My biggest wish this year is certainly a budget breaker but I really think I can pull it off. Plans are already in the works to return to Michigan on my April break to photograph the Civil War letters of my great-grandfather, Ashley Carlisle, and other family papers at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. I don't think the collection there is as large as the one at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor so I should have time to go back and photograph the diaries of Hannah L. Carlisle.
While 2009 was a very good year for me, I never did get to Michigan. Nor did I make arrangements to have someone else retrieve the treasures that await me there. It certainly would have cost less to hire a student to photograph the diaries and letters for me but I really want to do it myself. I can't explain the connection and thrill I feel when I handle the pages written by my ancestors.So I firmly resolve that, come hell or high water, I will obtain at least the letters held at Western Michigan University in 2010. I have not decided when I will have my next surgery but it makes the most sense to have it done in the spring which would mean I can't travel in April. I plan to work next summer until the middle of August so if I can not get to Michigan myself by the end of August, I WILL make arrangements for someone else to obtain the letters for me. (I am so tempted to delay my surgery until the fall so I can travel in April!)
As for other goals for 2010 I will continue to work on transcribing the letters I do have. Other than that I plan to just see where the year takes me.
The 87th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy: New Years Resolutions! To be hosted by Jasia at Creative Gene. Poster courtesy of Footnote Maven.
5 comments:
Hi Charley,
I sure hope the trip and other plans work out for you. Sometimes the anticipation keeps you going, so much fun looking forward to something like this.
I jumped when I saw Kalamazoo, one of my lines is from there...Climax, Kalamazoo. Is the library in Kalamazoo city? I look forward in seeing some photos as well.
Apple: please let me know your plans. One of my daughter lives in K'zoo. I would love to help you. Remember, I live only an hour from the Bentley Library in Ann Arbor and will help there, too. And,you are welcome to stay with me.
Barbara: K'zoo has a very nice public library:
http://www.kpl.gov
But, I think that Apple was talking about her family items which are at Western Michigan University, which is located in Kalamazoo.
http://www.wmich.edu/library
Apple, that's a great resolution! I hope you make it there yourself, I know the feeling you get when seeing things like that :)
Happy New Year to you and your family and all the best for 2010 :)
Here's to hoping you'll make that trip!
Good luck, health and fun in 2010!
Hope everything works out and that you are able to visit Michigan and retrieve the information yourself. Good luck!!
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