeezed in every available moment among the vast book and microfilm holdings – charging purposefully up and down the stairs (although I did have trouble remembering whether I was up or down.)  Continue reading “Family History Library, Take 2 [Scene 1]”

Ancestor Approved

Thanks to my friend and ProGen peer Shelley for passing the Ancestor Approved blog award baton from her blog, A Sense of Family, to Family Epic. And thanks to Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here who created the award early in 2010. Recipients are as…

Ancestor_approved

Thanks to my friend and ProGen peer Shelley for passing the Ancestor Approved blog award baton from her blog, A Sense of Family, to Family Epic.  And thanks to Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here who created the award early in 2010. 

Recipients are asked to post a list of ten things learned about their ancestors that have been humbling, surprising or enlightening.  It’s a great mental organizing task, one that genealogists embrace – this time of year especially.  Continue reading “Ancestor Approved”

Last Look at Sierra Blanca (for a while)

My pilgrimage to Sierra Blanca was signficant on so many levels that you may have gotten the impression it was my first trip there. Not so! Back in 1970, Mom, Aunt Lou, cousin Molly and I made a trip there and visited the Williams hotspots — alth…

My pilgrimage to Sierra Blanca was signficant on so many levels that you may have gotten the impression it was my first trip there.  Not so!  Back in 1970, Mom, Aunt Lou, cousin Molly and I made a trip there and visited the Williams hotspots — although I don’t recall stopping to meet Tom D.  What an oversight on our part! Continue reading “Last Look at Sierra Blanca (for a while)”

A Christmas Census, 1946

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…

Another unique find in Tom D’s garage among Julia Mae’s papers was this set of autographs and birth dates of the Williams family in Sierra Blanca, Texas, on Christmas day in 1946.  What if every family had a Christmas book and we each signed it every December to keep our own census?  Wouldn’t our descendants thank us one day? Continue reading “A Christmas Census, 1946”

My host, Tom D

Now that you’ve met the Williams family who arrived in Sierra Blanca 99 years ago, I’d like to introduce you to the sole Williams descendant in Sierra Blanca today – Tom D Ellison, son of Thelma Williams Ellison, and nephew of our grandfather. He …

Now that you’ve met the Williams family who arrived in Sierra Blanca 99 years ago, I’d like to introduce you to the sole Williams descendant in Sierra Blanca today – Tom D Ellison, son of Thelma Williams Ellison, and nephew of our grandfather. He is literally holding down the fort. Continue reading “My host, Tom D”

Getting to Sierra Blanca

Take Interstate 10 southeast from El Paso to get to Sierra Blanca, the town where our mother was born and where she spent the first ten years of her life. It’s pretty much a straight-shot at a high speed, a legal 80 mph for a good stretch! (1) Unc…

Take Interstate 10 southeast from El Paso to get to Sierra Blanca, the town where our mother was born and where she spent the first ten years of her life.   It’s pretty much a straight-shot at a high speed, a legal 80 mph for a good stretch!  (1) Continue reading “Getting to Sierra Blanca”

Black and Gold and Purple

Note: This is more of a football post than a genealogy post but it is a family story! Originally written six years ago, I tried to get it published but couldn’t get the attention of either a Pittsburgh or a Baltimore publisher. But now that I have…

Note:  This is more of a football post than a genealogy post but it is a family story!  Originally written six years ago, I tried to get it published but couldn’t get the attention of either a Pittsburgh or a Baltimore publisher.  But now that I have a blog, who needs ’em?  It’s perfect for the run-up to a critical AFC North re-match this weekend. Continue reading “Black and Gold and Purple”