Thursday, December 17, 2009
I said stick around
That's right pardner, better stick around after the holidays to see what's new. Meanwhile, the UFO Team will be enjoying the holiday season with family. We suggest you do the same, just remember to come back when you're done.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Do you know Floyd and Inda Brown?
Question:
Do you know Floyd and Inda Brown?
Answer:
We sort of know them, but only in passing. We found a few photos of them in our UFO collection and need your help in finding out how she is related to the matriarch of our family tree, Bertha (Phillips) Richard.
In three of the four photos we have, Inda Brown (there is speculation that it is spelled "Linda" but we have no sources that can confirm that) and Bertha Richard (Bertha married in 1936 so she would have used her married name). These three photos are all dated to May and June 1937 and have several of the same women in all three. Based on Bertha's known (and assumed) timeline, we also assume that the photos were all taken in Nebraska.
The fourth image is identified as Floyd and Inda Brown with no date. We therefore assume that "Brown" is Inda's married name and that Floyd is her husband. Although there is a chance that "Brown" is Inda's maiden name and Floyd is her brother.
Any help in identifying Floyd or Inda Brown or any of the women in the photos with Inda and Bertha would be appreciated.
Photos:
May 1937
June 1937
June 1937
Floyd and Inda Brown
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Floyd and Inda Brown?
Answer:
We sort of know them, but only in passing. We found a few photos of them in our UFO collection and need your help in finding out how she is related to the matriarch of our family tree, Bertha (Phillips) Richard.
In three of the four photos we have, Inda Brown (there is speculation that it is spelled "Linda" but we have no sources that can confirm that) and Bertha Richard (Bertha married in 1936 so she would have used her married name). These three photos are all dated to May and June 1937 and have several of the same women in all three. Based on Bertha's known (and assumed) timeline, we also assume that the photos were all taken in Nebraska.
The fourth image is identified as Floyd and Inda Brown with no date. We therefore assume that "Brown" is Inda's married name and that Floyd is her husband. Although there is a chance that "Brown" is Inda's maiden name and Floyd is her brother.
Any help in identifying Floyd or Inda Brown or any of the women in the photos with Inda and Bertha would be appreciated.
Photos:
May 1937
June 1937
June 1937
Floyd and Inda Brown
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
What is the hold up?
In case you have not noticed, the UFO Team has taken a break from doing family research. We will be back soon enough, so don't let us hold you up any more.
Go spend some time with your family and friends this holiday season.
Go spend some time with your family and friends this holiday season.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Do you remember any historical events during your childhood?
Question:
Do you remember any historical events during your childhood?
Answer:
I was born in the year of our bicentennial, so I clearly do not remember the celebrations surrounding that. There were some events that I can vaguely recall as I grew up. I was old enough when the Berlin Wall fell to know it was important. I was old enough to be nervous when I flew over Mount St. Helens and saw smoke (it erupted in 1980 and I think I flew over it about five years later). And I was old enough to know something very bad happened when the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up.
But I think what sticks out most in my mind was the solar eclipse. Based on what data I could find in my research, the eclipse occurred on May 30, 1984 (a Wednesday) before lunchtime on the East Coast of North America. What I remember most is that our teachers continually told us not to look directly at the sun or at the eclipse. I vaguely recall making a little pinhole viewer that reflected the eclipse onto a piece of paper so you could watch the moon move across the sun.
What I do remember clearly is sitting on the classroom floor, looking out a little side window with the rest of my class, waiting for it to happen. I am not sure what grade I was in (probably second grade), but I thought it was the coolest thing to sit there and look out the window.
Photos:
References:
- "NASA - Annular Solar Eclipse of 1984 May 30." NASA Eclipse Web Site. Web. 30 Oct. 2009. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle1951/SE1984May30Agoogle.html.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you remember any historical events during your childhood?
Answer:
I was born in the year of our bicentennial, so I clearly do not remember the celebrations surrounding that. There were some events that I can vaguely recall as I grew up. I was old enough when the Berlin Wall fell to know it was important. I was old enough to be nervous when I flew over Mount St. Helens and saw smoke (it erupted in 1980 and I think I flew over it about five years later). And I was old enough to know something very bad happened when the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up.
But I think what sticks out most in my mind was the solar eclipse. Based on what data I could find in my research, the eclipse occurred on May 30, 1984 (a Wednesday) before lunchtime on the East Coast of North America. What I remember most is that our teachers continually told us not to look directly at the sun or at the eclipse. I vaguely recall making a little pinhole viewer that reflected the eclipse onto a piece of paper so you could watch the moon move across the sun.
What I do remember clearly is sitting on the classroom floor, looking out a little side window with the rest of my class, waiting for it to happen. I am not sure what grade I was in (probably second grade), but I thought it was the coolest thing to sit there and look out the window.
Photos:
References:
- "NASA - Annular Solar Eclipse of 1984 May 30." NASA Eclipse Web Site. Web. 30 Oct. 2009. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle1951/SE1984May30Agoogle.html.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Do you know Evy Smith?
Question:
Do you know Evy Smith?
Answer:
This is yet another example of random photos in our collection with nothing more than a name attached to them. Here we have two photos, each labeled as Evy Smith, the daughter of Earl Smith. And of course with a last name like "Smith," it is nearly impossible to find out any information about her.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Evy Smith?
Answer:
This is yet another example of random photos in our collection with nothing more than a name attached to them. Here we have two photos, each labeled as Evy Smith, the daughter of Earl Smith. And of course with a last name like "Smith," it is nearly impossible to find out any information about her.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Do you know Erlene Purdum?
Question:
Do you know Erlene Purdum?
Answer:
She was our grandmother's friend in the 1930s. And based on the photos, we would say they were schoolmates during the 1930-1931 school year in Mullen, Nebraska.
During our research, we were able to find out more about her. Erlene was born November 30, 1914 in Arkansas. But the saddest news came when we discovered her obituary. She passed on July 11, 2007 in Idaho, barely two years ago. The most touching of all was the paragraph in her obituary that reads:
Erlene spent a majority of her life cooking for others. During high school and the early years of her marriage, she cooked on ranches. The ranch hands she cooked for had 3 hot meals everyday that weren’t complete without a homemade pastry. After Erlene and Gerald moved with their family to Idaho in 1950, she continued cooking for others in various cafeteria kitchens. Of all the meals that she prepared, the ones that will be most cherished are the ones that she shared with her family. No one could fry up a chicken like grandma and her homemade cookies were something we all looked forward to.
This further confirms that Erlene and our grandmother were likely close friends during childhood. Our grandmother would later go on to do similar things in her life like cooking for ranch hands.
Also while doing research on Erlene, we discovered various references to other family members that grew up or lived in the same areas of Nebraska. So while we missed a prime opportunity to find out more about Erlene and her early years, we were still able to gather new information about our own family tree.
Photos:
References:
- "Erlene Hattenbach." Draucker Funeral Home. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.drauckerfh.com/Obituaries/Archived_Obits/Obits_07/Erlene%20Perrin%20Hattenbach.htm.
- "NEGenWeb Project ~ a proud part of the USGenWeb Project." RootsWeb.com Home Page. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgenweb/ne/grant/cemetery/grant-hyannis-hyannis02.html.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Erlene Purdum?
Answer:
She was our grandmother's friend in the 1930s. And based on the photos, we would say they were schoolmates during the 1930-1931 school year in Mullen, Nebraska.
During our research, we were able to find out more about her. Erlene was born November 30, 1914 in Arkansas. But the saddest news came when we discovered her obituary. She passed on July 11, 2007 in Idaho, barely two years ago. The most touching of all was the paragraph in her obituary that reads:
Erlene spent a majority of her life cooking for others. During high school and the early years of her marriage, she cooked on ranches. The ranch hands she cooked for had 3 hot meals everyday that weren’t complete without a homemade pastry. After Erlene and Gerald moved with their family to Idaho in 1950, she continued cooking for others in various cafeteria kitchens. Of all the meals that she prepared, the ones that will be most cherished are the ones that she shared with her family. No one could fry up a chicken like grandma and her homemade cookies were something we all looked forward to.
This further confirms that Erlene and our grandmother were likely close friends during childhood. Our grandmother would later go on to do similar things in her life like cooking for ranch hands.
Also while doing research on Erlene, we discovered various references to other family members that grew up or lived in the same areas of Nebraska. So while we missed a prime opportunity to find out more about Erlene and her early years, we were still able to gather new information about our own family tree.
Photos:
References:
- "Erlene Hattenbach." Draucker Funeral Home. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.drauckerfh.com/Obituaries/Archived_Obits/Obits_07/Erlene%20Perrin%20Hattenbach.htm.
- "NEGenWeb Project ~ a proud part of the USGenWeb Project." RootsWeb.com Home Page. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~usgenweb/ne/grant/cemetery/grant-hyannis-hyannis02.html.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
What illnesses do you remember from your childhood?
Question:
What illnesses do you remember from your childhood?
Answer:
My parents kept a very nice record of my medical history through the early years of my life, so I have a great source to use in researching those childhood illnesses I do not remember. As I got older, the record-keeping fell by the wayside, but there were a few illnesses and injuries that stick out in my mind.
One particular fall, I was sick with bronchitis or the flu or something that kept me in bed. I remember being very sad about it because it was Halloween and I was not allowed to go trick-or-treating.
I also remember one year, probably in the summer, when I had an ear infection and my Aunt Susie had to put drops or something in my ear. I know she was doing the right thing but it was NOT something I enjoyed. Felt totally weird and I remember jumping like she had given me a shot.
But the one that sticks out the most in my mind is the day I wrecked my bicycle. The neighborhood I grew up in has a road that made a big loop, so I would often ride my bike around the loop. One end of the loop had a small hill that you could coast down (or pedal hard to go faster). The loop had a slight curve and was within sight of my house (just over a tenth of a mile away). Well, being the adventurous boy I was, I decided it was a perfect spot to try riding a bike with one hand.
Needless to say, it did not work out very well. I remember trying to pedal, go down the hill, and turn, all with one hand on the handle bar. I must have over-compensated for the curve because the wheel went wobbly and I went over the handle bar. My Dad said he heard me scream and came to get me. I do not remember much about the accident or the events immediately after, but I apparently lost consciousness at the time of impact.
I do remember me getting patched up in my bedroom. I had a patch of road rash on my shoulder and probably a scraped knee or two, but I remember my Dad constantly checking on me to make sure I was not going to sleep. I am sure I had a concussion, but no bones were broken and I only had bruises and scrapes to deal with.
I did eventually learn to ride a bike with one hand, but it took me a few years to get over that wreck. And to this day, when I feel brave enough to try, I have a hard time trying to ride with no hands.
Photos:
While I had no broken bones during my bicycle accident, my son did manage to break his leg during a recent trip down a slide. He has healed nicely and shows no signs of any lasting damage beyond hesitating to go down slides.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
What illnesses do you remember from your childhood?
Answer:
My parents kept a very nice record of my medical history through the early years of my life, so I have a great source to use in researching those childhood illnesses I do not remember. As I got older, the record-keeping fell by the wayside, but there were a few illnesses and injuries that stick out in my mind.
One particular fall, I was sick with bronchitis or the flu or something that kept me in bed. I remember being very sad about it because it was Halloween and I was not allowed to go trick-or-treating.
I also remember one year, probably in the summer, when I had an ear infection and my Aunt Susie had to put drops or something in my ear. I know she was doing the right thing but it was NOT something I enjoyed. Felt totally weird and I remember jumping like she had given me a shot.
But the one that sticks out the most in my mind is the day I wrecked my bicycle. The neighborhood I grew up in has a road that made a big loop, so I would often ride my bike around the loop. One end of the loop had a small hill that you could coast down (or pedal hard to go faster). The loop had a slight curve and was within sight of my house (just over a tenth of a mile away). Well, being the adventurous boy I was, I decided it was a perfect spot to try riding a bike with one hand.
Needless to say, it did not work out very well. I remember trying to pedal, go down the hill, and turn, all with one hand on the handle bar. I must have over-compensated for the curve because the wheel went wobbly and I went over the handle bar. My Dad said he heard me scream and came to get me. I do not remember much about the accident or the events immediately after, but I apparently lost consciousness at the time of impact.
I do remember me getting patched up in my bedroom. I had a patch of road rash on my shoulder and probably a scraped knee or two, but I remember my Dad constantly checking on me to make sure I was not going to sleep. I am sure I had a concussion, but no bones were broken and I only had bruises and scrapes to deal with.
I did eventually learn to ride a bike with one hand, but it took me a few years to get over that wreck. And to this day, when I feel brave enough to try, I have a hard time trying to ride with no hands.
Photos:
While I had no broken bones during my bicycle accident, my son did manage to break his leg during a recent trip down a slide. He has healed nicely and shows no signs of any lasting damage beyond hesitating to go down slides.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What gifts do you remember most from childhood?
Question:
What gifts do you remember most from childhood? Was it a birthday present, a Christmas present, or for some other special event?
Answer:
For me, I would have to split them into two categories, birthdays and Christmas. The one that I remember the most from Christmas is probably the GI Joe Terror Drome I got when I was living with my mom. I was big into GI Joes when I was a kid and loved playing "army" with them. I would even make my own sound effects (which often resulted in many strange looks and a few giggles from family members). But I always wanted one of those big toys. Sure the four-wheeler and the motorcycle were cool, but I wanted something big like the aircraft carrier. Alas, no aircraft carrier for me, but I did manage to get my hands on Cobra's Terror Drome. And I loved it. It felt like it took hours to put together, but I enjoyed every minute.
For my birthday one year, my dad surprised me with a trip to Antigua. And it was because of this trip that I failed my Typing class in middle school. For some reason I never could get all the make-up work done right, but it did not matter much to me. I had gone to a wonderful hotel on the beach and had the week of my life (well, at the time it was the best week I'd had). Anyway, I had packed my suitcase and was in the shower when my dad got sneaky and switched out my clothes. I was under the impression we were going to Nebraska. And in October, Nebraska is a bit chilly. So instead of pants, he gave me shorts and swim trunks. And instead of seeing flat fields of corn and soybeans, I got to see jellyfish on the beach and Cal Ripken, Jr. on the flight home.
Photos:
References:
- Toy Archive. Alex Bickmore. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
What gifts do you remember most from childhood? Was it a birthday present, a Christmas present, or for some other special event?
Answer:
For me, I would have to split them into two categories, birthdays and Christmas. The one that I remember the most from Christmas is probably the GI Joe Terror Drome I got when I was living with my mom. I was big into GI Joes when I was a kid and loved playing "army" with them. I would even make my own sound effects (which often resulted in many strange looks and a few giggles from family members). But I always wanted one of those big toys. Sure the four-wheeler and the motorcycle were cool, but I wanted something big like the aircraft carrier. Alas, no aircraft carrier for me, but I did manage to get my hands on Cobra's Terror Drome. And I loved it. It felt like it took hours to put together, but I enjoyed every minute.
For my birthday one year, my dad surprised me with a trip to Antigua. And it was because of this trip that I failed my Typing class in middle school. For some reason I never could get all the make-up work done right, but it did not matter much to me. I had gone to a wonderful hotel on the beach and had the week of my life (well, at the time it was the best week I'd had). Anyway, I had packed my suitcase and was in the shower when my dad got sneaky and switched out my clothes. I was under the impression we were going to Nebraska. And in October, Nebraska is a bit chilly. So instead of pants, he gave me shorts and swim trunks. And instead of seeing flat fields of corn and soybeans, I got to see jellyfish on the beach and Cal Ripken, Jr. on the flight home.
Photos:
References:
- Toy Archive. Alex Bickmore. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Do you know the Johnston brothers?
Question:
Do you know the Johnston brothers?
Answer:
We have what looks like three brothers that we are trying to identify. Feel free to chime in with any information you have. Here is what we have been able to determine based on our research. The family consisted of Ollie the father, Helda the mother, and three sons; Earnest, Harry, and Floyd. We do have a few photos on hand that show one or more of the brothers together. So if you can help us identify them, please let us know.
Ollie Johnston
Ollie is listed as the head of household in both the 1910 and the 1920 census. In 1910, the family lived in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska. In 1920 the family lived in the Dewey Precinct of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was listed as a "laborer" and was born around 1883 in Missouri. Both of his parents were born in Missouri.
Helda (or Hulda) Johnston
Helda (or Hulda) was listed as the wife in both census records. She was born around 1886 in Nebraska. Both of her parents were born in Sweden.
Earnest (or Earnest) Johnston
Earnest (or Ernest) was born around 1909 in Nebraska.
Harry Johnston
Harry was born around October 1915 in Nebraska.
Floyd Johnston
Floyd was born around January 1918 in Nebraska.
Photos:
1910 Census
1920 Census
Side by Side comparison of Harry Johnston (could also be Earnest or both Harry and Earnest)
Earnest and Harry Johnston (if names are correct, would be circa 1915-1916)
Close-up of faces
Butcher Photo, Kearney, Nebr. detail
Reverse of photo showing names and "28 st 9 ave" address in Kearney
Floyd and Harry Johnston (if names are correct, circa October 1918)
Close-up of faces
Reverse of photo showing ages (Harry 2 years and 11 months, Floyd 9 months)
Harry Johnston age 23 months (if name is correct, circa 1917)
Detail of face
One of these is labeled as Earnest Johnston
References:
- 1910 United States Federal Census.
- 1920 United States Federal Census.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know the Johnston brothers?
Answer:
We have what looks like three brothers that we are trying to identify. Feel free to chime in with any information you have. Here is what we have been able to determine based on our research. The family consisted of Ollie the father, Helda the mother, and three sons; Earnest, Harry, and Floyd. We do have a few photos on hand that show one or more of the brothers together. So if you can help us identify them, please let us know.
Ollie Johnston
Ollie is listed as the head of household in both the 1910 and the 1920 census. In 1910, the family lived in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska. In 1920 the family lived in the Dewey Precinct of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was listed as a "laborer" and was born around 1883 in Missouri. Both of his parents were born in Missouri.
Helda (or Hulda) Johnston
Helda (or Hulda) was listed as the wife in both census records. She was born around 1886 in Nebraska. Both of her parents were born in Sweden.
Earnest (or Earnest) Johnston
Earnest (or Ernest) was born around 1909 in Nebraska.
Harry Johnston
Harry was born around October 1915 in Nebraska.
Floyd Johnston
Floyd was born around January 1918 in Nebraska.
Photos:
1910 Census
1920 Census
Side by Side comparison of Harry Johnston (could also be Earnest or both Harry and Earnest)
Earnest and Harry Johnston (if names are correct, would be circa 1915-1916)
Close-up of faces
Butcher Photo, Kearney, Nebr. detail
Reverse of photo showing names and "28 st 9 ave" address in Kearney
Floyd and Harry Johnston (if names are correct, circa October 1918)
Close-up of faces
Reverse of photo showing ages (Harry 2 years and 11 months, Floyd 9 months)
Harry Johnston age 23 months (if name is correct, circa 1917)
Detail of face
One of these is labeled as Earnest Johnston
References:
- 1910 United States Federal Census.
- 1920 United States Federal Census.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
What is your most memorable birthday?
Question:
What is your most memorable birthday?
Answer:
I would have to say my seventh (7th) birthday was my most memorable. I remember I got a shirt with a number "7" on it (it was a favorite for a long time) and I got a giant cookie instead of a cake. You know, one of those cookies from the Great American Cookie Company? It was huge and had a ton of icing (chocolate and white icing) all around the edges and plenty in the middle.
What I remember most about the birthday though was we had some of the cookie and put the left overs in the garage fridge/freezer. So every day I'd sneak out and grab a bite or scrape some icing off. On the way to school, coming back from school, before dinner, any chance I could, I'd go out and sneak a bite. I have no idea if my dad ever knew about it or not, but it tasted so good.
Photos:
Obviously this photo is not when I turned seven. Instead it is my first birthday, one that I don't remember. But that cake looks mighty tasty.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
What is your most memorable birthday?
Answer:
I would have to say my seventh (7th) birthday was my most memorable. I remember I got a shirt with a number "7" on it (it was a favorite for a long time) and I got a giant cookie instead of a cake. You know, one of those cookies from the Great American Cookie Company? It was huge and had a ton of icing (chocolate and white icing) all around the edges and plenty in the middle.
What I remember most about the birthday though was we had some of the cookie and put the left overs in the garage fridge/freezer. So every day I'd sneak out and grab a bite or scrape some icing off. On the way to school, coming back from school, before dinner, any chance I could, I'd go out and sneak a bite. I have no idea if my dad ever knew about it or not, but it tasted so good.
Photos:
Obviously this photo is not when I turned seven. Instead it is my first birthday, one that I don't remember. But that cake looks mighty tasty.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Do you know Clayton Armstrong?
Question:
Do you know Clayton Armstrong?
Answer:
We certainly do not know who he is, but we do have an email out in the hopes of finding a relative. Our best guess, based on the other photos that were with this photo, is that Mr. Armstrong was living in Nebraska during the 1930s. If you know him, please drop us a line at tk42one@gmail.com.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Clayton Armstrong?
Answer:
We certainly do not know who he is, but we do have an email out in the hopes of finding a relative. Our best guess, based on the other photos that were with this photo, is that Mr. Armstrong was living in Nebraska during the 1930s. If you know him, please drop us a line at tk42one@gmail.com.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
What books, movies, and TV shows do you remember as a child?
Question:
What books, movies, and TV shows do you remember as a child?
Answer:
Books
I remember reading a lot of Richard Scarry when I was young. For some reason I loved the vocabulary words and the simplistic artwork. I also remember reading Go, Dog. Go! and I think some Berenstain Bears books. After that, the only other book I recall was one our teacher read in fourth or fifth grade. I'm pretty sure it was a Beverly Cleary book, but I don't remember which one. And it wasn't until I was in middle school and high school that I really started reading, and that of course started with the Hardy Boys.
Movies
One of my earliest movie memories is watching The Empire Strikes Back in the movie theater with several of my friends. It was a birthday party and that's where the birthday kid wanted to go. I was afraid of Chewbacca and covered my eyes when he roared on screen.
Another early movie memory is watching Back to the Future in my uncle's motor home. The fact that he had a motor home was cool enough but it also had a television in the front (in the top bulkhead area between the driver and passenger). And, even cooler, was he had an 8mm tape deck. So he rented (or bought) Back to the Future on 8mm and we watched it in the motor home. Way cool.
TV Shows
I grew up watching a lot of television, but the one that sticks out the most is M*A*S*H. This is mostly due to how much my father resembled Radar. Other shows that I watched included Three's Company, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Taxi, Woody Woodpecker, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Popeye, The Three Stooges, The Smurfs, The Gummi Bears, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and the list goes on.
I do remember watching The Three Stooges on Sunday mornings while dad made pancakes. We had a lot of bonding time while we watched TV. Not a lot of talking, but a lot of vegetation.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
What books, movies, and TV shows do you remember as a child?
Answer:
Books
I remember reading a lot of Richard Scarry when I was young. For some reason I loved the vocabulary words and the simplistic artwork. I also remember reading Go, Dog. Go! and I think some Berenstain Bears books. After that, the only other book I recall was one our teacher read in fourth or fifth grade. I'm pretty sure it was a Beverly Cleary book, but I don't remember which one. And it wasn't until I was in middle school and high school that I really started reading, and that of course started with the Hardy Boys.
Movies
One of my earliest movie memories is watching The Empire Strikes Back in the movie theater with several of my friends. It was a birthday party and that's where the birthday kid wanted to go. I was afraid of Chewbacca and covered my eyes when he roared on screen.
Another early movie memory is watching Back to the Future in my uncle's motor home. The fact that he had a motor home was cool enough but it also had a television in the front (in the top bulkhead area between the driver and passenger). And, even cooler, was he had an 8mm tape deck. So he rented (or bought) Back to the Future on 8mm and we watched it in the motor home. Way cool.
TV Shows
I grew up watching a lot of television, but the one that sticks out the most is M*A*S*H. This is mostly due to how much my father resembled Radar. Other shows that I watched included Three's Company, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Taxi, Woody Woodpecker, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Popeye, The Three Stooges, The Smurfs, The Gummi Bears, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, and the list goes on.
I do remember watching The Three Stooges on Sunday mornings while dad made pancakes. We had a lot of bonding time while we watched TV. Not a lot of talking, but a lot of vegetation.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Do you know Pauline Morrison?
Question:
Do you know Pauline Morrison?
Answer:
We sure don't. We have her photo in our collection along with what is likely her sister Elda Morrison. And if you saw our post last week, we were able to find some information on Elda, but no indication of a sister (or mother) named Pauline.
So, do you know Pauline Morrison?
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Pauline Morrison?
Answer:
We sure don't. We have her photo in our collection along with what is likely her sister Elda Morrison. And if you saw our post last week, we were able to find some information on Elda, but no indication of a sister (or mother) named Pauline.
So, do you know Pauline Morrison?
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Describe a normal day in your childhood
Question:
Describe a normal day in your childhood. When did you get up before school? What did you do when you got home from school? Was there anybody there when you got home? What did you do in the evenings?
Answer:
This is a hard one for me to answer since I don't remember any specifics of a "normal" day. I do remember going to town every weekend with my Dad ("town" was the nearest city that had a mall and various stores to shop at). We would usually shop around, walk the mall, and see a movie.
I'm sure during the week I had a set time to wake-up as well as to go to bed. I know when I was younger my Dad would drop me off at the ABC Preschool (now operating under another name). While there I would play until the bus came. At school it was school work, recess, lunch, and the normal activities you'd go through in school. After school I'd go back to the preschool and wait for my Dad to get off work.
Once at home, Dad would cook dinner (often it was fried food since our oven rarely worked and took too long). During dinner we'd watch television before going to bed. I distinctly remember growing up watching classics like Three's Company, M*A*S*H, Taxi, and others.
Other basic routines I remember are going to the pool in the summer when I was old enough to go by myself. Going to my Mom's house during the summer (usually for most of the summer). Going on trips with my Dad during the summer to visit relatives in Nebraska, Alabama, Illinois, Arizona, and California.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Describe a normal day in your childhood. When did you get up before school? What did you do when you got home from school? Was there anybody there when you got home? What did you do in the evenings?
Answer:
This is a hard one for me to answer since I don't remember any specifics of a "normal" day. I do remember going to town every weekend with my Dad ("town" was the nearest city that had a mall and various stores to shop at). We would usually shop around, walk the mall, and see a movie.
I'm sure during the week I had a set time to wake-up as well as to go to bed. I know when I was younger my Dad would drop me off at the ABC Preschool (now operating under another name). While there I would play until the bus came. At school it was school work, recess, lunch, and the normal activities you'd go through in school. After school I'd go back to the preschool and wait for my Dad to get off work.
Once at home, Dad would cook dinner (often it was fried food since our oven rarely worked and took too long). During dinner we'd watch television before going to bed. I distinctly remember growing up watching classics like Three's Company, M*A*S*H, Taxi, and others.
Other basic routines I remember are going to the pool in the summer when I was old enough to go by myself. Going to my Mom's house during the summer (usually for most of the summer). Going on trips with my Dad during the summer to visit relatives in Nebraska, Alabama, Illinois, Arizona, and California.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Do you know Elda Morrison?
Question:
Do you know Elda Morrison?
Answer:
Here's what we know. Elda Morrison has her name on the photograph accompanied by the phrase "Year 1930-31." We assume this means the school year and probably the year she graduated.
Here's what we were able to find out. On September 3, 1933, Elda L. Morrison married Everett T. Muhr in Banner County, Nebraska. Based on this we can assume Mrs. Elda Muhr was born in January 29, 1914 and died July 27, 1995. She is buried in the Chalk Creek (Hackberry) Cemetery in Banner County, Nebraska.
Based on these dates, she would have been 16 years old in the photo, younger than a senior would have been. She would have been married at 19 and would have been 81 when she died.
After more searching, I found that she was born in Colorado and died in Riverside, California. Her mother's maiden name was Galbraith.
According to the 1920 Census, she was living in the Steen Precinct of Cherry County, Nebraska (Cherry County is also the home of Valentine). However, the census shows her as being four, nearly five years old. And there is no sister by the name of Pauline living in the household (we're also pretty sure she has a sister or mother named Pauline, more on that in later post). With the age close, the census also shows she was born in Nebraska. The rest of the census for the district (three pages total) lists five teachers. An unusually high number for a rural area that could indicate a large school in the area (like maybe Valentine) but we were unable to find where "Steen" was located.
We also found an Elda Morrison in the 1930 census but that just made things even more confusing so we avoided it.
Which means we are right back where we started. So can you help us figure out who Elda Morrison is? Please?
Photos:
References:
- Banner County Cemeteries. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebanner/bannercemeteries.html.
- Banner County Marriage Index. January 23, 1924 to January 31, 1936. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebanner/book2bride.html.
- California Death Index. 1940-1997. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.ancestry.com/.
- United States Census. 1920. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.ancestry.com/.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Elda Morrison?
Answer:
Here's what we know. Elda Morrison has her name on the photograph accompanied by the phrase "Year 1930-31." We assume this means the school year and probably the year she graduated.
Here's what we were able to find out. On September 3, 1933, Elda L. Morrison married Everett T. Muhr in Banner County, Nebraska. Based on this we can assume Mrs. Elda Muhr was born in January 29, 1914 and died July 27, 1995. She is buried in the Chalk Creek (Hackberry) Cemetery in Banner County, Nebraska.
Based on these dates, she would have been 16 years old in the photo, younger than a senior would have been. She would have been married at 19 and would have been 81 when she died.
After more searching, I found that she was born in Colorado and died in Riverside, California. Her mother's maiden name was Galbraith.
According to the 1920 Census, she was living in the Steen Precinct of Cherry County, Nebraska (Cherry County is also the home of Valentine). However, the census shows her as being four, nearly five years old. And there is no sister by the name of Pauline living in the household (we're also pretty sure she has a sister or mother named Pauline, more on that in later post). With the age close, the census also shows she was born in Nebraska. The rest of the census for the district (three pages total) lists five teachers. An unusually high number for a rural area that could indicate a large school in the area (like maybe Valentine) but we were unable to find where "Steen" was located.
We also found an Elda Morrison in the 1930 census but that just made things even more confusing so we avoided it.
Which means we are right back where we started. So can you help us figure out who Elda Morrison is? Please?
Photos:
References:
- Banner County Cemeteries. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebanner/bannercemeteries.html.
- Banner County Marriage Index. January 23, 1924 to January 31, 1936. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebanner/book2bride.html.
- California Death Index. 1940-1997. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.ancestry.com/.
- United States Census. 1920. Retrieved on September 18, 2009 from http://www.ancestry.com/.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Did you have any favorite toys or pets as a child?
Question:
Did you have any favorite toys or pets as a child?
Answer:
Toys. I had a lot of toys when I was a kid, but the one that probably sticks out the most was my little bean bag Snoopy. He went with me just about everywhere. He had a little black nose that I vaguely recall falling off once or twice. I think my dad glued it back on. There were other toys I remember, like the BB gun or the sled or the GI Joe Terrordrome.
Pets. I often claim that I never had a pet as a child. Most people think that's odd, but in fact it isn't true. I did have pets as a kid, but not in the conventional sense. When I was in sixth grade and living with my mother in Pennsylvania, we somehow acquired two turkeys. We built a little pen for them next to the tree line (we lived on ten acres) and even clipped their wings so they wouldn't fly away. They started as little chicks that went "peep peeeep" all the time and eventually grew fairly large. Along the way, they died and we got two more. I think the second set eventually went to a farmer for butchering. Anyway, the turkeys were dumb as rocks. One time they broke out of their pen while I was waiting for the school bus and tried to follow me. They were much cuter when they would ride on my step-father's shoulder when he cut the grass. I think he even built a little box for them to ride in.
During this same time, we also acquired a shaggy, mangy, stray dog. He was white I think, or at least a light brown. I'm not sure how long we had him, but I think at some point he got sick. Shortly thereafter he took a trip to the woods, was shot, and never seen again.
So now you know why I tell people I never had a pet as a kid. It was traumatic at the time and overall, the pets weren't with me very long.
Photos:
Here I am in 1980 playing with my Navy Rescue helicoptor with Space Capsule. Yes, I still remember playing with this toy too.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Did you have any favorite toys or pets as a child?
Answer:
Toys. I had a lot of toys when I was a kid, but the one that probably sticks out the most was my little bean bag Snoopy. He went with me just about everywhere. He had a little black nose that I vaguely recall falling off once or twice. I think my dad glued it back on. There were other toys I remember, like the BB gun or the sled or the GI Joe Terrordrome.
Pets. I often claim that I never had a pet as a child. Most people think that's odd, but in fact it isn't true. I did have pets as a kid, but not in the conventional sense. When I was in sixth grade and living with my mother in Pennsylvania, we somehow acquired two turkeys. We built a little pen for them next to the tree line (we lived on ten acres) and even clipped their wings so they wouldn't fly away. They started as little chicks that went "peep peeeep" all the time and eventually grew fairly large. Along the way, they died and we got two more. I think the second set eventually went to a farmer for butchering. Anyway, the turkeys were dumb as rocks. One time they broke out of their pen while I was waiting for the school bus and tried to follow me. They were much cuter when they would ride on my step-father's shoulder when he cut the grass. I think he even built a little box for them to ride in.
During this same time, we also acquired a shaggy, mangy, stray dog. He was white I think, or at least a light brown. I'm not sure how long we had him, but I think at some point he got sick. Shortly thereafter he took a trip to the woods, was shot, and never seen again.
So now you know why I tell people I never had a pet as a kid. It was traumatic at the time and overall, the pets weren't with me very long.
Photos:
Here I am in 1980 playing with my Navy Rescue helicoptor with Space Capsule. Yes, I still remember playing with this toy too.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A Bill Rector Update
Update:
We previously asked if anyone knew Bill Rector. And thanks to reader Annie for reminding us that the license plates in Nebraska typically have a county prefix on them. And in the case of our Bill Rector, the car behind him as registered in county 93, known to most of the world as Hooker County.
Once I was able to determine this, I did a basic search online and found a "William Rector" living in Hooker County. But he was too old (or at least appeared to be too old). But, the William Rector I found had two children, which means he could have had a son named William.
After more searching in the census records, I was able to find the following:
William A. Rector (born October 1865 in Missouri) married Alice Speck (born around 1883 in Nebraska). They had three children. Myrtle F. Rector (born around 1902 in Nebraska). William H. Rector (born around 1905 in Nebraska). Arthur B. Rector (born around 1912 in Nebraska).
So, if William H. Rector (the son) was born around 1905, that would make him 24 in the photo. Which looks to be about the right age. Hopefully this has helped in identifying our Bill Rector. Please let us know if you know him.
References:
- Semi-Centennial History of Nebraska. 1904. Retrieved on September 8, 2009 from http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/SCHofNE/pages/schn0252.htm.
- United States Federal Census. 1900.
- United States Federal Census. 1920.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
We previously asked if anyone knew Bill Rector. And thanks to reader Annie for reminding us that the license plates in Nebraska typically have a county prefix on them. And in the case of our Bill Rector, the car behind him as registered in county 93, known to most of the world as Hooker County.
Once I was able to determine this, I did a basic search online and found a "William Rector" living in Hooker County. But he was too old (or at least appeared to be too old). But, the William Rector I found had two children, which means he could have had a son named William.
After more searching in the census records, I was able to find the following:
William A. Rector (born October 1865 in Missouri) married Alice Speck (born around 1883 in Nebraska). They had three children. Myrtle F. Rector (born around 1902 in Nebraska). William H. Rector (born around 1905 in Nebraska). Arthur B. Rector (born around 1912 in Nebraska).
So, if William H. Rector (the son) was born around 1905, that would make him 24 in the photo. Which looks to be about the right age. Hopefully this has helped in identifying our Bill Rector. Please let us know if you know him.
References:
- Semi-Centennial History of Nebraska. 1904. Retrieved on September 8, 2009 from http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/SCHofNE/pages/schn0252.htm.
- United States Federal Census. 1900.
- United States Federal Census. 1920.
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
When is a death close enough to hurt?
Question:
When is a death close enough to hurt?
Answer:
I recently learned of a death of the mother to a childhood friend. While I normally may have been stoic in dealing with the news, I was moved by the news and felt it was necessary to do something. For me, a death is close enough to hurt when I feel I need to either go to the services or at least express my sympathy with flowers, a card, or something on that level.
I think part of what moved me to do something, part of why the death hurt was that I had often stayed overnight in her house. She treated me as a son when I was there and her son and myself even started school together. Same day, same school, same bus stop. We're in each other's photos. We're part of each other's history.
As we grew older, we grew apart. We moved on to different cliques in high school and went our separate ways after graduation. As we moved into our adult lives, we crossed paths again when my family moved onto the same street as him and his family as well as his parents. He lives next to his childhood house while I live another mile or so down the road. We never really became friends again, but we randomly heard news about each other through our parents.
And because of those few years together, those nights spent in his room (I still remember the bunk beds and the cool trashcan he had), that first day of school, all of these add up to sadness in learning about his mother's death. I wasn't able to attend the viewing or the funeral, but my father paid his respects. So I did the best I could in expressing my sympathy by sending flowers. That's how I knew the death was close enough to hurt.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
When is a death close enough to hurt?
Answer:
I recently learned of a death of the mother to a childhood friend. While I normally may have been stoic in dealing with the news, I was moved by the news and felt it was necessary to do something. For me, a death is close enough to hurt when I feel I need to either go to the services or at least express my sympathy with flowers, a card, or something on that level.
I think part of what moved me to do something, part of why the death hurt was that I had often stayed overnight in her house. She treated me as a son when I was there and her son and myself even started school together. Same day, same school, same bus stop. We're in each other's photos. We're part of each other's history.
As we grew older, we grew apart. We moved on to different cliques in high school and went our separate ways after graduation. As we moved into our adult lives, we crossed paths again when my family moved onto the same street as him and his family as well as his parents. He lives next to his childhood house while I live another mile or so down the road. We never really became friends again, but we randomly heard news about each other through our parents.
And because of those few years together, those nights spent in his room (I still remember the bunk beds and the cool trashcan he had), that first day of school, all of these add up to sadness in learning about his mother's death. I wasn't able to attend the viewing or the funeral, but my father paid his respects. So I did the best I could in expressing my sympathy by sending flowers. That's how I knew the death was close enough to hurt.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Do you know Bill Rector?
Question:
Do you know Bill Rector?
Details:
The man in this photo is labeled as Bill Rector. He is sitting on a horse with a car behind him. The license plate of the car behind him reads 93-321. It also appears to have the year 1929. The state is NEBR (Nebraska).
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Bill Rector?
Details:
The man in this photo is labeled as Bill Rector. He is sitting on a horse with a car behind him. The license plate of the car behind him reads 93-321. It also appears to have the year 1929. The state is NEBR (Nebraska).
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Describe your childhood home
Question:
Describe your childhood home. Pretend you are walking in the front door and describe it in as much detail as possible. Did you have a favorite room? What kind of furniture did you have? Was there something special about your house? Did you live in a lot of different houses or towns?
Answer:
This is a fairly easy one for me since my father still lives in the house I grew up in. So for privacy concerns, I'll describe a few other homes I've lived in as a child.
The Apartments in Salt Lake City, Utah
At one point my mother and step-father owned and lived in a set of apartments in Salt Lake. I don't remember how many there were, jut that they had white exterior walls and the one we lived in faced the main road. I also remember cutting the grass with small hand-held trimmers where the grass met the sidewalk or driveway. There was also a tree out front that had fascinating roots. I don't recall much about the interior, but there was a trailer parked out back and a feral cat had kittens under it. And one of our neighbors had a very large neck, I think due to a tumor of some sort. I think his funeral was the first I attended.
The Fifth-Wheel in Madera, California
I remember being slightly older than I was in Utah and my mother and step-father were living in a fifth-wheel while she worked at the local hospital. I remember Madera was awfully hot, which meant I didn't play outside much. The trailer park had a pool but I don't think I was allowed to swim there alone. But I do remember swimming there once shortly after eating and getting sick on the side of the pool. I had french fries.
Being a trailer park there was the stereo-typical group of kids that lived there and were often up to no good. Seeing as I had no friends since I was only there in the summer (I usually spent my summers with my mother and the rest of the year with my father), I did my best to be friends with this group of small time hoodlums. I never remember doing anything terribly bod or even mildly bad, but the leader of the group had a deformed foot and when he pedaled his bike, his one foot was always sideways on the pedal.
I also remember seeing a group of European (German I think) travellers come through on a giant tour bus (there may have been two buses). They had cool stuff that slid out of the bottom of the bus (like a grill) and it was neat to watch them and listen to them talk.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Describe your childhood home. Pretend you are walking in the front door and describe it in as much detail as possible. Did you have a favorite room? What kind of furniture did you have? Was there something special about your house? Did you live in a lot of different houses or towns?
Answer:
This is a fairly easy one for me since my father still lives in the house I grew up in. So for privacy concerns, I'll describe a few other homes I've lived in as a child.
The Apartments in Salt Lake City, Utah
At one point my mother and step-father owned and lived in a set of apartments in Salt Lake. I don't remember how many there were, jut that they had white exterior walls and the one we lived in faced the main road. I also remember cutting the grass with small hand-held trimmers where the grass met the sidewalk or driveway. There was also a tree out front that had fascinating roots. I don't recall much about the interior, but there was a trailer parked out back and a feral cat had kittens under it. And one of our neighbors had a very large neck, I think due to a tumor of some sort. I think his funeral was the first I attended.
The Fifth-Wheel in Madera, California
I remember being slightly older than I was in Utah and my mother and step-father were living in a fifth-wheel while she worked at the local hospital. I remember Madera was awfully hot, which meant I didn't play outside much. The trailer park had a pool but I don't think I was allowed to swim there alone. But I do remember swimming there once shortly after eating and getting sick on the side of the pool. I had french fries.
Being a trailer park there was the stereo-typical group of kids that lived there and were often up to no good. Seeing as I had no friends since I was only there in the summer (I usually spent my summers with my mother and the rest of the year with my father), I did my best to be friends with this group of small time hoodlums. I never remember doing anything terribly bod or even mildly bad, but the leader of the group had a deformed foot and when he pedaled his bike, his one foot was always sideways on the pedal.
I also remember seeing a group of European (German I think) travellers come through on a giant tour bus (there may have been two buses). They had cool stuff that slid out of the bottom of the bus (like a grill) and it was neat to watch them and listen to them talk.
Photos:
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Do you know Mary Morris?
Question:
Do you know Mary Morris?
Details:
The photo is identified as Mary Morris. She is labeled in the photo as a teacher. The school year was 1928 - 1929. This could have been in Nebraska, possibly in Cherry County, maybe even in Alliance.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Do you know Mary Morris?
Details:
The photo is identified as Mary Morris. She is labeled in the photo as a teacher. The school year was 1928 - 1929. This could have been in Nebraska, possibly in Cherry County, maybe even in Alliance.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What are your earliest memories?
Question:
What are your earliest memories?
Answer:
This is actually a pretty tough question. I had to go back and look at some photos to get the chronology right and it turns out what I thought was the earliest was a year or so after another memory. Which means, my earliest memory would be Easter 1980. To be exact, Easter fell on April 6, 1980 so I was just three days past being exactly 3 1/2 years old. I was visiting my dad's eldest brother in Fort Meade, Maryland where he was stationed and we were doing various Easter activities. We dyed eggs, played games, ate way too many marshmallows, and had a nice Easter dinner (at least I'm sure it was nice, especially if my aunt was cooking it).
I remember they had wicker furniture which I always thought was weird. Their driveway was medium sized and you would turn left out of it to leave the neighborhood (I think they lived on a corner lot too). They had a nice backyard with a fence I think where I did the Easter egg hunt thing. And I remember my aunt letting me eat a bunch of marshmallows. Like almost a whole bag of them.
On a side note, there are other events that I think I remember when I see them in pictures, but I'm not sure if I remember them or if I remember the stories people told me while showing me the pictures.
Photos:
In the photo, you'll see the goofy kid in the dog sweater, that's me. On the right is my uncle. But pay attention to the counter. The eggs are there, obviously, but there's a crayon that I remember using to write on the egg before we dipped it in the dye (so the dye wouldn't stick to the egg). There's also an old bottle of Joy dish soap, old Pyrex mixing bowls (we had a set like that for the longest time), and some White House apple vinegar. And don't forget to check out those old curtains.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
What are your earliest memories?
Answer:
This is actually a pretty tough question. I had to go back and look at some photos to get the chronology right and it turns out what I thought was the earliest was a year or so after another memory. Which means, my earliest memory would be Easter 1980. To be exact, Easter fell on April 6, 1980 so I was just three days past being exactly 3 1/2 years old. I was visiting my dad's eldest brother in Fort Meade, Maryland where he was stationed and we were doing various Easter activities. We dyed eggs, played games, ate way too many marshmallows, and had a nice Easter dinner (at least I'm sure it was nice, especially if my aunt was cooking it).
I remember they had wicker furniture which I always thought was weird. Their driveway was medium sized and you would turn left out of it to leave the neighborhood (I think they lived on a corner lot too). They had a nice backyard with a fence I think where I did the Easter egg hunt thing. And I remember my aunt letting me eat a bunch of marshmallows. Like almost a whole bag of them.
On a side note, there are other events that I think I remember when I see them in pictures, but I'm not sure if I remember them or if I remember the stories people told me while showing me the pictures.
Photos:
In the photo, you'll see the goofy kid in the dog sweater, that's me. On the right is my uncle. But pay attention to the counter. The eggs are there, obviously, but there's a crayon that I remember using to write on the egg before we dipped it in the dye (so the dye wouldn't stick to the egg). There's also an old bottle of Joy dish soap, old Pyrex mixing bowls (we had a set like that for the longest time), and some White House apple vinegar. And don't forget to check out those old curtains.
References:
- Numerous facts were gathered from the private Richard Family Estate collection. These facts span numerous sources of information and contain genealogical data, photos, and newspaper articles.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Hiatus Over?
After nearly a year on hiatus, the Unidentified Family Objects (UFO) blog will be coming back to life in a couple of weeks. While the original focus of this blog was to document those family objects found, discovered, and stored in our private Area 51 collection, the format will change slightly as we move into the future.
Going forward, the UFO Team will work to document things more "genealogical." We will start with questions to ask your own family in an effort to help you gather history. From there we will progress into things that involve more research. We will try to use actual documents and ephemera from our own Area 51 collection as guides to drive you in new directions of thought.
With that said, we would also like to remind you that we will still do our best to comply with our previous risk analysis and keep as much private information as private as possible. But any information that is in the public domain can and will be covered. And as we stated before, we cannot control how information is used.
And as usual, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you are always welcome to contact us.
Going forward, the UFO Team will work to document things more "genealogical." We will start with questions to ask your own family in an effort to help you gather history. From there we will progress into things that involve more research. We will try to use actual documents and ephemera from our own Area 51 collection as guides to drive you in new directions of thought.
With that said, we would also like to remind you that we will still do our best to comply with our previous risk analysis and keep as much private information as private as possible. But any information that is in the public domain can and will be covered. And as we stated before, we cannot control how information is used.
And as usual, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you are always welcome to contact us.
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