Wednesday, June 10, 2009

FINISHED! And, computer-literate ancestors...

I finished my History 400 class. It's official title is: Family and the Law in American History. It was a good class for me. I found out where I am in the levels of family history studies. I actually was familiar with everything - self taught - except the probate and court records and how to access them. The course also had us do locality studies where we researched the places where our ancestor lived. This put a lot of things into perspective for me.

But the most exciting thing happened this week. My paper, written about my Harward ancestor, (80 pages when you add in the family pedigrees and my 120 sources and notes!) got 259 of 260 points, giving me an A in the course! Yippee.

Then, 3 days ago I got an e-mail from a distant cousin. She was getting a final count on a book she's written about my ancestor's brother - from whom she's descended. I e-mailed back that I wanted a copy! I asked her if she wanted to see what I had put together in my report. She did. Then, after a few more e-mails, she stopped the press on her book and wanted everything I had. I have gladly shared with her. What is interesting, is that neither one of us can figure out how my name ended up on her mailing list. Neither of us knows the other from Adam! And, after more of my questions, she replied that I obviously hadn't received her first e-mail - the flyer advertising her book. Nope. I'm not on that list. Just this last e-mail to get a final count on her book. So, which ancestor upstairs is familiar enough with computers to have pulled that stunt???

3 comments:

kathytarullo said...

Yea! Congratulations on finishing the class. I was so relieved to get mine done! I started it the year of all the weddings and had to let it go. I just couldn't complete it. It took Dr Ryskamp a long time to grade my paper also. I researched Rod's family in Kansas and it was only 15 pages long. I did not include pictures but hope to insert some. I am sending a copy off to some distant relatives to proof before I add the pictures etc. That is exciting about your connection with the distant relative! I am dying to take a trip to Kansas to do more research on this line. What class are you taking now?

Lisa said...

I'm taking D&C -Religion 324. I have to have that one and a New Testament class to graduate. THen there are like four more classes to go.....
when you go to Kansas, take me with you - Max's family is all from there!

Diane Fay (littlealma) said...

Neat!!! Can't wait to read more of your blog!!!

Hugs from Michigan - Diane