6 TIPS for "ROAD TRIP" RESEARCH

My husband and I love to travel and if the opportunity presents itself, I like to research family ties along the way. If you've read "Begotten With Love," you already know I didn't learn my true identity until I was thirty-five years old. That was the beginning of a thirty year hunt that took us coast-to-coast and border-to-border.

In the beginning, we muddled our way through the research part of the trip and just looked at it as an adventure, which it was. But as we began to find more and more of the puzzle pieces, it was necessary to organize and make the most of the time we had on the road. Following are some pointers we learned the hard way: 

PRE-PLANNING - Many Places that House Records are Closed on Weekends . . . Call Ahead

1.     Read the history of the town or city during the time period your ancestors called it home before you visit. It may help clarify the choices they made. Why'd they settle there? Were they active in the community? Often times, news articles from years-gone-bye make finding birth and death notices, wedding announcements, and articles about special events easy to access.

2.     Contact the sextant of the local cemetery before the trip. They may be able to provide burial location records. Relatives, especially in older cemeteries, may be buried in a cemetery's family plot, on a family farm, or in church yards.

Prior to our trip to Alabama, I found an article about the death of my great-grandparents' infant daughter in their local newspaper that included this sweet poem:

Shed not for her the bitter tear

Nor give the heart to vain regret,

'Tis but the casket that lies there

The gem that filled it sparkles yet. 

Because this occurred in the late 1800s and the engraving on the baby's headstone was so worn, if we had not taken time to research before we left, we would have returned home with more questions than answers.

There is more to this story. Right after I finished writing this post, it nagged me that I did not know who wrote this beautiful poem. So, I googled it. It turns out it's the epitaph for Myra Belle Shirley who is buried in a long forgotten grave in Oklahoma. The epitaph was penned by her daughter, Pearl. Myra was an educated woman and an accomplished pianist who wore velvet skirts and plumed hats. She was also a notorious American outlaw and horse thief. You may recognize her, if I told you her name was "Belle Starr."

It seems the obituary journalist lifted the poem from a horse thief. Historical irony.

3.     Contact the local historical society, the genealogical society, and the library. If they know you're coming, they may be able to provide you with documents or stories you never expected.

ON LOCATION - Bring Plenty of Batteries (and an extra charger) for the Camera 

4. There is nothing more disheartening than having equipment failure on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It's well worth it to spend the extra money for another battery charger and an extra battery than to try to commit Hallmark moments to memory.

5. Bring duplicate copies of genealogy pages as well as blank pages. It makes it so much easier to scribble field notes on a copy and later transfer it to your records. I also like to use index cards (stored in a small box) to keep contact information, new leads, and miscellaneous information.

6. Talk to everyone! Having lunch in a charming, old building? Ask about it's history. Tell the owner why you're in town. You never know where the next gem of information will come.

Whatever you do, however you plan, take time to enjoy the moment. There is such a strong, familial bond in walking the streets that your ancestors called home. Look toward the horizon and know a generation past gazed at the same landscape . . . and wondered about you. 

I wish you a safe and memorable journey.

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FIND LIVING HISTORY IN OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS

My fingers delicately thumbed through the browning pages of the aged book, a prized gift from a new friend. I didn't know what I was looking for. I was browsing, hoping to immerse myself into the lifestyle of  the south from the 1860s to the early 1900s.

Reading the Honorable Daniel Pratt: A Biography, Eulogies on His Life and Character by M. S. Tarrant (1904) offered information I would have otherwise never found. Pratt was an amazing man, truly a visionary. Beloved by the community, honored for his philanthropic work, admired for his ingenuity, he used his wealth and prestige to better the lives of his employees. Still, after all these years, he's a model of the American dream and the positive influence of capitalism.

This 6" x 9" treasure gave me a glimpse into living conditions, education, and employment opportunities, so, that when I traveled to Prattville, Alabama a few months later, and my host took me on a tour of the town, I could visualize the buildings even though some were now torn down, or abandoned. Two of my greatest moments were: one) walking up a set of stairs that my great, great grandfather climbed every day when he worked at the Pratt Gin Manufactory and two) touring his home which just happened to be for sale when I was visiting.

No matter what your story or genre, consider researching conditions to add to the overall ambiance of the location. Things, such as: weather patterns, building materials, road conditions, housing, jobs, local slang, town celebrities, to name a few.

Remember, you may be fully dressed in just a shirt and slacks or a little black dress but it's the jewelry that adds the sparkle. It's the same thing with writing. Don't forget to add the sparkle.

Enjoy the hunt. I wish you much success.

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

"Begotten With Love" news update:  It's now possible to access our website www.BegottenTheBook.com with most mobile phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

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MONEY - YOURS FOR THE ASKING

A few years ago, a favorite aunt of mine passed away. She was close to a hundred years old, so, needless to say, she had lived a long life. Even though I miss her dearly, I have the pleasure of cherishing the memories of times we'd spent together. She wasn't rich by any stretch of the imagination. So, needless to say, I was beyond surprised when I received a packet from her attorney telling me their office found an unclaimed amount of money with me named as beneficiary. Now, before you think we are buying and selling islands in the Pacific, let me say that we received enough to have a nice dinner in her honor and then it was back to reality.

This experience led me to wonder . . . how many people know there are government offices in each state for unclaimed property? You may have a claim that is rightfully yours for the asking (with proper identification and forms) whether you earned it yourself or are an heir apparent.

Here are some examples taken from real life experiences:
A new bride and her husband took out a life insurance policy when their first child was born. Sixty years passed and the policy had been forgotten. Grandma and grandpa died and the family knew nothing of their inheritance until someone checked the unclaimed property web site in the state where grandma lived as a young bride.

We are a mobile society. Careers and jobs change. We move, divorce, remarry. Buy and sell property. There may be financial residue from a number of sources we never considered.

In a letter I received from Jeff Atwater, State of Florida Chief Financial Officer, unclaimed property includes lost or abandoned funds, such as: inactive bank accounts, securities, forgotten insurance refunds and uncashed payroll or utility deposit checks. You may be a beneficiary!

Here's wishing you a successful treasure hunt.

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing
and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

To learn more:
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AND THE READER SAID . . . "GOTCHA!"

Last night, we were watching an episode of NCIS (the original version with Mark Harmon and crew) when Abbey, the brilliant scientific sleuth of the show, discovered an important clue: a plastic water bottle buried in the dirt of Vietnam next to an artifact from the sixties. This raised me from my eight o'clock stupor to mumble, "Vietnam was way before bottled water became an everyday phenomenon."

The thought of this scene nagged at me, even through this morning. It may have been they were trying to tie the artifact to the bad guy who was still in Vietnam in the here and now. But . . . that point wasn't and still isn't clear in my mind. Which brought me to two points I wanted to share with you about writing.

POINT ONE: Readers are so good at picking up on the tiniest of flaws. The funniest blooper I remember (in a movie) is an actress who was in the kitchen making a sandwich during a very poignant scene with her child. As she spoke, she slathered the peanut butter and jelly onto the bread and before putting the bread away, blew into the bag so it filled with air like a balloon, then added the twist tie. I don't remember any of the conversation that occurred after that. My eyes were fixated on the sandwich bag and the thought that this woman had never made a sandwich in her life!

As a writer, it is so important that we understand our subject matter: pay attention to details; know the mannerisms; understand the lingo; and totally enmesh ourselves in the experiences we are committing to paper.

Don't be shy about interviewing at least two professionals, if you have a scene planned that is out of your area of expertise. Ask them to review what you've written or better yet, role-play the parts. I have found my sources to be very receptive because they know they're going to be represented as accurately as possible. This rule of thumb is applicable to all genres, especially fiction.

POINT TWO: Ask for feedback from beta readers. Not family or friends who love you and may say what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear. Ask objective, love-to-read people to critique your work. There are groups of people who will help you in this way. One source with multiple programs for writers and a boatload of books for readers is www.Goodreads.com.

Good luck with you writing goals.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the award winning book, "Begotten With Love."  

FIRST PLACE - Biography - Published

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STALKING DEAD PEOPLE

GENEALOGY - PART X
Finding Deceased Relatives is Not Easy . . . 

. . . BUT don't let that deter you. 

Are you perplexed in your search for the final resting place of a dearly departed relative? It's as though they vanished into mist. Not even a shadow remains. You have the last known residence, the name of next of kin, and yet there's no record of burial.

Fifty or a hundred years after the fact makes the search even more difficult.  As time passes, history evolves. People move. Memories fade. All that lingers are a few mementos, a whispered story or two, and the nagging question . . . where is he, she or they buried?

Sometimes, it's important to reconstruct the history (both world and personal) at the time of death. If there was a pivotal event, such as a war or medical epidemic: the person may be buried near the field of battle, in an unmarked grave, or in a foreign land. Sometimes, checking military records or reading local papers from that time period will help you find them and bring you closer to the answers you seek.

Immigrants from the turn of the twentieth century who were destitute may have found themselves at the time of their demise dependent upon the state for burial. Most cities had designated space for pauper's graves. These were unmarked communal graves where bodies (from babies to the elderly) were transferred from the coroner's office to the cemetery once a month and buried unceremoniously; sometimes a priest, pastor or rabbi was present. There were no records kept to my knowledge. In smaller towns with churches that maintain a graveyard, the pastor may have made accommodations for an individual who was destitute.  Even though there may be no stone to identify the grave, church records should offer more details.

Some immigrants as they aged, chose to spend eternity buried next to kin on the old sod. Check church and state records in European and Scandinavian countries of origin. They may be able to provide an avalanche of information. Ancestry.com has an extensive library of documents for foriegn records. Find-A-Grave.com (North America) is another excellent site for information.

One thing that's a challenge is this: burial grounds are confined and scarce in some foreign communities, therefore, they are reusing burial plots (after a respectable period of time) and adding new tenants. If you've seen a cemetery with weathered headstones piled against a wall or fence, this may be the reason why.

There are many unknown graves dotting the pioneer trails from the east to the west as settlers made their way across our beautiful country. If you have any idea where your loved one may have been headed, the local historical society may be able to help you find more information. If your relative owned a tract of land, it's possible there's a family plot nearby. If the burial took place on private property, the local library, newspaper office, historical society, county records building may offer you some clues or names of townspeople whose descendants live in the area.

Looking for a missing grave is truly a mystery worth pursuing. We all deserve our place in the family tree. Our life, our talents, even our foibles add richness and color. After all, every family has its story. 

Jo Ann V. Glim is a seasoned veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love."  To learn more:

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IDENTIFYING PHOTOGRAPHS

GENEALOGY - PART IX

Pictures Tell A Story . . .

Don't you love it when you find an old picture? Maybe it's one of your grandpa or his grandma or one of the siblings. Any way you look at it, it's a treasure.

Chicago, IL

If we're lucky, an old photo may have names scribbled on the back but if we're not, then the picture itself may offer clues that can help you figure out who, when, and where.

Don't be too quick to use an obvious clue, such as this car, to date a picture. No matter how new the car may appear, it's not a reliable source and neither is clothing. Clothing and transportation will help to establish an era but you'll need more information before determining a date. Actually, the best you may be able to offer on any photo is a span of time from 18xx-19xx unless you have some family history from which to draw a conclusion.

For example, if it's a photo of a family with children, count the kids. Identify how many are male or female. Guesstimate their ages. Then look at your family charts to see who is close to these kids in age (maybe with one or two children not yet born). We had a similar scenario in our family recently. Because the mother was dressed in mourning black, we were able to surmise this family picture was taken in the early 1890s. She was not mourning the death of her husband, he was in the picture. It was her mother. It may seem odd to have a picture taken at such a time but, actually, it was a common practice back then. Most people did not own a camera (hard to believe in this day of "selfies") and many families only gathered for special occasions, therefore, families relied on travelling photographers to take pictures during special occasions. By the turn of the century, photography studios were becoming very popular in big cities and family portraits became a popular gift to send back to the old country to show how well the family in America was doing.

But back to the picture accompanying this post. I wanted to point out the difference in the size of the tires on the picture above. It made me wonder . . . is that how it was built? Look how the back wheels torque outward. Is that to get traction on muddy roads? That musing may have helped ID the photo . . . because it determined the road conditions of the communities in that era. I have to admit, I already knew the picture was taken in Chicago. The backdrop is a familiar landmark. But for now, it was a matter of checking volumes of records at the Chicago Historical Society on the history of city roads. I learned there was a certain period of time when few roads in downtown Chicago were improved for the automobile. Most roads in town and the surrounding area were still dirt. Another monumental transition was from horse to horseless buggy and from the condition of the road in front of the car, it's safe to say this picture was taken during that transition period. So, was the building coincidence? Infamous? Germane to dating this picture?

The background, meaning the building itself, offers many clues. For instance, the large livery door may indicate that it's still a working stable. The "Lincoln" signs on both sides of the door is another massive clue . . . I've seen this building before, in the paper. I believe this building is on Clark Street on Chicago's north side where the St. Valentine's Day massacre (orchestrated by Al Capone) took place.

We may have found the why to taking this picture. Keep in mind that often times, tourists will stop at famous or infamous places for a photo op. I think this may have been the case with this picture. Because I know who was driving the car, I was able to check other records to see if he was living in America or visiting from his homeland. This also helped us close in on a date! In summary, it takes more than one document to understand the history of a picture.

Here are five points to help organize a successful hunt:

1. CHECK THE BACK OF THE PHOTO - Look for notes, names, any information that may be on the back of the photo. Make a copy of it along with the photo and pass it around to the elders in your family. Someone may know something and be able to help you identify the picture.
2. TALK TO FAMILY - They may have a copy of the same picture with a different note on the back. DO NOT WRITE on the photo itself, though. The paper will be very delicate and, I'm sure, you'd like to pass the picture on to future generations with whatever history you may be able to glean.
3. SCAN THE BACKGROUND - Does anything look familiar? Any identifying buildings? Landmarks? Advertising?
4. SCAN THE FOREGROUND - Are people sitting around the dining room table? Do you recognize the china? Teapot? Grandma's pearls? Who has them now?
5. LOOK FOR PERSONAL ITEMS - If it's in a home, look at the artwork. Does something look familiar? Maybe something was painted or sculpted by the person in the photo. Recognize the percolator? A watch or necklace that was a gift for a special occasion?

Yes, it's a wonderful treasure to have a picture of a beloved relative but once you look beyond the face staring back at you, allow yourself to be caught up in the history . . . the mood of the world at the time it was taken . . . the personal circumstances that led to the picture in the first place. This may turn a frozen image into a living piece of family history.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of freelance writing and author of the Book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
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SETTING the RECORD STRAIGHT

GENEALOGY - PART VIII
Genealogy is like a jigsaw puzzle . . . 

Pieces get lost or placed in the wrong spot.

Boy, everyday living can really smudge the ink on the family tree! If your family is like others, there may be: records of divorces; multiple marriages; children out of wedlock; 3,4,5 generations with the same name; cousins marrying cousins . . . well, shocking as this may seem, it happens. Family residences change, people die, and life goes on.

Remember, as the family's genealogist you're recording history, not judging behavior. But how do you find the truth, especially if it's an event that happened over a hundred years ago? And even if you do find it, do you record it? That's a question you and your family may want to discuss before you start to delve into the communal closet. Whatever you do, be accurate and honest in your record keeping. Otherwise, you and others may waste years trying to squeeze a record into your family that doesn't belong there.

Never rely on just one record or document to verify an event. My cousin and I were convinced that one of our grandparents' brothers had never married, until we found a wedding invitation from 120 years ago. It turns out he had married but his bride died within the first year of marriage and he never remarried. Now the question remains: was it disease or childbirth complications or accident that took the life of this young woman?

Two great default documents in the United States are:

• The Census - The census offers a clear understanding of the neighborhood in which our relatives lived and the professions of the neighbors. It may also reveal education, number of children, and if any boarders or servants lived in the home. A hundred years ago, relatives seemed to gather into pods and lived within blocks of each other, so checking a number of pages either side of your relative may provide even more clues and/or answers.
• Military Draft Records - These are more personal and offer more detailed information about an individual including a physical description (right down to scars and birth marks).  Addresses of next of kin are also included and the document contains the signature of the potential draftee.

If there are differences in records, keep looking until all avenues have been explored. We were faced with a situation where the matriarch was named Maria. Her oldest daughter was named Marie. Her son married a Maria (so we thought) but then her name disappeared on all later records. It turns out, this Maria (the assumed wife) was actually the sister-in-law of the elder Maria and had gone to live with the son while his real wife, Maggie, was in another state tending to her sick mother. Women in the late 1800s may be marked on the census as "homemaker" and in this case, that was true, it's just that it wasn't Maria's permanent home but it was her occupation. Complicated? yes. Impossible to figure out? No. Sometimes, it just takes a look at all the pieces of the puzzle to determine which pieces fit. Hope this information is helpful. Good luck with your search!

Remember: We are all part of a generational relay, so, live your legacy then pass it on.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of freelance writing and author of the Book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

GENEALOGY - PART VII
Are your ancestors harder to find than Waldo? 

Sometimes, finding family ties is next to impossible. Sometimes, a lead will sit dormant for years. Sometimes, information falls into your lap. Sometimes it all makes sense. Sometimes, you begin to recognize the bark on the tree because you've circled that stump more than once.

This week, I received an unexpected item from a cousin when she came across a birth announcement from the 1900s. No baby's name and only a partial date. The news was written on a leather postcard (I didn't even know there was such a thing!). But I had the answers to the missing pieces.

The point I'm trying to make, is that you never know where a clue may appear. This is why I suggest announcing to everyone you know about the project you've under taken. You'll be surprised where items will be found and how generous people will be with pictures and back stories.  Some places you don't want to overlook in your search are:

•       Books           You may even find money, calling cards, and who knows what else
        (especially pressed flowers from a special occasion) hidden between the pages
•       Family Bible   Some Bibles include a section that allows you to record special dates and
        events for posterity. If someone else in the family is keeper of this, see if they'll consider
        sharing the information.
•       Cookbooks    Even if you don't find clues, you'll be able to stir up an old family recipe.
        Recipes may also give you insight as to the welfare of the family, especially during hard
        times like the Depression. I found a recipe for "cheese strata" that looked well worn and I'm
        sure served the family during times of need. For those of you who have never served cheese
        strata, it's layers of day-old bread stacked with cheese between the slices of bread; then
        generously coated with butter and paprika (salt, pepper to taste) and soaked with milk. It
        makes for a warm and filling casserole.
•      Address books Finally, you can verify family, friends and acquaintances . . . and then
       wonder about other names that pop up that were never on your radar.
•      Saved "special occasion" cards - We had a relative who never threw any card she ever
       received out and she lived well into her nineties. It was an act of bravery on everyone's part
       to go through every envelope and worth the trip down memory lane because we found her
       missing birth certificate. 

These are only a few suggestions. You know your family and their "hoarding" habits best. Some of your greatest treasures may be within the pages of your ancestors favorite reads. Happy hunting!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of freelance writing and author of the Book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com

AVAILABLE ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim
BOOK TRAILER on YouTube 

FINDING CLUES to the PAST

GENEALOGY    Part IV

Some men and women risked it all for the romance of a high-seas adventure. Steamship companies circulated pamphlets promising riches in the land where "streets were paved with gold." It was a heady time at the beginning of the nineteenth century, fueled by poverty and pestilence in the old country and promises of plenty in a place seen by few.

The older generation worried, not only for the safety of their children who were so far away from loved ones but for the future of the homestead their children left behind. Even if they asked themselves the obvious questions of Who would tend the fields and feed the flocks? or How would the parent's survive in their dotage? they wanted what was best for their children and were willing to sacrifice to make it happen.

There are two stories that did not make the pages of "Begotten With Love," only because they were found after the book was published. The first story was one conveyed to me by a cousin shortly before her death. She had been looking through a box of old papers stored in her attic when she happened upon this gem (circa 1894):

• Archie was determined to go to America. He arrived on her shores with a handwritten note attached to the lapel of his coat asking anyone to please help him get to the home of his son in Alabama. Archie, who had just turned 80 years old, had traveled thousands of miles by himself even though he had never learned to read. 

The other story came from Sweden.




Anna loved all eight of her children. They were the joy of her world. It was difficult to say good-bye not once but five times as all but three sought their fame and fortune far from home. She was a woman of deep faith and prayed for the best. I was privileged to read a poem my cousin found tucked in the pages of our great grandmother's recipe book. This poem, published in the latter part of the 19th century in Sweden conveyed the hearts of many parents of that era who were left behind.

MEMORIES

For the Swedish American

By:

Johan Erik Rosenberg

Along the slopes of the mountain

Grow some juniper bushes

And an oak with beautiful leaves.

Otherwise, the greenery is sparse,

Only a few old stumps from the ancestral trees remain.

From the midst of the rock's many crevices

Sounds the awful screech of an owl

In the dark of an October night,

And in the narrow valley below,

The old bridge sighs as the evening winds

Whistle through a carpet of leaves.

Seldom has a foot walked these forgotten stables from long time gone,

Where all the district's youth gathered for fun and entertainment,

On a peaceful summer evening.

Out here, I often walk, slowly.

I tire quickly for I am old.

Yet, I come here in solitude to

Recall the past. Happy moments that

Brought us all together

And I enjoy what no one else remembers.

* * * * *

I hope you blow away the dust on an attic treasure and find notes like these that inspire you to write . . . not just dates about the characters but about their life's adventures. Their legacy is your heritage. Enjoy!

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of  freelance writing and author of the eBook "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or
VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com or
BUY ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim