APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2007-01 > 1169344421


From: "Elizabeth Whitaker" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Adding "youthful" professionals
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 20:53:41 -0500
References: <BAY106-W8244D60E2BCD76ABACB3ACAA80@phx.gbl>
In-Reply-To: <BAY106-W8244D60E2BCD76ABACB3ACAA80@phx.gbl>


I started working on my family history when I was 15, but this was very
sporadic and generally frustrating. I made
the typical beginner mistake of trying to work from the past forward instead
of from the present backward. I
got redirected when I attended a genealogy workshop in Columbia, South
Carolina, in October 1984. (I was
26.) This, by the way, was probably Dr. Irene Neuffer's last appearance as a
workshop speaker. (She was
one of the two Neuffers responsible for NAMES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.)

As a recent (December 2006) recipient of an M.A. in History, I suggest
emphasizing primary source research
skills when discussing genealogy with academics. I got all sorts of
unpleasant reactions from faculty in
my department, some of which were due primarily to my age (over 40), but
that changed when I finished
my thesis, which I could not have done without my years of genealogical
research experience as my
topic was families of a little-known ethnic group who arrived in South
Carolina before 1950 and the only
publication I'd seen on this ethnic group in the Carolinas before 1950 was a
dissertation completed ten
years ago at another university.

I've had experience as a professional but can't afford to do it full time
again until I'm eligible for Medicare.
There is no such thing as individual health insurance covering pre-existing
medical conditions that is
affordable AND available to individuals. Accordingly, I arrived in the
Washington, DC, area Thursday evening.
I will be attending a job fair on Monday, if that event is not cancelled due
to inclement weather, and
hope to be employed soon.

I am presently in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and will be staying here until
at least Thursday morning.
After that, I hope to be able to arrange less temporary housing somewhere in
the DC area. (I can't
commit to a lease right now, mainly due to the possibility of getting a
lease on one side of this
very large metro area and a job on the other side.)

Elizabeth Whitaker







On 1/20/07, david mcdonald <> wrote:
>
> Having just returned from a trip to Haiti and some educational and
> orphanage work there, I have been interested to read the comments in the
> various threads.
>
> Now in my 30th year of researching--starting in the 8th Grade--I can only
> say that if it hadn't been for thoughtful folks who helped me along the way,
> I would have bailed on the task and field long ago. Local societies, like
> Sangamon and Will Counties, Illinois, and the many speakers I saw in
> workshops and seminars across the midwest while working the bookstall for
> Genealogy Unlimited in high school, were all very supportive of my interest
> in genealogy, providing helpful, supportive mentoring relationships
> throughout the years.
>
> And so, to people like Millie, Carol, Hugh, George, Joy, Elizabeth,
> Lowell, Martin, Barbara and Barbara, as well as history professors at Beloit
> College, Geet and the cousins at family reunions; as well as my grandmother
> and her drinking buddies (her sister and brother)...I owe a tremendous debt
> of thanks.
>
> FWIW,
> Dave McDonald
> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
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> .
>
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