Bubba-isms from the Heart - World War II

23 April 1944 9:00 P.M.

"Someday we will own our own cottage at the seashore. Then the 

whole family can spend many days at the seashore instead of only

once in a while. We will spend every possible minute of the summer

days there. Won't that be fun?"

                   - Edward H. Smith S/2C to his wife, Ruth

Recording it for Posterity

Video for Family History – Part 1

Have you thought about creating family videos? 

If you are over the age of ten, you have probably already made at least one video of yourself or your friends. Most of you have phones that record video. Let me tell you about my grandfather and his videos.

My Grandfather, known to his grandchildren as Bubba, recorded thousands of feet of video tape during his life. He recorded his children, his siblings, his nieces and nephews and of course his grandchildren. It is possible for me to view in video most big events from my childhood right through and including my wedding. Bubba taped that too.

If you listen to the later movies after Bubba bought a video camera with sound, you can hear his chuckle, or his quiet prompts for you to do something for the camera. I loved his chuckle. If we ever complained about being taped (I remember not loving it when I was a teenager.), he would remind us that we were “recording it for posterity.” At the time I didn’t know exactly what posterity was, but Bubba said it, which meant it was important.

Posterity means all future generations. How cool that Bubba recorded our lives as they unfolded for our children and our children’s children and their children. He was our family historian, creating an amazing record of the lives of his family members.

Bubba recorded his movies on film. Digital didn’t exist yet. His first sound camera was immense. Now, video cameras fit in your pocket. 

At the holidays this year, whip out your phone and try recording your family members. Ask them questions about what they are doing. If they have a special skill, ask them to perform it. Ask them how they celebrated the holidays when they were younger. If they complain, tell them you are recording it for posterity. Your children’s children will thank you.

Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Reconnecting Relatives, LLC

Let's Remember!

A Bit of Nostalgia on St. Patrick's Day

hanging near my front door

I am feeling a wee bit nostalgic, not for the Emerald Isle, but for the family, my ancestors and my relatives, who came from there. Some of them were Irish and some self identified as English. They came from Northern Ireland and Ireland. I can feel them, behind me, floating, somewhere off to the right and somewhere off to the left and some unreachable. 

My grampa, Bubba, initiated the spark of this ability (or self invented perception) of being able to feel close to my Irish ancestors. He instilled in me the importance of family and keeping close. Wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick's day was first and foremost about family and, yes, it included the eating of corned beef, an American tradition. Bubba was proud of being 100% Irish and, although he teased my sister and me about being stubborn Germans like our Grandma, on St. Patrick's day I felt 100% Irish too. I wore my freckles and orange (Why do people call it red?) highlights with pride. 

Family is family, dead or alive. This may be peculiar to genealogists or family historians, but because of the research I have done into the lives of family members I have never met, I feel like I know them, like I have sat with them and had tea and cookies at the kitchen table. Yup, feeling nostalgic, tears prickling. I miss them all, the ones with whom I have walked in this life and the ones I continue to know in my dreams and the ones I will someday meet again. 

until we meet again, may G-d hold you in the palm of Her hand

Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Reconnecting Relatives, LLC

Let's Remember!

Old Photo Plus Ephemera = I Sat in the Garden

We leave behind bits and pieces of our lives. Bubba left a poem, torn from a magazine. The poem by Loretta Garing is titled "I Sat in the Garden."

Those bits and pieces we leave behind. They say something about us. What will you leave? 

Happy Scrapbook Sunday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Advent Calendar - Tree Visiting

Bubba & Grandma, Eighth Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 1985

Christmas wouldn't be complete without Bubba and Grandma Smith. One of the traditions Bubba gave us (insisted on) was tree visiting.  Bubba was always close to his siblings. During the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, he and my grandmother would go and visit each of his siblings, view their trees and sit for a showing of the gifts that had been received. Since my sister and I frequently spent our winter breaks staying with them, we often tagged (were dragged) along. Why dragged? Why did we dread it? I don't have any idea now. I do remember sitting in my great aunts and uncles homes, being warm and watching my cousins show us their gifts. Now, I am grateful, grateful for that time. Part of the closeness of Bubba's family is that they all lived in the same town, but also that he made time for them. He made sure they were a big part of his life and he made sure we understood the importance of family.

Auntie Dot & Poppy, Douglas Road, Bristol, Connecticut

So we went tree visiting. We always visited Auntie Dot and Poppy first. Auntie Dot is the closest in age to Bubba and she and Poppy served the role of grandparents to their nieces and nephews, the children in my mother's generation. Let's just say it's complicated and a story for another time. Their tree was always the fattest tree I had ever seen. It was short, but would seem to fill half of the room. They always had a gift ready for my parents, my sister and me and we would bring them gifts. How they managed to afford to buy gifts for all of their siblings, nieces and nephews is beyond me, but they did. The best part about going to Auntie Dot's was the sweets. After we did the gifts, we would head to her cozy kitchen for coffee and sweets; pies, cookies, donuts, whoopie pies...oh, I could go on and on. Maybe I should make some cookies later. 


I wonder if my cousins still go tree visiting in Bristol. Do you have this custom? This Tree Visiting post is part of the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - I Remember Christmas series, which is kind of like a virtual tree visiting, during which you hop around to different blogs and learn about different customs and traditions. Today's theme is all about the Christmas tree. 


Happy Tree Visiting!


Scrappy Gen
Let's Remember!

Jewish in December or The Gift of Faith - Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories

"Helping" Bubba Hang Lights

The ever productive Thomas MacEntee organized a blogging theme for the month of December called the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - I Remember Christmas. I was too new to blogging last year to participate, plus I am Jewish and wanted to give some thought to my contribution. For some, both Christian and Jewish, this can be a sticky topic. Not one to avoid sticky, I plan to embrace it. 


As you know I grew up Catholic and then converted to Judaism at the age of 22. I feel lucky because I have been able to fully experience two different religions in my life. There were a lot of reasons for my conversion, but the pivotal one was my (at the time) future children. More important to me than any particular religion was that my children be raised with one religion. Religion is important in that it gives you faith. Faith is personal and it is different for everyone. Faith supports you during good times and bad. It gives you something to grab when you need it and also confirms your belief in something greater. A shared belief and practice helps to tie a family together. My hope and wish was and is to give this gift to my children. 


During the first twenty four days of December, I plan to share both the Christmas traditions I loved as a child and also the new Hanukkah traditions I have come to enjoy as an adult. One of my great joys in life is discovering other people's customs and traditions and I am happy to talk religion with you anytime. I think it is important for true understanding and tolerance in the world that we learn about each other. Let's celebrate our differences. You will never be judged here on my blog. Do you practice a religion? What holiday are you celebrating this month? What is your favorite tradition? I would love to learn how you are spending December. Leave a comment, or if you are blogging about it, invite me over. I would love to go 'tree' visiting, or 'menorah' visiting, or...


My wish for you this December is a month of light, love, happiness and good times together with friends and family.


Happy December!


Scrappy Gen
Let's Remember!

The Magical Backyard - a New Blog

Spring fever makes people do crazy things...like start new blogs. Bubba's backyard was and is and always will be a magical place. The Magical Backyard will use photos and stories to share the special experience of being there. It will feature photographs taken by Bubba. His photos capture the seasons, the weather, the growing things, and of course the people, who have spent some time in this heavenly haven. 

Please come over to this magical backyard, unfold a chair and sit awhile. We will watch the kids playing ball, the grown men playing with bonfires, and the generations growing and changing. Hope to see you soon.

Happy Friday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Scrapbook Sunday - All My Love, Ruth

My grandmother posed for this glamorous photo to send to her true love, who was stationed in the Philippines. 

Ruth Ginter Smith December 1944

Bubba, her true love, was serving in the Navy during World War II. His wife and daughter were busy keeping the home fire burning. Bubba often repeated how beautiful our grandmother was to him. Well, Bubba, I have to agree. She was gorgeous!

Happy Sunday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Scrapbook Sunday - Bubba...Baby or Ball?

This week's scrapbook features someone you already know well. I thought I should make up for the wonky picture of Bubba I posted on April Fool's Day. Although he did pose for it. And printed it. And put it in his photo album. Because he wanted us to remember. He wanted us to remember him, and our family, and our traditions and our stories. He would hand the camera to me and direct me on how to capture the best pictures of him. He taught me how to capture good photos, but more importantly he taught me how to capture memories and stories. 


On this day in 1992, Bubba handed me his camera and had me take pictures of him with my daughter, his second great grandchild. He sat where the light was best. He used several props to keep Hannah engaged. The result as you can see are phenomenal pictures of a very special moment. A moment remembered.

Happy Sunday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Family History Story - April Fool's Day

What a great laugh I got this morning. My aunt sent me a funny story about Bubba and gave me permission to share it with you. Don't let his serious expression fool you. 

 

 

Bubba loved a good prank and especially loved a willing victim. 

My aunt's story: April Fool's Day was one of Grandpa's favorite days. He celebrated all kinds of days. I will never forget the day he brought [her son] home from a haircut at the barber. He put ketchup on [her son's] ear and told [his Dad] that his ear was cut. [His Dad], the willing victim, went crazy until Bubba almost fell down laughing.

 

Yes, Bubba loved a good joke. Anyone with any gullibility wasn't safe from his lure. His sisters and his granddaughters were high on his list. I have had quite a few hooks removed myself.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Family History Scrapbook - May you enjoy the luck o' the Irish

and a lovely St. Patrick's Day!

Bubba

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Bubba the Sailor Man - World War II Medals

According to Bubba's Notice of Separation from U.S. Naval Service, dated 2 January 1946, he received the Asiatic-Pacific 1 star, the Philippine Liberation 1 star, the Victory Medal and the American Theatre [sic]. After researching these medals online and discovering that they were ribbons, I realized that they can be seen on Bubba's uniform:

Here is a closeup of the ribbons:

Wikipedia should not be used as a reliable source for information, but as a good source for clues. Images of all of Bubba's medals can be see in online shops, but I wanted images I could use on my blog and I found them on Wikipedia. These images are free to use via Wikimedia Commons, which indicates that these images are in the public domain. 

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

 

 Philippine Liberation Medal

 

World War II Victory Medal

American Campaign Medal

Two of Bubba's ribbons, which are medals for specific campaigns, each have one star, which can just be made out on the photo above.

Here is the closeup again of the ribbons on Bubba's uniform:

And here are the ribbons his service record says that he was awarded: 

 

I think we have a match. What do you think? 

For a more reliable source of information about Navy medals, I was hoping to consult the book, Complete Guide to United States Navy Medals, Badges and Insignia: World War II to Present, but according to WorldCat, the closest library is in Buffalo, New York. Too far to go before the kids get out of school. May just have to order it.

Happy Monday, I mean Tuesday! Where has the week gone?

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Military Monday - Postcards from Bubba the Sailor Man

According to his enlistment papers, on the second of March, 1944, Bubba became a reserve member of the United States Navy. His first child was just a toddler and he was deeply in love with his beautiful, blond wife, my grandmother. How heart wrenching it must have been to leave them.

Bubba always told us he hated school and didn't do well, but in his postcards home, his writing clearly conveys his myriad of feelings across these many years. This postcard is from his first full day as a member of the United States Navy.

     

     Dear Ruth.

     am writing this from the U.S.O. Lounge

     of the New Haven R.R. Station. Time is

5.55 - we leave about 6:30 for Sampson. at

the recruiting office there was a Marine Sargent

and he said he had a quota to fill and some of us

were it. He picked several fellows who

thought they were going in the navy and put them

in the marines. For awhile I sweated bullets. 

After that we went out and ate dinner which the Navy

Paid for; and also went to the show for half price. The Navy

gave us a slip showing us to be Navy Personell[sic]and we got in

      
   FROM Edward H.Smith

        U.S. Navy

on that. Then we went back and

got our supper tickets. After supper

we went bowling. I bowled 70

Pretty low huh! From the windows

here as I write I can see the sound

it is very beautiful. I'm with those

two brothers Mom knows John + Joe.

I'm feeling fine now after the

goodbye's and sech [sic]! Don't worry!

take care of yourself and Sharon.

They have treated us swell so far

               all my love  Eddie 

[postmarked] 3 NEW HAVEN

               MAR 3

               11 AM

               1944

               CONN

[addressed] Ruth G. Smith

            197 King St.

            Bristol, Conn.

Bubba's own words about his first full day away from home and officially in the Navy stand for themselves, so I will leave it at that. 

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History - New Year's Memories

How I wish I had just one small, grainy photo to show you of my most vivid family New Year's memory. Unfortunately I was never allowed to attend the coveted event held every year at my Grandma and Bubba's house, the party which I know for sure included steaks for all, lots of noise and laughter and other mysterious and nebulous items. My sister, Mary, says that our parents told us that our grandparents needed a break from us. Can you imagine needing a break from these two girls? Well...maybe the one on the left. Just kidding Mary!

Here is what I think and, Mom or Dad; you can correct me if I am wrong. These were big parties. Bubba was a police officer in Bristol, Connecticut for many years and he had a lot of friends. Plus, he had a very large family including six siblings and their spouses and children. As far as I know, everyone was invited to these New Year's parties and I think my parents might have tried to avoid the crowd and the entire hullabaloo. Am I getting close, Mom? Dad? It's okay if Grandma and Bubba didn't really need a break from us and you just told us that. I loved our own intimate New Year's tradition and cherish the memory of them.

While other kids' parents left them with babysitters and went out on the town to celebrate the New Year, my parents always spent a quiet night home with Mary and me. They made it festive, with special appetizers; shrimp cocktail and shrimp dip with Social crackers were always on the menu. Sometimes my Dad's Mom, Grandma B, came and joined us. Without using words, you told us we were important to you and that you would rather be there with us welcoming the New Year, than anywhere else. This was a powerful message.

Home with my husband, kids and dogs is still my favorite place to be on New Year's Eve. For years we celebrated with friends from college, rotating houses, but the kids are growing up now and it isn't possible to throw them all together once a year and expect them to play. Now, sometimes we get together with local friends, sometimes we attend First Night, but we always spend it with our kids. This year we were lucky enough to have all three home with us. Two of our crew fell asleep early, but I will always remember the belly laughs I shared with my oldest and youngest as we traded jokes and kept ourselves awake until Midnight. Nothing could have made the night better. Another memory to cherish.

Happy New Year! 

Scrappy Gen

PS I have neglected my blogging duty to thank Amy Coffin of the We Tree blog for creating the series 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History. (See comment below.) Thank you Amy! I am very excited to be taking part. 

101st Carnival of Genealogy - Genealogical Goodness in 2011 - My Genealogy Research/Writing Plan for 2011

Maybe I need to grow up some more. Perhaps everyone has this problem. Plans make me want to do the opposite of what is written in them. They make me want to rebel and do anything else. Eat cookies. Read a book. Even do laundry. Is this weird?

 

If I make a genealogy research/writing plan for 2011, the subject of the 101st Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Jasia at Creative Gene (Thank you, Jasia!), will I be setting myself up to fail? I’m feeling anxious. Anything I put in my plan should be things I am strongly motivated to do like eating cookies, reading books and well, maybe not doing laundry. What else am I strongly motivated to do in 2011? My list (okay plan if you must) of genealogy goals is called Genealogical Goodness in 2011. I wrote about my genealogical goodness in 2010 here. Who doesn’t like goodness? It has a nice ring to it. Nice rings are motivating. So is good music or a good book on your iPod. Oops, off subject. Back to the list (I mean plan). 

Genealogical Goodness in 2011

WRITING: Practice, practice, practice. This is one of the main reasons you started The Scrappy Genealogist. Keep doing it, daily if possible. Use your brand new At-a-Glance outlink planner to write and post ahead.

EDUCATION: One thing I know for sure is that I have a lot to learn. I started writing about this topic here. In 2011 I am going to take classes through the National Genealogical Society, starting with the online course American Genealogy Special Topics Series: Working with Deeds and then beginning on the American Genealogy: Home Study Course. Some of the material will be a review from the Boston University Certificate course I took in 2009, but there is a lot on the syllabus that will be new for me.

RESEARCH: Hoped for goodness:

1.   Identify the siblings and parents of Sarah BRISK SHOER of Riga or    Waldenruda, Livland (Latvia).

2.   Identify the parents of Alvin BURRELL of Weymouth, MA.

3.   Determine if any of Bubba’s SMITH half siblings are still living or have descendants.

MEMBERSHIPS: Branching out.

1.   Complete and submit DAR application. This hinges on successfully identifying the parentage of Alvin BURRELL. Start attending meetings of the local DAR chapter, Ranger.

2.   Join and get involved with the New England chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

CONFERENCES: There are three I wish to attend.

1.   New England Regional Genealogical Conference

6-10 April 2011 Springfield, MA

2.   National Genealogical Society Family History Conference

11-14 May 2011 Charleston, SC

3.   31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

14-19 Aug 2011 Washington, DC

PHOTOS: This job is as good as eating cookies.

1.   Review personal 2011 photos. Purge rejects. Label all folders. Choose favorites, print and put in storage binders.

2.   Take Jessica Sprague’s online Family History Album Class 1.  

3.   Scan photos at cousin Lisa’s in Colorado.

4.   Scan photos at cousin Suzie’s in Florida.

5.   Continue scanning Bubba’s printed photos.

6.   Make a plan for scanning and archiving Bubba’s slides.

ORGANIZATION: Thinking of going through Dear Myrtle’s monthly organizational challenges from 2009. I saved them on my computer, but never did them. Anyone else like to join me? Breaking news! Just saw that Dear Myrtle is updating them for 2011!!! Click here for January 2011. Thank you Dear Myrtle!

That’s my wish list of genealogical goodness for 2011. Hopefully I filled it with enough cookies. I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s lists. This was a great exercise.

Happy New Year!

Scrappy Gen

Genealogical Goodness - Top 10 Genealogical Experiences in 2010

Shhhh....don't tell anyone, but I didn't have a genealogical plan for 2010. It is just by luck and on the fly planning that I did have some incredible genealogical experiences. 

This year my kids said...What do you MEAN you want to spend a week in Los Angeles going to classes and not even leaving the hotel? Why in the world do you want to go to a cemetery? It's filled with dead people. Why exactly are you standing with tears in your eyes on some street corner in New York City taking pictures just because some great, great somebody lived there more than ONE HUNDRED years ago?! But I say, these were a few of my top ten favorite genealogical moments during 2010. Here are all ten;

February 2010 Bristol CT: Visiting with two of my Smith great aunts and scanning valuable family papers. Same trip:Visiting with my mother's sister and starting to scan Bubba's printed photos. 



















May 2010 Warwick, RI: My husband (who does not love cemeteries) volunteering to tramp through a cemetery. It must be true love. From one of the tombstones, we learned that his great great grandfather Feldman's first name was Noah. We gave our son this name eleven years ago.

 








May 2010 Queens, New York: Finding my great great grandmother's (Sarah (Murtaugh) Grace) 'room with a view', her grave in the Calvary Cemetery overlooking New York City.

July 2010 Los Angeles, CA - Three Experiences in One:  

Meeting MJ's cousin Cathy, a Brisk descendant on his father's side.

Meeting MJ's cousin, Evon, a Sumberg descendant on his mother's side.

Attending the Jewish Genealogy Conference during which I never left the hotel grounds, plus winning free registration for 2011 in Washington, DC.

 















October 2010: Taking a chance and starting to write and share on The Scrappy Genealogist blog. 

October 2010 New York, NY: Seeing a picture of MJ's Brisk great grandparents for the first time.  

October 2010 Manhattan, NY: Standing with tears in my eyes on this street corner in New York City taking pictures just because my Great Grandmother Grace (as well as her parents and grandparents) lived there more than ONE HUNDRED years ago.

December 2010: Wow, it's hard to stop at ten. Every new discovery is exciting. Just like a little kid, whose most favorite present is the newest one, I include the discovery I made this week of my great grandmother (Kiesel) Ginter's passenger list, which indirectly lead me to identifying two siblings. Her sister, Bertha (unknown maiden name) Mansfield is pictured here with her husband, Louis.

Thank you for reading along as I remembered 2010. It really was a year filled with genealogical goodness. Time to make some goodness goals for 2011!


Scrappy Gen