(Feb. 23. 2009)
So I've made the final cuts on interviews and photos. I'm still not sure if I'll include any "documentation," or any of the actual certificates I found on Ancestry.com. Since I've decided finally to shift my focus permanently on mostly my living relatives who have impacted me the most, like Busia and my mother, and only touching briefly on those before me, there isn't much room for those types of documents when I have so many pictures. And I don't want the scrapbook to look cluttered, so I've had to cut out a lot more information than I wanted to.
Which makes me nervous, still. I think I'm just naturally nervous about this project. Now that I'm cutting information out, what will this do to my grade? And I just feel silly for spending so much time on Ancestry.com looking stuff up I probably won't even use. I think that, but then I remember my original idea for the project: to learn more about my Polish, deceased ancestors. Even though they may not be in the final project as much as I'd like, I know the stories now. I know which itty-bitty villages my great-grandparents grew up in when they were living in Poland. I know what church they went to, I know my great grandfather was a tailor, and my great-grandmother married her first husband's brother. I know my grandfather's family has been in the states for hundreds of years, and if I had spent more time with that, could possibly even find his ancestors amoung the settlers.
I've learned so much about my family, that the grade I receive for my scrapbook matters minutely. And I have a great start to investigating more, espeically over the summer when I have more time and less classes to distract me.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The New Focus
(Feb. 19, 2009)
As I mentioned last week, the project has been transforming. No problem with that. Well, okay I admit I was a little worried at first, but this is all going to work out in the end. The biggest problem I've been facing so far is just that I have far too much information. I've got death certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and census records up the wazoo for both parent's sides. I've got two trash bags full of pictures from my mother's mom, Busia. I've got interviews transcripted up to four pages long. Where do I go from here? How do I sift through all this ... crap?
I think it's finally time to make a decision. Since my project is multi-genreal and will be in a scrapbook, the tenative plan right now is just to create a scrapbook page for each monumental moment in my White-Polek's side of the fence. My father will be disappointed, but there just isn't as much enthusiam from his side to get included in this project, making it difficult to get information. This way though, if I center this project on my mother's side, I'll get more clarity as I sift through information and it'll be easier to tie up loose ends and answer any questions I may have. I still want to keep the genogram aspect of the project as well... I'm not sure how I'll keep all that information organized in the project though.
As I mentioned last week, the project has been transforming. No problem with that. Well, okay I admit I was a little worried at first, but this is all going to work out in the end. The biggest problem I've been facing so far is just that I have far too much information. I've got death certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and census records up the wazoo for both parent's sides. I've got two trash bags full of pictures from my mother's mom, Busia. I've got interviews transcripted up to four pages long. Where do I go from here? How do I sift through all this ... crap?
I think it's finally time to make a decision. Since my project is multi-genreal and will be in a scrapbook, the tenative plan right now is just to create a scrapbook page for each monumental moment in my White-Polek's side of the fence. My father will be disappointed, but there just isn't as much enthusiam from his side to get included in this project, making it difficult to get information. This way though, if I center this project on my mother's side, I'll get more clarity as I sift through information and it'll be easier to tie up loose ends and answer any questions I may have. I still want to keep the genogram aspect of the project as well... I'm not sure how I'll keep all that information organized in the project though.
More Interviewing Notes
(Feb. 14, 2009)
Earlier this week, I interviewed my older cousin, Rachel, my Uncle Len (Busia's brother), and my grandfather. It seems like the more people I interview, the more materiel I have. This isn't a bad thing, but I guess I'm just not sure what I'm going to do with it all, or how I'd combine it all together. Sure, some of it goes with my original plan of just focusing on my deceased relatives, learning more about them. But most of the information I'm getting is more related to Busia and her life.
This isn't of course a bad thing: I shouldn't be trying to fit my ideas around what my family is actually telling me about what's important to them. However, I'm begining to think I'll have to change my focus of the end product. Before, I was planning to talk about my Polish ancestors as much as humanly possible becuase I wanted to learn more about them. We never talk about them at family gatherings, so I felt pretty oblivious. But now I realize Busia and Uncle Len don't talk about them becuase they don't know much about it. Though their parents were trying hard to keep the Polish roots strong, Busia and Uncle Len were trying to fit in with their friends.
So, long story short, this project may be transforming into something different than I idealized.
Earlier this week, I interviewed my older cousin, Rachel, my Uncle Len (Busia's brother), and my grandfather. It seems like the more people I interview, the more materiel I have. This isn't a bad thing, but I guess I'm just not sure what I'm going to do with it all, or how I'd combine it all together. Sure, some of it goes with my original plan of just focusing on my deceased relatives, learning more about them. But most of the information I'm getting is more related to Busia and her life.
This isn't of course a bad thing: I shouldn't be trying to fit my ideas around what my family is actually telling me about what's important to them. However, I'm begining to think I'll have to change my focus of the end product. Before, I was planning to talk about my Polish ancestors as much as humanly possible becuase I wanted to learn more about them. We never talk about them at family gatherings, so I felt pretty oblivious. But now I realize Busia and Uncle Len don't talk about them becuase they don't know much about it. Though their parents were trying hard to keep the Polish roots strong, Busia and Uncle Len were trying to fit in with their friends.
So, long story short, this project may be transforming into something different than I idealized.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Insider talk
Chapter 6 in our text discusses using "insider talk" and jargon in our projects. I loved the example from the waitresses: discussing crappy tips and difficult customers -- complaining about the boss is the next natural progression. It reminded me so much of my job at the good ol' chicken joint, but I'm still not sure how I can include this in my project.
When transcripting my interviews, I'm just not really seeing much of that excepting nicknames and perhaps some food items. So my question: will I still need a dictionary, or will I be able to pull it off with occasional commentary? Also: what is the purpose of using jargon or "insider talk" in a more professional endeavor, like the Lake James Research we'll be doing later? Is something like this approiate, or is it only acceptable in pointedly deliberate efforts, like Huston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?
But even if I don't use any of the suggestions in this book, I'm really enjoying the reading in Field Working for all the great ideas for a multi-genre project.
When transcripting my interviews, I'm just not really seeing much of that excepting nicknames and perhaps some food items. So my question: will I still need a dictionary, or will I be able to pull it off with occasional commentary? Also: what is the purpose of using jargon or "insider talk" in a more professional endeavor, like the Lake James Research we'll be doing later? Is something like this approiate, or is it only acceptable in pointedly deliberate efforts, like Huston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?
But even if I don't use any of the suggestions in this book, I'm really enjoying the reading in Field Working for all the great ideas for a multi-genre project.
Genealogy: A Women's Sport?
Suzanne brought up the common idea that researching family history is a "woman's job" -- men are usually less likely to be concerned with such things. Perhaps this is because men already do their part by continuing the family lineage -- one may never know for sure. But on a more serious note, it is interesting to see just how many women are the compilers of genealogy and continuing traditions in my own family.
My grandmother's Aunt Cecila did an extensive family tree decades ago, so most of my information was given to me from her. My grandma has done some research herself, and my Aunt Pam, who is actually related to us by marriage, did a family tree about 5 years ago as well.
My Uncle Jim has the tradition gene on my father's side though, however there wasn't much choice since my dad only has three brothers and my grandmother is dead. On my mother's side, my grandmother and my mother's younger brother Tom encourage the traditional Polish meals we have.
My grandmother's Aunt Cecila did an extensive family tree decades ago, so most of my information was given to me from her. My grandma has done some research herself, and my Aunt Pam, who is actually related to us by marriage, did a family tree about 5 years ago as well.
My Uncle Jim has the tradition gene on my father's side though, however there wasn't much choice since my dad only has three brothers and my grandmother is dead. On my mother's side, my grandmother and my mother's younger brother Tom encourage the traditional Polish meals we have.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Miniature Research Project: Polish Chicago
By the 1930s the number of Polish immigrants had exceeded the German immigrant in Chicago, and among them were my great-great grandparents. Since I don't yet know their exact immigration dates and the previous spelling of their names, its been difficult to find their papers, but I do know my great-grandfather's parents were from Wielopole and Kolbusowa. Unfortunately, these cities don't exist anymore, and finding their modern-day equivalents will be a challenging but rewarding chore for the next few days.
Upon their immigration to North America, my great -grandmother Pauline Juhan and her parents Nicholas and Katherine settled first in WI, but later moved with many other Poles to Chicago, in what was known as "Polonia." They lived in Chicago Ward 4, apartments with immigrants from many other countries residing in it. The same was true for my great-grandfather Edward Polek: His parents, John and Francis, moved straight to Chicago upon immigration and lived in Chicago Ward 34. From Census records in 1920, there were 4 other Polish families living in the same Ward, Lithuanian, German, and Russian being present as well. I so wish my great-grandparents were still alive to tell what they must have experienced culturally growing up as first generation immigrants.
When my grandmother was growning up, her parents had decided to stay in Chicago, but moved out of the ward into nicer apartments. She remembers going to church and the entire service being in Polish and she not understanding a single word, and her life mostly centered around the Catholic church upbringing and her other Polish relatives. She remembers having Christmas exactly like we have it today in our new generational family hundreds of miles away from Chicago. So perhaps, in a way, the cultural diversity is still there, but more dependent on the widespread locale of our family and the vastly different life experiences that have marked us.
Upon their immigration to North America, my great -grandmother Pauline Juhan and her parents Nicholas and Katherine settled first in WI, but later moved with many other Poles to Chicago, in what was known as "Polonia." They lived in Chicago Ward 4, apartments with immigrants from many other countries residing in it. The same was true for my great-grandfather Edward Polek: His parents, John and Francis, moved straight to Chicago upon immigration and lived in Chicago Ward 34. From Census records in 1920, there were 4 other Polish families living in the same Ward, Lithuanian, German, and Russian being present as well. I so wish my great-grandparents were still alive to tell what they must have experienced culturally growing up as first generation immigrants.
When my grandmother was growning up, her parents had decided to stay in Chicago, but moved out of the ward into nicer apartments. She remembers going to church and the entire service being in Polish and she not understanding a single word, and her life mostly centered around the Catholic church upbringing and her other Polish relatives. She remembers having Christmas exactly like we have it today in our new generational family hundreds of miles away from Chicago. So perhaps, in a way, the cultural diversity is still there, but more dependent on the widespread locale of our family and the vastly different life experiences that have marked us.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Knowledge Gained
Before I started interviewing relatives for stories, character information, and "life as they knew it" monolouges, I really wanted to see just how far back I could trace things on my own will all certainty. I didn't get far, but I did get somewhere. I spent about 3 hours at the library initially, but after that another 2 hours making up for the information my mom kindly left out (like my grandpa Leonard's real first name).
I now know my grandma White (hereafter "Busia") is 100% Polish, her parents both immigrants in the early 20th Century. From census records of my great-grandfather's early life, I found his parent's names and all his siblings, but I didn't have a clue where to get my great-grandmother's maiden name. However, when I entered my great-grandfather's name in Ancestry.com's family tree link, I found out I'm distantly related to "The Parkers" who kindly did some research for me. I'll have to check it all all out through Busia, but I'm hoping its all legit.
As for my Busia's ex-husband, my mother's father, I've come up with nothing helpful about even him, let alone his parents or grandparents. I've avoided interviewing Busia about her parents becuase I know I'll have to interview her about her ex as well. I could just call up my grandpa myself, which I'm sure I'll have to resort to soon, but since he has a terrible and annoying hearing problem, I've been avoiding it as well.
My father's father is 100% French, but beyond that, I havn't found much. My father's mother is 100% Canadian French, and her Grandmother lived with her until she died so I have Grandma's mom's maiden name and great-great grandma's name as well.
The catch for all of my findings is the lack of immigration papers. Either they all changed their names (or at least the spelling of their names), lied on the census, or were illegal immigrants, stoways, and/or spies. I like the last array of choices better, but in all probability they probably just changed the spelling of their names or what country they were from.
Since my mother's side is so stongly Polish, this is a huge possibility. I've been doing research on webpages like www.polishroots.org and poland.pl to learn about the country's history as a democratic nation, to learn from other geneologists' journeys in tracing their Polish roots, and to learn about the culture and religion of the country. I plan on doing more research of the same type for my father's ancestors as well.
This week I'll be interviewing Busia for more information on her parents and grandparents, and I'm hoping for something fun and exciting like pictures, legal documents, and secret recipies for perogi. I'll sit down my father for some one-on-one hardcore interviewing about his childlife, and I may email his older brothers for information, but I know the well will run shallow there; things are more difficult since both his parents are deceased and the possessions of grandma Leonard's house were randomly dispersed/thrown out when she died 5 years ago.
I now know my grandma White (hereafter "Busia") is 100% Polish, her parents both immigrants in the early 20th Century. From census records of my great-grandfather's early life, I found his parent's names and all his siblings, but I didn't have a clue where to get my great-grandmother's maiden name. However, when I entered my great-grandfather's name in Ancestry.com's family tree link, I found out I'm distantly related to "The Parkers" who kindly did some research for me. I'll have to check it all all out through Busia, but I'm hoping its all legit.
As for my Busia's ex-husband, my mother's father, I've come up with nothing helpful about even him, let alone his parents or grandparents. I've avoided interviewing Busia about her parents becuase I know I'll have to interview her about her ex as well. I could just call up my grandpa myself, which I'm sure I'll have to resort to soon, but since he has a terrible and annoying hearing problem, I've been avoiding it as well.
My father's father is 100% French, but beyond that, I havn't found much. My father's mother is 100% Canadian French, and her Grandmother lived with her until she died so I have Grandma's mom's maiden name and great-great grandma's name as well.
The catch for all of my findings is the lack of immigration papers. Either they all changed their names (or at least the spelling of their names), lied on the census, or were illegal immigrants, stoways, and/or spies. I like the last array of choices better, but in all probability they probably just changed the spelling of their names or what country they were from.
Since my mother's side is so stongly Polish, this is a huge possibility. I've been doing research on webpages like www.polishroots.org and poland.pl to learn about the country's history as a democratic nation, to learn from other geneologists' journeys in tracing their Polish roots, and to learn about the culture and religion of the country. I plan on doing more research of the same type for my father's ancestors as well.
This week I'll be interviewing Busia for more information on her parents and grandparents, and I'm hoping for something fun and exciting like pictures, legal documents, and secret recipies for perogi. I'll sit down my father for some one-on-one hardcore interviewing about his childlife, and I may email his older brothers for information, but I know the well will run shallow there; things are more difficult since both his parents are deceased and the possessions of grandma Leonard's house were randomly dispersed/thrown out when she died 5 years ago.
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