February 1, 2009
TRACING OUR
ROOTS
MARCH IS
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
by Brenda Kellow, B.A.
Sure, they are harder to find than males and their surname changes after
marriage(s) is no excuse! Don’t neglect them. Far too often, we find females as
a neglected people, yet they are our foremothers. They lived. They took care of
the family 24/7: nurturing, disciplining, teaching her children moral values,
nursing the ill and preparing the dead, cooking and cleaning the house, making
clothes for the family members, birthing children, and passing along their
traditions learned from their mother and grandmothers. She had a life. She
deserves to have a biography just like the males, yet in many families neglect
their maternal histories. You can do it by taking your research findings,
studying the history and social history of the times, and putting it into words.
Few females could read and write prior to 1900. These women left no diaries
or family histories. On the other hand, some lucky researchers find Bibles
meticulously recorded for many years by literate females providing births,
deaths, and marriages of immediate family members as well as cousins, aunts, and
in-laws.
Let’s honor her even though her life and times may require a little
additional research on the subject of the social and legal history of her time.
What was it like for women during her lifetime? Could she vote? Could she own
property? Did she own or run her own business? Did she work in a factory? What
was it like for a woman who spent her life on a farm? Or the woman who owned a
business in a larger town or city?
Start now to change the way females are often neglected in family histories.
Too often, we see only a birth, death and marriage, but our families had a life
so get busy and put some meat on the bones of those ancestors. Check your files
to be sure you don’t have something on her in your files. Make someone happy:
write about one of your female ancestors and present it to your family in March,
Women’s History Month.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
PLANO GENEALOGY LIBRARY: It has almost been one year since our
genealogy collection moved to Haggard Library in its new digs. The date was
January 26, 2008. We think the staff has been so busy they hadn't even realized
or even remembered the date. Stop by and see just what a great collection we
have so close to home.
The library has library volunteers on hand to help if needed. This week when
you go to the library wish them a Happy Birthday. You might want to even
consider becoming a volunteer.
PRESIDENTIAL GREETING:
Make someone’s 80th birthday or 50th anniversary
special this year. The White House will mail birthday and anniversary cards to
citizens of the United States. The current president signs each card, which
comes in an envelope from the White House. Send your request to
House, Attn: Greetings Office, Washington, D.C. 20502-0039[/i. Each request must
contain the name, address of the honoree(s), and how they wish to be addressed
[Mr., Mrs.]. Include the birth, day, and year of the occasion; the age on their
birthday; the number of years married; and the name of the requestor with a
daytime phone number. My father received one of these on his 80th
birthday. I remember how thrilled he was to see the envelope from the White
House. He was even more thrilled when he read the birthday greeting from the
President.
TENNESSEE DEATH RECORDS ONLINE:
Death records began in 1908, but what is available from 1908-1912 are online at
www.tennessee.gov/tsla/history/vital/death2.htm.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history,
teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s
histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a
Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunions announcements, books to review,
and genealogy queries to: TraceRts@verizon.net.
