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Jessamyn West born in Jennings County, Indiana was a prolific American author. [Any relation to me is unknown. - JGW] I do not remember how I got her name and her many quotes, but I liked several of the quotes and then found her biography and learned that she was an incredible person and writer! She was born 18 July 1902 & died 23 February 1984 in Napa, Calif.; daughter of Eldo Ray (a citrus farmer) and Grace Anna (Milhous) West; married Harry Maxwell McPherson (a school superintendent) 16 August 1923. She was related to Richard Milhous Nixon through her mother's family, and she became a close and lifelong friend of his, sometimes even traveling with the presidential entourage. The late Jessamyn West was a prolific and varied writer whose works include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenplays, and even an opera libretto. She is remembered, however, for her numerous short stories that plumb rural American life without sentiment or oversimplicity. Much of West's fiction reflects her involvement with the Society of Friends (Quakers), the religion of her ancestors who farmed in southern Indiana. Her popular story collections The Friendly Persuasion and Except for Me and Thee: A Companion to "The Friendly Persuasion" recreate Quaker lives in a nineteenth century farming community; these and her tales of adolescence, Cress Delahanty and The State of Stony Lonesome, remain her best known works. From: http://www.jessamyn.com/jessamyn/jessbio.html
"Jessamyn West." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2011. 24 November. 2011. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jessamyn_west_2.html
From Jessamyn's quotes, although "Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures." many of my genealogical associates (including me), family & friends often tend to subscribe to this quote: "We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions." However in genealogical research, "The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future." A very nice thought for us family historians is to remember: "Faithfulness to the past can be a kind of death above ground. Writing of the past is a resurrection; the past then lives in your words and you are free." One lesson that I have learned in life is that "Teaching is the royal road to learning." The following two quotes seem to have universal truth: "Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary." and "Nothing is so dear as what you're about to leave."
- Compiled by JGWest
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tombstone Thursday - Marty
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One of the most unusual tombstones that I have found!
- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest
One of the most unusual tombstones that I have found!
Parklawn Cemetery
Evansville, Indiana
Raymond William Marty
08 Feb 1913 - 18 Feb 2004
Anne Beatrice Marty
18 Dec 1911 - 04 Dec 2007
- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest
[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
TSGS Awards Another 4-H Member
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November gave me an opportunity to recognize two 4-H members from two counties in Southwestern Indiana. November 1st. I was in Posey County presenting a TSGS Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate to Morgan Zoch as was posted recently. November 18th., Becky & I attended the Vanderburgh 4-H Awards Banquet to present a certificate to John Mentzel.
The award is based on the 4-H Achievement Record of the 4-H member in the project of Genealogy, as evaluated by the county awards committee of the 4-H Council, Inc. In Vanderburgh County, the award has been awarded each year for over 25 years. I have been fortunate to serve as the TSGS 4-H Coordinator and have the honor of presenting the award on behalf of our society.
I was unable to get a photograph this year of John. Congratulations to John and his family for his achievement in one of today's most difficult 4-H projects (but one of the most rewarding!).
- JGWest, TSGS 4-H Coordinator
November gave me an opportunity to recognize two 4-H members from two counties in Southwestern Indiana. November 1st. I was in Posey County presenting a TSGS Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate to Morgan Zoch as was posted recently. November 18th., Becky & I attended the Vanderburgh 4-H Awards Banquet to present a certificate to John Mentzel.
The award is based on the 4-H Achievement Record of the 4-H member in the project of Genealogy, as evaluated by the county awards committee of the 4-H Council, Inc. In Vanderburgh County, the award has been awarded each year for over 25 years. I have been fortunate to serve as the TSGS 4-H Coordinator and have the honor of presenting the award on behalf of our society.
I was unable to get a photograph this year of John. Congratulations to John and his family for his achievement in one of today's most difficult 4-H projects (but one of the most rewarding!).
- JGWest, TSGS 4-H Coordinator
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Fold3 WWII Collection for Veterans Day
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Access the World War II Collection...
on Fold3 (formerly called Footnote).
Help us recognize Veterans Day by exploring our World War II Collection. In this collection you'll discover records, documents, stories, and photos, plus you have the opportunity to add your own. Highlights include:
Interactive USS Arizona Memorial - search for a name on the memorial wall and follow it through to a Memorial Page where you can add your own stories, photos, and facts for any USS Arizona casualty.
WWII Hero Pages - the World War II Army Enlistment Records help you begin a Hero Page, then add more stories, details, and photos. Invite your family and friends to contribute, too.
WWII Photos - over 80,000 photos from within every theater of the war with particular emphases on personnel, aircraft, bombings, maps, recreation, and more. Upload your own historical photos and add to the collection.
World War II Documents - official reports, first-hand accounts of battles, records of missing aircraft, and submarine patrol reports are only a few of the documents that bring to light the details of WWII and those who served in it. Click The Holocaust Collection banner for the most comprehensive online collection of Holocaust records, stories, maps, and photos.
Whether you're interested in the historic events or the people who influenced them, Fold3 brings these stories directly to you through documents, pages, and photos as we honor those who served in World War II and in all military engagements throughout U.S. history.
Access the World War II Collection...
on Fold3 (formerly called Footnote).
Help us recognize Veterans Day by exploring our World War II Collection. In this collection you'll discover records, documents, stories, and photos, plus you have the opportunity to add your own. Highlights include:
Interactive USS Arizona Memorial - search for a name on the memorial wall and follow it through to a Memorial Page where you can add your own stories, photos, and facts for any USS Arizona casualty.
WWII Hero Pages - the World War II Army Enlistment Records help you begin a Hero Page, then add more stories, details, and photos. Invite your family and friends to contribute, too.
WWII Photos - over 80,000 photos from within every theater of the war with particular emphases on personnel, aircraft, bombings, maps, recreation, and more. Upload your own historical photos and add to the collection.
World War II Documents - official reports, first-hand accounts of battles, records of missing aircraft, and submarine patrol reports are only a few of the documents that bring to light the details of WWII and those who served in it. Click The Holocaust Collection banner for the most comprehensive online collection of Holocaust records, stories, maps, and photos.
Whether you're interested in the historic events or the people who influenced them, Fold3 brings these stories directly to you through documents, pages, and photos as we honor those who served in World War II and in all military engagements throughout U.S. history.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tombstone Thursday - Birkenmayer
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My friend and a member of TSGS, Vannetta McDowell, asks on Face Book, no less, "where's your weekly Thursday blog/tombstones? and what about an update on last night's TSGS meeting...... Have you gotten lost? Enquiring minds want to know..." I did say she was a friend?
Vannetta, I have not posted a Tombstone Thursday for some time - this one is for you and all of the "Tombstone Thursday" fans!
The photo below is the backside of this marker with four of the Birkenmayer children. I took these photos one day this past summer, because it is one of the metal markers (some of these were made by Sears - I do not know the manufacturer of this marker).
- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest
My friend and a member of TSGS, Vannetta McDowell, asks on Face Book, no less, "where's your weekly Thursday blog/tombstones? and what about an update on last night's TSGS meeting...... Have you gotten lost? Enquiring minds want to know..." I did say she was a friend?
Vannetta, I have not posted a Tombstone Thursday for some time - this one is for you and all of the "Tombstone Thursday" fans!
Locust Hill Cemetery
Evansville, Indiana
Section 10
George F. Birkenmayer*
16 Dec 1834-26 Jun 1908
His Wife
Sophia Struck Birkenmayer
14 Oct 1836-18 Mar 1899
* George's panel to the right was never completed...
birth date is from the left panel with
death date from the cemetery's Online database
The photo below is the backside of this marker with four of the Birkenmayer children. I took these photos one day this past summer, because it is one of the metal markers (some of these were made by Sears - I do not know the manufacturer of this marker).
- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
TSGS Presents 4-H Award
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TSGS makes 4-H Award presentation...
TSGS 4-H Coordinator John G. West & Becky West attended the Posey County, Indiana 4-H Awards Dinner on Nov. 1st. to present the TSGS Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate to Morgan Zoch for her achievement and activities in the 4-H Genealogy Project.
The Tri-State Genealogical Society is pleased to recognize 4-H youth and encourage them to research their family histories. The 4-H project demands a lot from the 4-H'er to learn the proper way to document their history and to maintain copies of the documents and photographs. The society congratulates Morgan on her involvement in genealogy!
TSGS makes 4-H Award presentation...
TSGS 4-H Coordinator John G. West & Becky West attended the Posey County, Indiana 4-H Awards Dinner on Nov. 1st. to present the TSGS Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate to Morgan Zoch for her achievement and activities in the 4-H Genealogy Project.The Tri-State Genealogical Society is pleased to recognize 4-H youth and encourage them to research their family histories. The 4-H project demands a lot from the 4-H'er to learn the proper way to document their history and to maintain copies of the documents and photographs. The society congratulates Morgan on her involvement in genealogy!
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