Baby "A" (Book of Me, Week 2)

     It was the mid 80's and technology wasn't what it is today.  When my mom was about five months pregnant with me, she went to her doctor to complain that she wasn't going to make it through and that she was out of room.  The doctor, not taking her complaints very seriously, was shocked by an ultrasound that revealed a second baby.  Congrats, it's twins!

     When my sister and I hit our due date, the doctor decided to induce (he was going on vacation and wanted to be there for the delivery).  Due to our heart rates dropping during contractions, we were dramatically brought into the world via c-section. The doctors grabbed me first, rescuing me from where my sister had wedged my head into my mom's pelvic bone. Thus, at 10:04 a.m. on a memorable Friday morning, I became "Baby A," a middle child by the difference of one minute.

     My sister and I took after or dad in coloring: blond and blue eyed.  I was 18.5 inches long and weighed 5 pounds, 14.5 ounces, while my sister was a little bigger.  Mom could tell us apart easily by the shape of our heads (dented due to the afore mentioned pelvic bone).  Even today, she's the only one who can tell us apart in our baby photos.  For those who couldn't deduce the minute differences in two babies' head shapes, we could also be told apart by birthmarks.  I had four! Strawberry marks on my wrist, behind my ear and on the font of my shoulder, and a brown spot behind my knee.  Today, I still have the mark on my shoulder and leg.

     We all left the hospital after a week and were quite a handful - literally.  If it takes a village to raise a baby, what does it take to raise twins?  A lot of help from family for the first few weeks at least.  Everyone wanted to meet "the twins" and to this day, when meeting older relatives that I don't really know, we get referred to as "Ruby's twins" or "Kenny's twins."  I guess our birth was pretty memorable.

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     I would like to end this post with a sort of *asterisk.  Most of what I've written above comes to me second hand.  Aside from some of the facts available on my birth certificate, I don't know what I've written.  I was there for my birth, but I certainly don't remember it.  I have, however, had numerous conversation with my mom about my birth story.  And still, I got some facts wrong.  While writing this, I ask my mom some questions and she correct a few of my "memories."  Subsequently, I'm just writing down what someone else told me.  Since this is a genealogy blog, I thought it important to clarify that just about any of the above could have been wrong.

First Visit to National Archives at Atlanta

     Today I visited the National Archives at Atlanta for the first time.  I've gone to the Georgia Archive a number of times, which is right next door.  My visit today was for a specific purpose: to look at microfilm containing Indian Wars Service Index Cards.  I'd looked online at NARA's website to learn that they had this microfilm, and was hoping they might have other records to help my search.  I want to find out what my ancestor Wiley Powell had been up to.

     For those of you who might be interested in visiting the Archive, here's the setup: You enter the main doors and are immediately greeted by the security desk.  You'll sign in and receive a visitors badge, then go through a metal detector and have your purse searched.  The security guard then points you across the lobby of the building to the records room.  The only thing is, once you get to the research room, you've passed the lockers.  I had to ask about them, then go back towards the entrance.  They are kind of hidden; when you first enter, you have to make a sort of U-turn to your right.

     Once inside the research room, you sign in again.  On your left, there is an office (shown in the photo below) where the binders with the microfilm indexes are located.  I must have looked a little confused, because the woman at the desk asked if I needed help.  I showed her the Indian War Pension Index Card I already had and gave her the microfilm number I'd found online for the Indian War Service Record Index Card microfilm I was looking for.  She then looked up the location of the microfilm for me, and showed me how the numbering system worked.

     Unfortunately, as I had expected, there weren't any more records that would help me with this search.  The worker pretty much told me that, for the most part, all they really had were indexes and I would need to send to DC for the actual records.

     The service record card didn't provide me with much more information than I already had from the pension card.  Finding my ancestor's card in this film did confirm the time period of his service (though not the exact date) since the microfilm was titled "Index To Compiled Service Records Of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During The Cherokee Disturbances And Removal In Organizations From The State Of Georgia."  At this point I can be pretty much certain that Wiley Powell served in the Georgia Militia during the Trail of Tears. 

     Based on what I've found, I have requested a copy of Wiley Powell's compiled service record.  Hopefully there will be some valuable information included in those records - heck, hopefully those records exist.  If they don't, I'll order the pension records (which cost more).

     In the photo below, you can see most of the research room. In the back left is the entrance, with the office to the right.  Along the right wall is the microfilm, and a bank of computers is on the left.  Not shown are the microfilm readers, which were behind me when I took the photo.  The microfilm readers (I think there were four or five of them) are all electric and hooked up to computers and printers.  

Favorite Records: Maps

     I've always loved maps - who doesn't?  They're fun and entertaining, as well as an essential tool for genealogy.  And there are so many to choose from!

     Contemporary are your basic starting point, especially when you plotting out ancestral locations and planning to visit them.  There are many online options, the most popular being:

• Google Maps
• MapQuest
• National Geographic
• Rand McNally

     But really, the most useful maps are those contemporary to the lives of our ancestors.  Here are some great collections:

• David Rumsey Historical Map Collection - There are so many maps on this site, as well as a multitude of ways to view them.  You can just look at the overall collection of maps, or find and view them with tools such as MapRank Search, Google Earth, Second Life, and more.  There's a ton going on here, so take some time and explore. 
• Sanborn (Fire Insurance) Maps - 
  
  These maps are mostly of cities and towns, providing detailed information about the streets and buildings.  You'll need a ProQuest password to access these maps on the official Sanborn website, but you can also probably find the maps you're looking for through another portal.  Just Google "Sanborn Maps" and the location you're looking for (ex. Georgia) and you'll probably find what you're looking for.  For example, the Digital Library of Georgia provides access to Georgia maps.  
• Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library - Part of the University of Georgia Libraries, this digital collection includes over 1,000 old and rare maps.  
• USGS Historical Map Collection - These are topographical maps, which include designations for some structures such as churches and cemeteries.  You'll need to download the maps to view them.
• Old Maps Online - This site provides an easy way to search for old maps housed on other websites.
• Atlas of Historical County Boundaries - 
  
  This site contains files can be downloaded to your computer and used with Google Earth to allow you to view historical counties.  You can also their online viewer to see political boundary changes by state or for the whole country.
• Genealogy Inc - View a progression of county boundaries, one state at a time, using this website.
• American Memory Map Collection - This is a website for the Library of Congress' digital map collection. You can search maps or browse by category.  A lot of the maps have been moved to another LoC site, but if so, the links are included.
• Real Life! - Not all historic maps can be found online.  I've found some amazing maps housed at libraries, archives and book stores.  They can be found in their original form, as copies, in books and on microfilm.  

 

    And these maps can be fun and helpful just as they are... but what about creating a really interactive experience? 

• HistoryPin - This site allows you to upload old photos or view those uploaded by others, "pinned" in the location they were taken.  You can even arrange your photos onto a Google Maps "Street View," so that it can be viewed as if you were standing on the street and holding up the photo.  It's not a perfect system, but it pretty neat.
• Uencounter.me - This site allows you to place pins on a map, called "encounters," and create personal maps (collections of pins).  You can add photos and information for each pin to explain its significance. 
• Flickr - A photo sharing site, Flickr allows you to add your photos to a map.  There's the double benefit of having your photos stored online, as well as being able to organize them on the map
• Google Earth - Just for your desktop, you can do so much with this program.  I love to plot the locations where my ancestors lived with pins shaped like houses, churches, etc, then take the maps that I've found else where and overlay them.  I learned how to do this from Lisa Louise Cook's class at a Family History Expo.

The Book of Me, Week One

     There's a new blog prompt series from the Anglers Rest blog, called Book of Me.  It will be a 15 month series of topics that encourage bloggers to write about themselves.  I'm pretty excited about this series and would encourage my family members to participate.  You don't need a blog to do this, just get a composition book and follow along.  You can follow the prompts at the Book of Me, Written By You Facebook page.

     Week One: Answer the question, "Who Are You," by answering that question 20 times.

1. I am Valerie.  Of the 4,259 people in my family tree, I'm the only one.
2. I am an identical twin.  Just like my Grandaddy.  No, I never traded places with my sister in school.
   
3. I am a daughter.  My parents love me forever, love me for always, as long as they're living, their baby I'll be.
4. I am a sister.  My older brother used to watch my sister and I in our crib, waiting for us to wake up so that he could play with us.
5. I am an aunt.  It's a brand new thing, but it's pretty awesome.
6. I am a genealogist.  I got started in 2001 thanks to a Geography project and my mom's encouragement.
7. I am a 9th generation Georgian.  Sometimes I wish my tree was more exciting - but boy do I know how to do Georgia research!
8. I am not as organized as I'd like to be.  I would totally buy everything they carry at Office Depot, but would never put it to it's proper use.
9. I am an introvert if I don't know you and an extrovert if I do know you.  Which leads to:
10. I am a homebody. I'm pretty happy sitting at home, doing genealogy, watching tv, spending time with family, etc.
11. I am creative.  I've made lots of scrapbooks over the years, though I don't do as many now as I used to. I also crochet and paint the occasional ceramics.
12. I am a photography enthusiast.  I know a bit more than the average person, but I have a lot to learn. 
13. I am an animal lover.  I miss my Betsy and Trixie, but I'm grateful for Chisai (Chee-sigh)
14. I am nervous in a thunder storm.  It's only developed over the last few years, but boy do those rumblings make me anxious. 
15. I am an Atlanta Braves fan.  I was going to put Baseball fan, but I wanted to be specific />/>/>
16. I am an avid reader.  I have a Kindle, but also read a lot on my iPhone.  I love Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult and light classics (Jane Eyre is my all time fave).
17. I am not good at grammar.  I miss spelled grammar the first time I wrote that sentence.
18. I am a Two-Year College Grad. By that I mean that I have an Associates Degree, and need to go back for my Bachelors. 
19. I am a bearer of birthmarks.  I had a ton as a baby but now I have two.  I always feel like my left shoulder is wrong because it doesn't have the same birthmark as my right one does.
20. I am recently skinny(er).  I've lot 71 pounds in the last 10 months and will be doing my first 5K run in about two months.