Genealogy # 68: Detective Work

Genealogy # 68: Detective Work

I've looked at some of the examples provided of oral history projects and listen to some of the stories. I especially liked the JSC Oral History Project, since I am interested in Space.
However, my favorite oral history project is Storycorps from NPR. I hear it on the local station KUHF , 88.7FM.

I've never pursued an oral history project, except once as a high school project, many years ago. I would have liked doing one to record some family history, but the subject I was interested in passed away. My paternal grandmother immigrated here from Hungary and I would have like to hear more of her story. I think my father would be a good subject, too, but we live states apart. Maybe I can recruit one of my brothers.

I went to the Find-a-Grave site and search for the Oakwood Cemetery in Warren, Ohio. It lists 1057 interments. I have always been curious about that cemetery, but found that there really is no easy way to sort for the oldest grave. I searched for another cemetery in Trumbull County and found the Lover's Lane Memorial Cemetery, also known as the Leavittsburg Cemetery. This one only has 13 graves.

The oldest know grave at the Lover's Lane Memorial Cemetery is Fox from 1853. There is a headstone picture with just the surname and date. The top of the stone is missing. There are also a couple of listings without dates due to the condition of the markers. It looks like someone wanted to preserve what was still there before the condition got worse. This is an interesting site, but still has it's limitations.

Genealogy #67: Genealogy Genesis

Genealogy #67: Genealogy Genesis

I have studied my geneology, but have been lucky enough to have some family members who have kept track of the records. I may eventually get into it more myself, but do appreciate what others have done.

For beginning researchers, I advise talking to family members to see what may have already been done. One side of my family updates records at the yearly family reunion. On the other side, I have an uncle who has kept track of his sibs & their kids, plus a generation or two in the past.

My future goal is to find out if those folks in Michigan with my maiden name are related or not. I have my theories, but need to finish the proof.

Crafts & Hobbies #66: Knitting and Crocheting

Crafts & Hobbies #66: Knitting and Crocheting

I have crocheted in the past and even tried using thread instead of yarn to get a form of lace. I could never get the hang of knitting, too many parts. I don't really crochet here on the Gulf Coast, due to the heat. I was more inspired when I lived near the snowbelt. Plus I had a Grandmother who could crochet an entire afghan in just a day or two. (she was fast!)

If I had to choose making between a prayer shawl, chemo hat, or lap blanket, I would make a lap blanket. A group I was with in the North made lap blankets for the local nursing homes. It was fun to make them as a group and most of our group was male. I could also do the chemo hats, since I did hats before. However, I would need to practice a bit to get my skills up to par.

Does our branch have a knitting group? Our Children's Dept has had a knitting program this Summer. After the July program finishes, they will have another in August. These are both weekly beginner programs, but intermediate programs are possible in the Fall. The Young Adult Dept has had at least one knitting/crocheting progam in the past.

The Adult Dept doesn't have a "sponsored"program, but Bay Area Knitting & Crochet try to meet in our Conference room twice monthly. If we wanted to have a branch program, we would probably approach the Bay Area Knitting & Crochet group for assitance. They might be willing to host a program for us.

Crafts & Hobbies #65: Coin Collecting

Crafts & Hobbies #65: Coin Collecting

Wow. My piggy bank is special, because that is where I keep my interesting stuff. I have a box for the overflow. I consider myself a casual collector. I think it started when Grandpa would give us kids Kennedy half-dollars and Eisenhower dollars. I don't know if any of the other grand kids kept theirs, but I kept mine. Some of the Kennedy's are silver!

Just looking in the box, I see the Kennedy half-dollars and Eisenhower dollars. It is nice to hear the silver ones clink.
There is a Buffalo nickle with Indian profile on front. No date found - it is quite worn.
An Indian head penny, that unfortunately has some corrosion obscuring the date there also.
A Lincoln wheat back penny has the date 1917, but I think I have one or two older in the bank - 190- somethings. A steel penny too.
Roosevelt dimes - 1963 & silver and an oddly colored 1966.

I also have some foreign coins. I really like the Canadian coins I have. Three of them feature King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II as a young woman, and Queen Elizabeth II as an older woman. It shows the changing of the crown and how long Elizabeth II has been Queen.

I also have most , if not all of the state quarters. I just need to find where I put my folder for them. One member of the household does have their folder filled.

Like I said before, I'm a casual collector. I keep stuff in a box & piggy bank. I occasionally check websites for values, but most of what I have is just because it is interesting. There are some dealers in my area and I have window shopped before, but my stuff is just "found". I don't see myself buying coins as an investment. I check my change on a regular basis because you never know what you might find. I'm watchng for those nickles & what ever else cathces my eye.

Crafts & Hobbies #64: Zines

Crafts & Hobbies #64: Zines

I think I might make my own Zine, but it might just be a one-shot & not for distribution. Subject-wise, boy that's a tough one. This could be either instructional or self expression (or both). I can see turning some of the procedures I've written for work turned into a Zine. Maybe staff would remember some of the instructions if they have a more creative format.

I can see how the old pulp magazines could have started this way and some are still in publication today. I think that Libraries with zines are just providing another form of content to their customers. You need to start somewhere and, from what I saw, some of these zines have a big following. If the customers are reading it, why not have it in the Library?

Crafts & Hobbies #63: Digital Scrapbooking

Crafts & Hobbies #63: Digital Scrapbooking

I went to Scrapblog.com and took the 5 minute video tutorial, then created a layout using their free online program. No registration is required to create, but if you want to save, publish, or share, registration is necessary. I didn't try Crop Mom or Scrapbook Flair, but may take a look in the future.

My thoughts on digital scrapbooking: It is fun and I could learn to really like it. I like the idea of keeping stuff stored online, if available, because it doesn't take up memory on your PC.

I did you encounter a problem in trying to make a layout. I found I could not share what I made unless I registered with the website. Permission settings make a difference in how a layout may be viewed if you embed a link in your blog. If the permission is not set to public, others may not be able to see the layout. I only have one page for this "scrapblog", but it could be more.

Here is my layout.

Crafts & Hobbies #62: Decoupage

Crafts & Hobbies #62: Decoupage

I remember doing decoupage in scouts. There were several projects. One was a cigar box. We decorated it inside and out with decopage. If you didn't know it was a cigar box to begin with, you would have never suspected it when we were finished. We also did bottles. You could get a neat stained glass effect using colored tissue paper on a clear bottle or jar.

I really haven't done much decoupage since then, but liked some of the projects I saw on Flickr.
The decoupage chair by moxie may have taken time, but it looks worth it. Daxiang stef's switchplate gives me some ideas on how just a little thing can make a big difference. A switchplate is something I might try to begin decoupage again.