Fascinating! My mom volunteered at the Archives in Montgomery. Such complex layers, thank you for shifting through these specific stories and sharing them.
Archives are magical places and archivists magicians.
The Missouri Botanical Garden archives was a locus of graduate school. I’m old enough to have the luck to make a research road trip but also be able to email magicians in Adelaide to get papers/correspondence not possible from that road trip.
Historians, as my advisor once said, have the best job because we get to read other people’s mail.
And what we find is the sheer humanity of our subjects—their resilience, their chafing at the constraints of their lives, their stubborn refusal to be anything but alive.
That’s what you’ve discovered, Janisse, and what you have reminded us.
My roots run deep here. I could lose myself in local history. The day will come and I will finally start that journey and spend time at the archives with you.
I write historical novels and feel the same collapse of historical time that you write about here. Like it or not, the past becomes present, pulls me into it, makes historical people real and alive and in charge of things--in charge of *me.* Thank you for sharing (again) this truthful description of our work as students of story.
This was amazing! I have been doing some research here in Bryan County…especially the south end. I came across a book called North by South that follows 2 years of his plantation records. It’s fascinating. Now I have begun reading the oral histories from Henry Ford’s employees. It has been eye opening as to the “whys” of how things came about.
Oh this is wonderful, from the chutzpah of Ruth, to the person punished for "wandering about in idle pleasure" and everything in between. I've never been to Portland's history museum, but maybe it's time.
“I do approve,” she said. Of course she recognized that you were the only one who would take care of these records as if they were your children, or your stories.
And the night when you lie on that metal cot in the jail, I bet the voices from the beyond will be grateful to share their lives. I bet they will line up for their chance to tell you what they knew.
Omg, what a story! Ruth knew you are the right person to take charge of the Archives and to bring it back with your sincerity, dedication, and hard work. Unbelievable!
As you know, my Grandfather was warden of the prison for 25 years. He was the warden when Martin Luther King marched through. I remember many stories from that time. We have a letter written to him from JFK. We have so much documentation that I should copy for the archives. I want to come volunteer!
This was a fascinating post. I read it twice, realizing I'd missed some things. Thank you fr re-sharing it. I'd love to hear more about your discoveries in the archives!
Just a few minutes from our home is our county history museum. It has grown quite a bit in the past forty years and although we have a paid museum director and curator, they are supported by dedicated volunteers.
There’s a $3 fee, the sign says, as you enter the double doors of the old building, but I am a member and can visit whenever they are open.
You sign in at the museum gift shop, which among other things is full of books about the area. The research library and archives are tucked in the back past permanent displays of our history since the 1800’s. My grandfathers photo is there as one of the first “doughboys” to go to France in WWI.
There’s a temporary exhibit right now about the history of the Big Rock Marlin tournament, held here every June and one of the largest in the country.
The best part is the library, the people who work in it, the knowledge they have, the stories they share.
The main guy, Dee Lewis is my cousin, we share the same great grandfather. He always loved history and when he retired this became a full-time volunteer position for him.
My other favorite is Bob Guthrie. Our mother’s were best friends and neighbors in old Victorian homes right downtown, back when most everyone lived downtown unless you farmed and lived in the country. Bob taught high school history and has been volunteering since retirement as well. He tells me we’re related somehow too and even though I didn’t grow up here, I was born here and have known him my entire life.
If you’re lucky enough to visit when both are there, well, you are more than lucky enough and in for a real treat, especially if nothing else is on your calendar that day. Their enthusiastic stories bring local and state history alive in ways that make me want to stay, even when it’s time to go. All the way home I marvel at how much fun it was, how at home I felt, how much clearer I can see the world around me and my place in it. I cant wait for enough time to go back and hope it is sooner than later.
Janisse, your wonderful story reminded me just how important these people are and the archives they study and share. These men are in their eighties and I wonder who will step up when they are no longer able?
They are making history and will go down in history as two of the greatest from our area.
Absolutely fascinating
Janisse, this is amazing!!! Wow!
Thank you, what a great site!
Fascinating! My mom volunteered at the Archives in Montgomery. Such complex layers, thank you for shifting through these specific stories and sharing them.
Archives are magical places and archivists magicians.
The Missouri Botanical Garden archives was a locus of graduate school. I’m old enough to have the luck to make a research road trip but also be able to email magicians in Adelaide to get papers/correspondence not possible from that road trip.
Historians, as my advisor once said, have the best job because we get to read other people’s mail.
And what we find is the sheer humanity of our subjects—their resilience, their chafing at the constraints of their lives, their stubborn refusal to be anything but alive.
That’s what you’ve discovered, Janisse, and what you have reminded us.
Great story
My roots run deep here. I could lose myself in local history. The day will come and I will finally start that journey and spend time at the archives with you.
I write historical novels and feel the same collapse of historical time that you write about here. Like it or not, the past becomes present, pulls me into it, makes historical people real and alive and in charge of things--in charge of *me.* Thank you for sharing (again) this truthful description of our work as students of story.
This was amazing! I have been doing some research here in Bryan County…especially the south end. I came across a book called North by South that follows 2 years of his plantation records. It’s fascinating. Now I have begun reading the oral histories from Henry Ford’s employees. It has been eye opening as to the “whys” of how things came about.
Oh this is wonderful, from the chutzpah of Ruth, to the person punished for "wandering about in idle pleasure" and everything in between. I've never been to Portland's history museum, but maybe it's time.
“I do approve,” she said. Of course she recognized that you were the only one who would take care of these records as if they were your children, or your stories.
And the night when you lie on that metal cot in the jail, I bet the voices from the beyond will be grateful to share their lives. I bet they will line up for their chance to tell you what they knew.
Omg, what a story! Ruth knew you are the right person to take charge of the Archives and to bring it back with your sincerity, dedication, and hard work. Unbelievable!
beautiful
As you know, my Grandfather was warden of the prison for 25 years. He was the warden when Martin Luther King marched through. I remember many stories from that time. We have a letter written to him from JFK. We have so much documentation that I should copy for the archives. I want to come volunteer!
This was a fascinating post. I read it twice, realizing I'd missed some things. Thank you fr re-sharing it. I'd love to hear more about your discoveries in the archives!
Just a few minutes from our home is our county history museum. It has grown quite a bit in the past forty years and although we have a paid museum director and curator, they are supported by dedicated volunteers.
There’s a $3 fee, the sign says, as you enter the double doors of the old building, but I am a member and can visit whenever they are open.
You sign in at the museum gift shop, which among other things is full of books about the area. The research library and archives are tucked in the back past permanent displays of our history since the 1800’s. My grandfathers photo is there as one of the first “doughboys” to go to France in WWI.
There’s a temporary exhibit right now about the history of the Big Rock Marlin tournament, held here every June and one of the largest in the country.
The best part is the library, the people who work in it, the knowledge they have, the stories they share.
The main guy, Dee Lewis is my cousin, we share the same great grandfather. He always loved history and when he retired this became a full-time volunteer position for him.
My other favorite is Bob Guthrie. Our mother’s were best friends and neighbors in old Victorian homes right downtown, back when most everyone lived downtown unless you farmed and lived in the country. Bob taught high school history and has been volunteering since retirement as well. He tells me we’re related somehow too and even though I didn’t grow up here, I was born here and have known him my entire life.
If you’re lucky enough to visit when both are there, well, you are more than lucky enough and in for a real treat, especially if nothing else is on your calendar that day. Their enthusiastic stories bring local and state history alive in ways that make me want to stay, even when it’s time to go. All the way home I marvel at how much fun it was, how at home I felt, how much clearer I can see the world around me and my place in it. I cant wait for enough time to go back and hope it is sooner than later.
Janisse, your wonderful story reminded me just how important these people are and the archives they study and share. These men are in their eighties and I wonder who will step up when they are no longer able?
They are making history and will go down in history as two of the greatest from our area.