A Dip in the Pacific Ocean

When my mother was growing up the only traveling she did was an occasional trip to Chicago or visits to relatives in Michigan or Windsor, Ontario. She joined the Navy during WWII and traveled first to Washington, DC and later to Pensacola, FL. During the Korean Conflict Dad was stationed at Norfolk, VA. In her younger years Mom traveled a little and she saw the Atlantic Ocean.

After I was born vacations were either to Michigan to see family or camping trips in New York and Vermont. My parents were not beach people. I have an old video clip of Mom knee deep in the water with my little sister, taken during a camping trip and Mom was wearing one of the dresses she always wore. Mom can swim, a feat I've witnessed on only one occasion. She had rented a canoe for my brother and I at a local park and when it was time to return it she paddled out and a wave tipped the canoe over. I don't recall ever seeing Mom in a bathing suit although I'm pretty sure she owned a black one at some point.

After I left home I don't recall Mom ever taking a trip to anywhere. Vacations were just not something that she did. She enjoyed coming out to our camp at Sylvan Beach, NY where she would sit contentedly on the porch while the rest of us headed off to the beach.

The summer of 1998 we decided to take a family vacation to Hawaii. My sister decided to come along but I was shocked when Mom said that she'd love to go too as she'd always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. I love to travel and have been to many island destinations but that trip to Hawaii was my favorite family vacation. Mom's health was starting to decline 10 years ago but she could still get around OK if she took it slow. We rented a large house right on the beach, Mom got a ride in a helicopter and we all went to Pearl Harbor which was special with Mom there to share her memories of WWII.




This was written for the 49th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy: Swimsuit Edition.

Happy Memorial Day

Harvey Gordon Berry
16 June 1926 - 20 April 2000

September 1944 - August 1946
USN, Pensacola, FL. Air Controlman, 2/c

September 1950 - August 1951
USN - Photographers Mate, Norfolk, VA

Interred, Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, Clayton, NC

Correct Source Citation?

One of the treasures included in the family letters that I've been going through is a handwritten genealogy of my Graham line. I had been stuck on this line for some time. In some cases I had made educated guesses that are confirmed and there are also several family members recorded that I had no idea about. I'm anxious to enter all of the information into FTM but I'm unsure how to record the source.

The genealogy was included with a letter that was in this envelope:
It is postmarked Windsor, Ontario, Mar 27, 1931, 9:10 PM. Addressed to Mrs. D. M. Carlisle, 803 Main St., Buchanan, Michigan. Written on envelope: Tells of location of Grandpa Grahams farm also family tree.

The letter was written by Mabel Camfield Marsh and addressed Dear Sister. Written at the very top of the page is: Would you mind sending this Jan. 22, 1933 to Pearl? On closer inspection I believe that the letter was dated Jan 22, 1933 and the request to forward it on to Pearl ran into the date.
The letter doesn't appear to belong in this envelope. Mrs. D. M. Carlisle was Pearl Camfield Carlisle. Mabel and Pearl had only one other sister, Ruby Camfield, so I assume that this letter was sent to her. The letter rambles on about day to day life and mentions someone referred to as A. B. which I believe stood for Aunt Belle (Xenia Belle Graham Gallup, 1847-1933).

Also in the envelope is a genealogy. Only Page 1 is numbered and the other pages in the file appear to be out of order. There are several pages of information on various family groups.

Mixed in with the family group pages was this sheet which says, "Don't loose these sheets as page one especially is the "record" and the other pages have some information on that I had not figured out before."

For posting here the source is:
Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1929 - 1939, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

I would like something more specific for my file. Perhaps:

Carlisle Family, Box #1, Correspondence, 1929 - 1939, Graham genealogy written by Mabel Camfield Marsh, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

Should my source include information about the envelope even though the papers must have been put with it at a later date?

Suggestions welcome!