Blown away by this! Have you ever thought of doing a class on this, how to research archives, how to write local history into our narratives? I feel awful for even suggesting that knowing how busy you are! I also live in a rural area where the young are encouraged to leave. My grandpa once said to me, the one who stayed, that my brother was too good to stay here, basically that he had too much potential.
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!
Truth
Such an amazing post! I’ve never thought of archives in this way. How intriguing!
Yes! I'm enthralled by all the old stories floating around there.
Blown away by this! Have you ever thought of doing a class on this, how to research archives, how to write local history into our narratives? I feel awful for even suggesting that knowing how busy you are! I also live in a rural area where the young are encouraged to leave. My grandpa once said to me, the one who stayed, that my brother was too good to stay here, basically that he had too much potential.
Reading that sentence washed me with sadness. Yes, that has been the narrative. And so we send our best talent away to places that grind them down.
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.
Bring me a cup of your famous coffee when you come!
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've never been there either, but I bet it will be an eye-opening day.
“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.
I literally get goosebumps just thinking about it, Michele.
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!
Come visit me, Parjit!
Would love to! One of these days…
beautiful
Thank you, maker of beautiful things.