Social Saturday - 1961 in Photos

Social Saturday

1961 in Photos

50 Years Ago

As we finish 2011, let's take a look back 50 years, and look at some photos that highlight 1961. I recently posted a Those Thursday Places on our move to California after graduation from ISU. This photos related to before and after that!  ;-)

Here is a fairly special photo from early in May 1961. Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick with Annette and Nancy in the park in Bayard.

A few photos related to graduation day at Iowa State University, in Ames. It was a family affair.

Here is from my ROTC graduation, with Nancy; also my Mom and Dad, left, Nancy's Mom and Dad, right. Pete and Eileen Smith, Ruth and Glenn Bolger. [I'm sure I have it in color, but this is the one on hand...]

At the Pammel Court front yard, some of the young folks.

My brother, Paul, on left, Nancy's brother and sister, Joel and Janice.

Then, a few in California. Here are Annette and Nancy in front of our apartment:

Here I am with Annette - she seems to show up in a lot of these...  ;-)

Annette having her first 'beer' - A&W Root Beer:

Here Annette is walking on Hollywood Hall of Fame - Diana Shore's star.

Annette in her playpen/bed, that she rode in from Iowa to California. This is in the California apartment.

After the 'California adventure' - we went to Biloxi, MS, where I started active duty with the Air Force. In uniform:

With my Ground Electronics School class at Keeler AFB, in Biloxi:

Here is another photo of us in the house in Biloxi, just back from church:

We went back to Iowa, in December, to visit, before moving to Winslow, Arizona, starting in January. We recall it as the "Winter of 1961 Snow Storm."

Family gatherings, when we could, during Christmas visit; here are kids at Bolger's gathering:

Here are all the Kinnicks gathered at the Smith house:

It was a full year!  ;-)

Follower Friday - 30 Dec 2011

Follower Friday

30 Dec 2011

I have mostly stayed out of the discussions of the last week or so regarding the 'genealogy community' and the respective roles of genealogy bloggers and genealogy societies therein. You've probably been reading some of them, but if you have not, and are interested, Randy Seaver, in his weekly "Best of the Blogs" post this week provides the links to most of the series posts.

Personally, I support an inclusive definition of 'genealogy community,' believe genealogy bloggers play a generally supportive and communications role, and that genealogy societies have an important role, but need to adapt their missions to the future needs of genealogists and family historians; many already have, of course.

I am mostly concerned that the distinctive resources that have been collected through the efforts of millions of individual society members in their local communities be preserved and made more widely available to families and researchers. I believe this mission deserves more discussion and attention. There are many alternatives available; I'm mostly concerned that many of these endangered distinctive resources will be lost to future researchers and families before adequate solutions are agreed upon and acted upon.


What do you think? What suggestions do you have? What have you personally done to help some of these endangered distinctive resources?  I'd love to hear about them.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Six weeks in So. Calif.

Those Places Thursday

Six weeks in So. California

 

 

Nancy and Annette in front of our apartment in Redondo Beach, California 

(I'm sure that was not originally black and white??)

In the afternoon of my graduation from Iowa State in the morning, one day in late May, 1961, the three of us loaded in the car (the gull-winged Chevrolet) and took off into the west for our new life in southern California. It was a very hot trip - air conditioning was not normal yet… Annette laid in the 'bed' in the back seat in her diaper, and was still sweating, along with us. Quite an experience.

We were pleased to have a nice apartment, not far from my work, not far from the ocean beach. What a life!

Within the first few days of our arrival, I got my orders to report to my first duty assignment in the Air Force, the 8th of August, as I recall. I was to report then to Ground Electronics School at Keesler Air Force Base, in Biloxi, Mississippi, as temporary duty for the rest of the year of 1961.

So, in addition to my work experience at Space Technology Labs, as a computer programmer, we got an 'all-expenses paid' (that is, I was getting a pay check!) six weeks vacation in Southern California. We did take advantage of it with many trips and vacation activities on the few weekends we had available.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Eileen artifact - 1929 Calendar

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Scan of Eileen artifact

1929 Calendar

The Boy Mozart playing for Royalty

Christmas greeting from

Frances Williams

Piano Studio

1929 Calendar

A gift from Frances Williams to Eileen Kinnick (my mother) when she was 11 years old, as a piano student. Mom taught piano herself, for many of her adult years. This was in her 'precious things.'

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 51 - Dec 14-20

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 51 - Dec 14-20

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 51. On Monday, it was Eileen's 18th birthday. Birthdays and holidays were not big deals in her Dad's house. She was sick, too, which really made the day special!  ;-(
Note the very utilitarian gifts: pajamas & Aladdin lamp - see photo.

She was making a jacket for her plaid dress; even worked on it at the store. She seemed to handle cold sore well, on Tuesday evening out with Pete!  ;-)

The big event of the week, of course, was the wedding, on Wednesday, Dec 16, of Max (Pete's younger sister) and Orrin Hilgenberg. "Max made the sweetest bride." Here is a photo of them taken not long after they were married. [Each still alive and together to celebrate 75th anniversary in Arizona!]

Assume the book she read, Laddie, was: Laddie boy: the autobiography of a dog, Harper & Bros., 1936.

Don, Norma, and Pete

in Phoenix, perhaps, 1965

They got very domestic with friends, Don and Norma, on Sunday. Eileen took a change of clothes. Girls fixed nice meal, together. Across the road to Smith's for supper. How nice!  ;-)

*****
  Next week ends the 1936 diary entries on the website. For 1937, I have copies of the diary pages and will be posting them, daily, on The KINNICK Project blog, beginning January 4. Weekly summaries will continue, here, starting Tuesday, January 10.

*****

Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Hometown on Monday - Rural School Teachers, 1933

My Hometown on Monday

Rural School Teachers, 1933

From time to time, we get into discussions of which of our family and friends, in the old days, were teachers at which rural school around Coon Rapids (IA) where we grew up. Cleaning out some old Coon Rapids Enterprise copies of the Years Ago page, I came across one from 25 Dec 2008, in the 75 Years Ago column for 22 Dec 1933, the following entry:

To hasten the activities of the holiday season and to close the old year of school, many rural schools are entertaining at socials and presenting programs this afternoon and evening. Union No. 2, under the direction of Mildred Middleton, will be hosts at a social at the school house this evening. A program in which all the students will participate, will be given preceding the social and refreshments.

Pupils of the Star school will present a Christmas program at the school at the same time. They will be  under the direction of L'Vene Smith, teacher of the school.

Elma Johnston, teacher at the Jack Jergens school, will direct a program to be given by the pupils of the school this afternoon.

A Christmas program will be presented at the Oak Hill school tonight under the direction of Inez Grohe, teacher.

*************

Comments and observations:
1) Mildred Middleton was a life-long teacher and school administrator. Union #2 would have been the school two miles west of the Star school, which was Union #1.
2) L'Vene Smith, later L'Vene Thomas,  was my Dad's older sister. She continued to teach, earned her degree, and taught in Coon Rapids schools though out her lifetime, as well.
3) I'm not familiar with either Elma Johnston nor the Jack Jergens school. Comments welcomed.
4) The Oak Hill cemetery was northwest of town… should not have been a school there, so it was somewhere else. Anyone know where? Inez Grohe, later Shirbroun (Speedy, the radio/later tv repairman), was my teacher for a couple of years later, around 1950 or so, at Willow #3, in Greene County, northeast of Coon Rapids.

Mrs. Inez Shirbroun, approx 1950

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories Sunday - Senior Year at ISU - Thoughts on Work

Sharing Memories Sunday

Senior Year at ISU - Thoughts on Work

In my 'Those Places Thursday' post this week, I spoke about our year in Pammel Court during my Senior Year at Iowa State University (ISU), in Ames, Iowa. During that year, I worked part-time as a student worker (from the position of a physics major at the beginning of the year) for a Ph.D. student in physics at the Ames Laboratories of the Atomic Energy Commission, on campus.

First, the Ph.D.-level research I was involved with related to determining the electrical properties of a material (as compared to silicon, it turned out) for possible use in making 'computer chips' - as they would eventually be called. In processing the data, I got my first exposure to using the 'computer' of the day [the first electronic digital computer was officially invented at ISU, of course - see ABC at link] - writing initially in 'machine language' - before compilers. My first strong memory of the experience was writing code on a spreadsheet that took into account the rate of turn of the computer drum as it read the code in order to 'optimize' the processing time. My second strong memory was when, during that year, we were taught, and allowed to use, the new 'Bell Lab Language' which was a first level 'computer programming language' - a forerunner to Fortran, etc., much later on.

The memory is so strong because of the following event, for me. It was the first time in my life, working through an early program, that I was so involved in the process itself, that I completely lost my sense of 'time and place.' I was so engrossed in the project, I forgot to leave work and go home to supper, or whatever was next in my life at that time. Two or three additional hours had passed by, and I did not even realize it. It was the first time that had ever happened to me. It has happened a handful of times since, but not often.

Second, as I alluded to last Sunday, it was during this work experience that I realized I actually had much more interest in administrative work, very likely, than in the specifics of science. My boss, the scientist, sat with his pipe, conjuring how and why those electrons were whirling around in those atoms - and was completely into that. I was not. He disdained the meetings and paperwork involved in the projects - I thought they were the more interesting part.

Third, and finally, I guess, for now, I had my first brush with the opportunity to consider 'computing' as a career option. In fact, in the very short term, I chose: "Yes." I faced a three-year Air Force commitment following graduation; but it might begin anytime during the 12 months following graduation. Space Technology Laboratories in southern California offered me the position of Computer Programmer with the understanding I might be there a month, or 12 months. (More, next Sunday)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

The Year in Review - 2011

The Year in Review - 2011

I began this year with a set of Writing plans for 2011. I was actually quite successful in completing the plans as presented:

1. Yes, I published my second novel, "The Homplace Revisited," in June. Both books continue to sell, both in print and in Kindle editions. I am blessed, and happy. I also successfully taught my on-line course in the Spring. It appears that was my last time doing that. It was good, it is now gone.

2. I have continued to be an active Examiner.com writer - between my two topics I publish five articles each and every week.

3. I have made good progress on the non-fiction family history book on Sergeant Major William Kinnick. This work will continue into 2012. It would be nice to finish it in the coming year.

4. The Smith book is still on the back burner, but I've been doing more research on my Dad's family in the 1st half of the 20th Century. In the last six months, I have also made contact with three Sorensen/Neilsen cousins in Denmark, on my Mom's side of the family. This allowed me to complete my "round of 16" great-great grandparents. This work continues, as well.

5. The five blogs continue. I'm doing more Daily Theme writing on the Ancestor Stories blog. While I put the book blog on hiatus for a couple of months, it is now active again. During the last half of the year, I picked up on my Mom's 75 Years Ago diary entries that I had transcribed, on line, in 2005, and started following and commenting on them on the Ancestor Stories blog. In 2012, I will continue the weekly Tuesday comments, but will also be transcribing the 1937 daily entries on The KINNICK Project blog - she was Eileen KINNICK.

6. During the last six months of the year I continued to research and write about the place, times, and characters of "The Homeplace" series of fiction, including developing their family history back to 1833 when the homeplace was first settled. The earliest chapter, I adapted as a short story, "The Trek to the Homeplace," which was recently published in the Annual Anthology of the Ozarks Writers League: Echoes of the Ozarks, Volume VII. I will continue to research, develop and write "Homeplace" stories; but make no promises on specifics or timing… they will come when they come.  ;-)

7. Much of my writing, of course, is informed by my reading. I read on-line, on my Kindle, and books in print form - yes, I still read books in print form, a lot! A theme that ran through my recent readings has been both the upcoming and past presidential years. During the year, I read (on the Kindle) the Jimmie Carter White House Diaries, then the (old) print book, The 'Unfinished Presidency' about Carter after the White House years. I am now finishing Ronald Reagan's White House Presidential diaries (single book form) on the Kindle… continuing the saga; two very different perspectives on history. It has been most interesting to 'relive those years.' I've read very little on the post WWII era ('because I lived them') - but, these recent readings now remind me how much I really missed. Guess that sets up some future reading, yes?!  ;-)

Reading and Writing Plans for 2012 will be published on January 2.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 23 Dec 2011

Follow Friday

23 Dec 2011

Sometimes you just know a good referral the minute you see it. I do face one challenge, when I see one, though. I write for several different reasons, different venues (see the notes in the header for some of them). When I find a good referral, I have to stop and think: "Which audience do I want to write about this for?" This time, it was actually pretty easy - this is a Follow Friday referral:

"You're Researching but Are You Reading?" by Marian Pierre-Louise (one of my favorite bloggers, you've probably noticed) is especially good for my new readers, but should be reviewed by each of us doing any amount of family history or genealogy research. And, as always, do not fail to read the excellent comments. They are very good here, as usual.


What do you think? What have you read lately that has helped you with your research?  I'd love to hear about them.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Pammel Court at ISU

Those Places Thursday

Pammel Court at ISU

Nancy and Annette in front of our Pammel Court home (May 1961).

Last week, I shared our first home as a married couple in the 1959-1960 year, where Nancy was teaching in State Center, Iowa (where we lived), and I was in my junior year at Iowa State University (ISU), in Ames, a few miles to the west.

At the end of the school year in State Center, we moved to 103 Pammel Court, in Ames, just north of campus, along and just east of the main road, just north of the railroad tracks running east and west - yes, it was loud, sometimes.

We were living there, of course, when Annette was born at the Mary Greeley hospital, in Ames, in August 1960. Fall classes had started, and I was carrying and reading my Genetics textbook. Fathers didn't participate in deliveries, back then. We sat in the waiting room; so, I was making good use of my time. That is what I remember. Nancy probably has a different set of memories…  ;-) It was a comfortable small home, build for the G.I.'s coming back from World War II in the late 1940s - but still serviceable nearing 20 years later.

We lived in Pammel Court (1960-1961) until I graduated in the Spring; then moved to California. More on that to follow, of course.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower

Merl and Pauline (Smith) Bower - married 1 Jun 1935.
[Pauline is my Dad's older sister.]
I don't know if this is a wedding photo, or later.
They will appear in Eileen's 75 Years Ago diary in Week 52, on a Christmas Sunday (Jan 3 post).
They obviously live out of town (not Coon Rapids, IA).
I suddenly realized I don't really know very much about their early years, before the had their two daughters, before the moved to California. And, I've forgotten, or can't find, when they moved west.
Their daughters were born in 1941 and 1945.
Hope some cousins will answer some of these questions!  Thanks!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 50 - Dec 7-13

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 50 - Dec 7-13

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 50. On Monday, "Charlie and I decorated the window for Christmas" at the store.

On Thursday, rare notice of national news: "King Edward abdicated his throne this morning. Duke of York will ascend." Later in the day, "Sold 7 of the pigs." One story about as important as another, it seems!  ;-)

With wedding coming up next week, "Put my name on bedspread for Max's shower at Curly Higenberg's."

Noted birth of a first cousin, Jeanette Kinnick Brideson at 3 this morning, on Sunday.

 Jeanette and her husband, Richard (Dick) Shapley and their clan in Sept 1992.

Finished Sunday with: "Pete really looked swellegant!"

Comments welcomed! 


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories - 50 Years Ago - Keesler

COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011/PAGE 4

50 Years Ago
December 14, 1961
Second lieutenant William L. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leverne Smith, Route 1, Coon Rapids, successfully completed a course in Introduction to Accounting I through the United States Armed Forces Institute, Madison, Wisc. He graduated from Coon Rapids Community High School in 1957 and graduated from Iowa State University in 1961. Before entering the Air Force, the lieutenant was a computer programmer with the Space Technology Labs, Inc. Los Angeles, Calif. He and his wife, the former Nancy Bolger, are now residing in Biloxi, Miss., where he is a student in ground elections with the 3401st School Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

***************
Observations and memories:

1) Since I chose a science major at ISU, and graduated with my B.S. in Math, I had taken now business courses in college. As a student worker at the Ames Atomic Energy Commission Physics lab during my Junior and Senior year, I realized I was actually more interested in the business side, the paper work side, of science research than in the science/physics research itself. With my three-year Air Force commitment already in place, it made the decision easy to begin taking business related courses through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute (in this case, actually, the University of Wyoming!) as soon as I went on active duty, even while attending 'ground electronics' school at work. These were correspondence courses, at that time, of course.

2) Curiously, just a couple of days ago, Nancy and I were talking about the 'architectural drawing' course I also took through USAFI... that was a 'fun' course - but I've used what I learned there, many times, through the years, as we bought and sold homes. Interesting side issues to being in the military.

3) That first accounting course, above, that I completed eventually led to a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), from Drake University, with an emphasis in accounting, that led me to qualify for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate, in about 1974, which I held for 26 years. For various reasons, I never obtained my license to practice public accounting, but I spent nearly 20 in private accounting. A great early decision in life, that paid dividends for many years that followed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Note: See label, Sharing Memories, below in the left sidebar, for earlier Sharing Memories posts.

Follow Friday - 16 Dec 2011

Follow Friday

16 Dec 2011

I am always on the lookout for good ideas for involving young people (including kids) in their family history, especially in interesting group activities. My grandson has been involved in three such activities in the past year, at scouts, at school and at a school-related outside activity.

Joan Miller's report, "Kids climb their family tree at the library," provides good insights, both opportunities and some of the possible shortcomings,


What do you think? Have you been involved in a youth related family history activity?  I'd love to hear about them.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - First Married Home

Those Places Thursday

First Married Home

When we first got married, in August 1959, Nancy and I lived in the upstairs apartment, with outdoor stairs, of the house, above, in State Center, Iowa, where Nancy had a school teaching contract for the 1959-1960 school year, third grade. I was a junior at Iowa State University that year, a few miles to the west. We were able to buy a simple new bedroom set, but the rest of our furniture was all left over from our parents farm homes. But, it was our place, and we were working hard to make it a home.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

Maxine (Max) (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

Married December 16, 1936

75 Years Ago - Celebrating in Arizona, this month!

[I cannot help but comment on the car and license place 37- (Greene Co, Iowa) cannot read year, most likely 1936 or 37]

{They look very much like their two oldest children, Judi and Gary, at same age!!!}

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 49 - Nov 30-Dec 6

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 49 - Nov 30-Dec 6

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 49. On Monday, "Came in to Globe Trotter game at nite." This was at the gym in our little home town school. I saw them in the 1950s, as well. Just saw an ad for their appearance in Springfield, MO, here in Dec 2011, too! 

Nice photo of Eileen and Pete, at the Homeplace (his Dad's farm, north of town).

Wednesday night was Hit Parade nite - I listed to it in the 50s, as well. It was just new in 1935; I'm sure she hardly ever missed it on the radio.

Thursday radio was "Maxwell House & Bob Burns - see details.

Finally, on Sunday, Eileen mentions '13 stayed at Smith's for dinner' and 'Betty and I did the chores.
Here is a photo of the folks likely at the gathering.

Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sentimental Sunday - Reflections on my Dad's Family

Sentimental Sunday

Reflections on my Dad's Family

Posting the 1938 Smith Family Christmas photo on Wednesday got me to thinking about this group. My Grandpa, Bill, holding my cousin, Gary, in 1938, is already 69 years old and just holding his first grandchild - with all those children. They all married late, by standards of the day, it seems. I had not really considered that, and decided to see what their ages were at marriage and when the first child was born to each couple. [Grandpa Bill, "Pop" to his children, died before the next Christmas, 3 months after I was born (his second grandchild), the next summer. No, not my fault. ;-)]

Let's take a look at the numbers:
Willard (Toots) was born 1906, did not marry until 1945, age 49, first child at age 41.
Irene, born, 1909, did not marry; no children
LVene, born 1910, married Verle May 1938, age 28, first child at age 31.
Pauline, born 1912, married Merl in Jun 1935, age 23, first child at age 29.
Leverne (Pete-my Dad) was born 1915, married Eileen in Mar 1938, age 22, first child at age 23 (me)
Max, born 1917, married Orrin 16 Dec 1936 [75 years ago this coming Friday - they still live in Arizona], age 19, first child (Gary), age nearly 21.
Betty, born 1919, married Warren Dec 1950, age 31, first child, age nearly 33

Four of the middle siblings married between Jun 1935 and May 1938; oldest and youngest married the latest. They all lost their mother in 1923 when Betty was only 4, my Dad was not yet 8; Irene, 14, LVene, 13. And, the Great Depression fell in-between there…  Many other factors, I'm sure, as well.

On Tuesdays, I am writing about my Mom's diary entries, 75 Years Ago, … much about the days and times of those four marriages in there. Join us in weekly episodes, if you are interested.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Surname Saturday - Nielsen in Denmark to Nelson in USA

Surname Saturday

Nielsen in Denmark to Nelson in USA

A few months ago I was fortunate to hear from a 'new to me' cousin in Denmark kind enough to share a couple of generations worth of my family history with me, on my 'shortest' family line. I am one quarter Dane (maternal grandmother born in Denmark), so this was wonderful news, and I made a couple of posts, here and here.

Well, as the Internet would have it, another 'new to me' cousin, Trine, in Denmark, was surfing the web, as we all do from time to time, these days, it seems, and what does she find: "Nielsen home in Denmark" - my blog post. And her email says: That is the house my husband and children and I live in now!

Obviously, this started a new round of emails, exchanges of photos, and family history discussions. She also, early on, mentioned she had a uncle who had come to the USA about 1900 and really didn't know much about him… but she thought he had taken the name of Nelson when he came, rather than Nielsen that he had been born into. His given name was Christian, but from scans of postcards he had sent, it was clear he used Christ Nelson over here. To her, she thought of him as 'her rich American uncle!' - though he really wasn't, of course. So, my research began, with many false starts - that is a really common name, even restricted to one state! And, of course, it turned out to be the wrong state, as well! [I did actually locate him in the 1930 census, before I confirmed it was his family with Flemming, below - but there was much, much more to the story; much still unknown.]

Before long, she mentioned 'her cousin' who did the family history work in the family. We have now caught up with him, and many things become clearer… for each of us. Flemming, the cousin knew more about the 'rich American uncle' than Trine realized; she just hadn't asked. So, now, it turns out, I know 2 third-cousins in Denmark, and there are a 'flock of them' near St. Paul, Minnesota - that Flemming has visited. Small world, huh? Common great-great grandparents. By the way, Flemming did not realize that my great-grand mother (his great aunt) and my grandmother had emigrated to America, also, in the first decade of the 1900s, only a few years after their Christ Nelson. That was nice to be able to share with him.

So, for one more story. Christ Nelson was one of five brothers - who would have been first cousins of my grandmother, Dorothy Sorensen Kinnick. Here they are, in about 1896:

Sons of Morten (brother of my great-grandmother, Jensene Nielsen Sorensen):

Niels b. 19 May 1877
Peder b. 20 Sep 1878
M. Christian b. 14 Oct 1879
Marius b. 28 Mar 1881
Anders b. 1 Jun 1882

Christian - Marius
     Anders
Niels - Peder

Finally, Flemming is in regular communication with Orla and Bente that I communicated with a few months ago, that got this cycle started. Much of their detailed family information actually came from him. Small world, all over again. And, it will continue.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 9 Dec 2011

Follow Friday - 9 Dec 2011


Most of you are likely to have read this post, but, if you missed it, you'll want to catch it… and/or go back to read the many, many good comments added.

Greta Koehl's post, "Why I Want to Remain an Amateur," discusses as completely and eloquently as I have seen what many of us have been thinking seriously in recent times: How/where do I fit on the professional/amatuer genealogist spectrum?


What do you think? Does this article speak to you, as well?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Farm Home

Those Places Thursday

Farm Home

As I continue this occasional 'Those Places' Thursday theme, today I will focus on 'where I grew up.'

The aerial photo is of the farm in Willow Township, Greene County, Iowa, in 1947, where I lived from about 2 until about 18 (or until I got married, at 20, depending how you count, I suppose). It is just a mile to the east of the Map I shared on a recent Mappy Monday. It was technically my third home, as explained there. 

This view is generally north, and a bit east. The road you can see at the bottom of the photo, running east and west, had an intersection with the north and south road right at the lower left corner, above, behind the trees. That road, paralleled the Carroll-Greene County road a mile to the west, ran one mile to the north to the corner where Willow #3 school sat (north and east of the corner). Two miles directly west of that corner was the location of the Star School-Star Church corner described earlier.

The clump of trees, lower left, beyond the house was 'The Grove' - I built an infamous playhouse there where many stories were told (mostly by me to my cousins, mostly girls; wonder what, if anything they recall about that?) - my younger brothers took it over after I moved on... no telling what went on there, after that.

The buildings are, from the left: House, Wash House, Cob House, Chicken House, Barn (red, of course), Corn Crib, Hog House (north side of road) and the Cattle Shed - all white, on the south side of the road. There was a very large garden west of the grove, north of the house.

Those two years between High School graduation and getting married were taken up with:

1. Summer working in Des Moines with Keck Motors, owned and operated by Mom's uncle and his family.

2. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa - dormitory, fall, winter and spring

3. Second summer, lived in Des Moines for awhile working (unsuccessful Vita Craft sales job), then returned home for a while (working at gas station in Coon Rapids, as I had done in high school), before,

4. Iowa State University - dormitory, fall, winter and spring.

5. Summer in apartment with friends near campus, until wedding first week of August.

These are my memories. It was a long time ago, and I now realize these memories don't come as easily as they did years ago. Anyone else have that problem? Comments welcomed.

First married 'home' next...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Smith Family Christmas 1938

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Smith Family Christmas 1938

[From left: Verle Thomas, LVene (Smith)Thomas, Pauline (Smith) Bower, Rita Ballard - 

in back, Willard Smith, Merle Bower, Grant Ballard; in front of them: Betty Smith, Irene Smith

Bill Smith, in front row, holding baby (Gary Hilgenberg)

Four on right, Pete Smith, Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, Maxine (Smith) and Orrin Hilgenberg

I am posting this photo, which is also from LVene's 1991 Smith book, because it relates very well to the '75 Year Ago' post next Tuesday - although this photo is 1938, and the '75 Years Ago' reference is 1936 - it is virtually all the same people, and same time of year, in the same location (the Homeplace)!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 48 - Nov 22-29

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 48 - Nov 22-29

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 48. Thanksgiving on Thursday - was the last Thursday of month in 1936.

Very interesting to see Pete (my Dad) referred to, on Monday, as the "red headed boy" - his hair had a red tinge to the black… was it even more reddish just out of high school???

Noted boys and girls high school basketball scores: 22-25 & 18-19! ;-)

Curious the way the family divided for Thanksgiving day dinner: Older brother went to his Kinnick uncle's for dinner, while their Mom and Dad went to their Mom's sister's place. Eileen stayed home during day, but went out in the evening, with Pete! Stayed out late, it appears.

Her father was regularly attending a divorce trial - curious, as well.

Interesting that she worked at the appliance store, on Saturday night, since the owner was out of town!  ;-)


Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Discount on Lulu.com Books - Great shopping opportunity

Discount on Lulu.com Books

Great shopping opportunity

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/drbillshares

[Home of 13 Ways... and Kinnick and Schwyhart Family History books]

From Lulu.com:
Enter coupon code BUY2GETONE305 at checkout and receive a free book when you buy two. You need to have 3 books in your shopping cart for this coupon to work. The maximum savings for this offer is $25. Sorry, but this offer is only valid in US Dollars and cannot be applied to previous orders. You can only use this code once per account, and unfortunately you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer expires on December 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM, so don't miss out! While very unlikely, we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.

Check out the many genealogy authors also publishing via Lulu.com!

Families are Forever!

Follow Friday - 2 Dec 2011

Follow Friday

2 Dec 2011

Heather Wilkinson Rojo at her Nutfield Genealogy blog post: "Flip-Pal Project #2" has provided a nice summary of not only her use of the Flip-Pal scanner but also using the photos and her blog posts to create books for her family.

My wife loves her Flip-Pal, and I've been thinking seriously about creating some books from my blogs, so this article is very valuable, to me. I hope you find it useful, as well.


What do you think? What have your experiences been?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Bill and Baritone Horn

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Bill and Baritone Horn

There was a blog about playing trombone, the other day. Shortly, I came across this photo.

I believe I was a High School freshman - going to band contest, I think.

I enjoyed the Baritone in Concert and Marching Band - didn't work to well for Jazz Band!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK 75 yrs ago - Week 47 - Nov15-22

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 47 - Nov15-22

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 47. "The Golden Woman" is most likely 'A story of love and adventure in the west' - certainly something she would be likely to read.

Back issues of "Esquire" magazine for 1936 are available, if you would like to see what she was reading! I also notice there is a book of F. Scott Fitzgerald "Short Stories from Esquire: 1936-1941" that likely included his story in the magazine Eileen was reading. [Love the internet, with instant access to so much information, more than we can ever use!]

Thanksgiving was still a week away, in 1936.

Another busy week for my future Mom!  ;-)


Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 25 Nov 2011

Follow Friday

25 Nov 2011

Each of us hope not to face the questions Marian (and her many, many commenters) discuss in today's recommended blog post: "My Genealogy Software Upheaval." However, we each almost inevitably will. Enjoy the read.

There are a number of great issues raised in this discussion beyond simply software issues.

What do you think? What have your experiences been?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - LVene's Smith Book

Treasure Chest Thursday

LVene's Smith Book

This is a scan of the bottom of one page of the 'Treasure Chest' that is the family history prepared with great effort (and cost) by my Dad's sister, LVene, with help of many others, of their Smith family 'genealogy' in 1991. There were no more than 10 copies made, for the siblings, and each was made by hand.

I have benefited greatly from this work, in my personal research. I am pleased to have the copy LVene gave to my Mom (Dad had already passed away, of course).

Yesterday, I posted a poor 'old' scan of the above photo; I had forgotten it was in this book. Thanks to cousin, Becki, for reminding me. I appreciate your support a great deal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - 1923 Smith Family Photo

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

1923 Smith Family Photo

This is a scan of an old little black and white family photo that I've had for a long time but have never really ever done much with. I now realize, this is likely the last photo ever of my grandmother Ella, center back, white apron. She died in June 1923, and this photo is labeled 1923. I believe it is the only photo I have of my dad earlier than high school. He is the boy in the middle, just in front of and to the side of his mother, surrounded by all of his sisters. He would have been been 7 and a half, about the same age as my grandson, Alex, now. Pete would become 8 in early August 1923, a couple of months after his mother passed away.

Oldest living son, Willard (17) - known to all as Toots - is on the far left, next to Grandpa Bill (53). To the right of Ella (43) are the three oldest daughters, Irene (14), LVene (13) and Pauline (11). Daughter, Maxine (6) (center) and Bethene (4) are in front.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 46 - Nov 9-15

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 46 - Nov 9-15

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 46. A four movie week. Tuesday was especially busy, going to Des Moines shopping - a 150 mile round trip; but back in time for the Bank Nite movie and cash drawing.

I really like the "With Teddy" photo I posted on this week of Eileen and dog on summer lawn.

"Patrolmen & their flash lights!" They were parked by the court house in Carroll. Seemed to be having a lot of fun!  ;-)



Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 18 Nov 2011

Follow Friday

18 Nov 2011

My friend, Dan Curtis - Professional Personal Historian, just published a great, "Posts That Got You Talking," that I must share with you. I am confident there are 1 or 2, or 8, that you will want to read (again, perhaps) along with the comments. Some are 'commentaries' on life. Enjoy!

 Which of the eight caught your eye? Which will be useful to you? Had you seen these before?


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Open Thread Thursday: How would you encourage someone to read genealogy blogs?

Open Thread Thursday: 

How would you encourage someone to read genealogy blogs?

Here is my comment:

I agree with Judy, the first commenter, that it needs to be mentioned regularly - that is, as Thomas says, it is an education issue (one of many we face). Along with several other geneabloggers, I also write the "Springfield Genealogy Examiner" column for Examiner.com, usually two a week. Here are two I've written in the past:

"Reading genealogy blogs is a good way to learn about family history study,"

and, I also wrote: "Have you considered writing a Springfield genealogy blog yourself?"


How do you, my readers, reply to this question? Please respond in the comments!



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Eileen KINNICK - 3rd Grade Photo

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

 Eileen KINNICK

3rd Grade Photo

Fall 1926

[My Mom]

Families are Forever! ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 45 - Nov 2-8

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 45 - Nov 2-8

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 45. Even though Eileen (Mom) had a very bad cold, and sore throat, and it was very cold - she seemed to keep doing all her activities - work, dancing, work each day, Homecoming activities, movies, and noticed it was election day on Tuesday. Love the photo of Shirley Temple in movie, "Dimples!"

"Max got her engagement ring tonight." - on Sunday! - "Those blamed wedding bells again!!!!"


Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 46 Politics

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Week 46 Politics

Thanks to GeneaBloggers and Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for these prompts.


Week 46. Politics. What are your childhood memories of politics? Were your parents active in politics? What political events and elections do you remember from your youth?

Ah! The simpler times….

Two memories to report.

The election of 1952 would have been my first year in 'town school' after one-room country school. I was anxious to 'achieve' - and we had a magazine sales campaign. Yes, we had them 'way back then!' I managed to sell enough to earn a stuffed animal - a six inch ELEPHANT with I LIKE IKE or a DONKEY. I chose the elephant - I thought the I LIKE IKE motto was neat! I kept that thing for over 50 years!  ;-)
Sometime during that campaign year, we did see Ike appear, as I recall, out of the back of a train, stopped in a neighboring town. That may have affected my choice, as well!  ;-)

As I faced my first actual election to vote in, in 1960, talking to my Dad about it… He said, you vote as you wish, but I'll be voting a straight Republican ticket (there was a lever for the on the machine at the time), except, I vote for the Democrat for Agriculture Secretary (Dad was a farmer). Interesting what you remember, after all these years! I think I followed his example, that year.  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 11 Nov 2011

Follow Friday

11 Nov 2011

Each Michael Hait blog post is worth reading. If you maintain a blog (or more than one, especially), this one is for you, if you haven't seen it yet. Great advice. OK, I'm partially posting it so I can come back and read it, from time to time.

On his Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession, but you don't have to be a professional to benefit, his post: "5 Ways to Manage Your Blog (or Blogs)."  6 tips, actually, that fit with my plans very well. I think you will benefit from them, as well.

What do you think? Do you do each of these to make your 'blogging life' better?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - Orrin and Maxine (Smith) Hilgenberg

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

Orrin and Maxine (Smith) Hilgenberg

Dad's sister, Max, and Orrin were married 16 Dec 1936.

(See Eileen's diary next Tuesday, as well)

This photo is from their 50th Wedding Annversary in 1986.

As I am writing this, they live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and are approaching their 75th!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 44 - Oct 26-Nov 1

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 44 - Oct 26-Nov 1

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school, and started dating my dad later in the year. The transcription, week by week, with commentary, notable items, and my comments are sitting there to view, unchanged (a few bad links and all!). . You are welcome to click on the Weekly Index, and go back to read the first half of the year, at your leisure.
Key:
My comments - in red
Commentary at the time - in green
Notable items - in blue
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 8 years old; see photo.

Week 44. As last week, another cold week as she continued to work at the Maytag store each day, it appears.

On Thursday, this nearly 18 year old is lamenting, “Wedding Bells are Breaking Up that Old Gang of Mine.”  We get more comments like this, in weeks ahead. Very interesting.

Friday night dance grouping becoming familiar: Max and Orrin, Harold and Edith, Don and Norma, Pete and Eileen. Ten years later, or more, as a youngster, I often saw these same couples play important roles in our lives.

Homecoming, Church Bazaar, Chivari, "Halloweener's pushed my car into the telephone pole."

Movies, dancing, Cafe, fun. Another good week!  ;-)

Comments welcomed! 


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Hometown Monday and 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 45 High School

Hometown Monday and 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Week 45 High School

Thanks to GeneaBloggers and Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for these prompts.


Week 45. High School. Describe your middle and/or high school. Was it a large or small student body? Is the school still in existence today? How has it changed since you went there?

Coon Rapids (IA) High School has now become Coon Rapids-Bayard High School through consolidation with the nearby town down the highway to the east. It still exists, which is a feat in itself, given the rural Iowa location.

Several separate buildings are no longer used by the school, including the building I attended for high school. The school board recently voted to build a new addition on the existing High School/Middle School to include all K-12 grades for both towns and the surrounding rural community on the one site, for long term sustainability.

I maintain a wiki for the use of all classes, through the years, back to 1888.



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 4 Nov 2011

Follow Friday

4 Nov 2011

Today I'm recommending an excellent post that speaks directly to the name of my blog. Susan, at Susan's Genealogy Blog, writes this week: "Not Just a Name and Date: Flesh on the Bones."

She even provides some excellent resources from which you may draw the social history surrounding the activities of your ancestors, so that their stories are "fleshed out" with meaningful detail. Understanding the social context of the time and place where your ancestors worked and resided is extremely important in telling their stories. It also helps us better understand who we are.


What do you think? What other resources have you used?  I'd love to hear your story.


Comments welcomed.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Inside Star Church

Those Places Thursday

Inside Star Church

A while back I reported here, Those Places Thursday, on the rural Star Church of my youth. Today, I want to share three photos from inside the church during the early 1950s.

Looking north, this is the left side of the main part of the church sanctuary. Rev. Joston is preaching. My Mom, Eileen, is at the piano on this day. (Sometimes it was my future wife, Nancy, at the piano.) The choir included several members of our two families, as well. Note the folding door, to the far right. That opened into the 'newly added' Star school building that was added.

Here is a better look at the choir (note: not the same day as above!)

Family in the choir: second from left, Aunt Lillian (Kinnick) Ford; fourth and fifth from left, Nancy's Mom and my Mom; first man on left, in back, Lillian's husband, Delbert Ford; next man, after last lady, Nancy's Dad; tallest, my next younger brother, Jim; next to him, Nancy's brother, Al Bolger. The way it worked out in a small rural church.

Meetings were held in the basement, downstairs. Here is an adult Sunday School class holding a dinner-based social meeting, one evening.

Very typical events of our small church. Great memories.

Families are Forever!  ;-)