Fearless Females: Bubbie Brings the Fight to Washington

Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist offered us a series of writing prompts called Fearless Females to celebrate Women's History Month. Thank you Lisa! My posts might not follow your prompts exactly, but they will portray Fearless Females!

According to her family, Sarah Brisk Shoer was a strong individual. She was certainly determined. The young man she loved had emigrated from Latvia to the United States. Although very young, she followed him to Marquette, Michigan just a little over a year later. Sarah was traveled alone and may have told the ticket agent she was going to see her 'brother'.

from 30 Jun 1909, NY Passenger List, Ship Caronia, Image 74, Line 20

Mendel Shoer and Sarah Brisk were married on 8 February 1910 in Marquette. Their marriage lasted 49 years until Mendel's death in 1959. 

Many women after almost fifty years of marriage and the death of their spouse would just sit back, relax and enjoy their children and grandchildren. This was not the case for Sarah, who was called Bubbie by the family. It seems she was a bit of an activist and we have the pictures to prove it. 

Credit: Nate Fine Photo Jan 5, 1965, Photo in Shoer Collection, Gift of Amy Maas

Bubbie is second from the right. You can identify her by her ankles. Please notice the details; nylons, polished shoes, best clothes, jewelery and purses. They are going somewhere special. Zoomed into the photo, you can read the ribbons; Medicare Now and Massachusetts. 

 

Undated Photo, Photo in Shoer Collection, Gift of Amy Maas

Here are the same women standing next to a bus. Bubbie, again identifiable by her bowed legs, is on the far left next to the sign. They have donned coats and boots and appear to be getting ready to board the bus. Could they actually going all the way to Washington? In 1965, Bubbie was about 77 years old. That's a long bus ride. 

 

Undated Newspaper Clipping, Shoer Collection

See what I mean about determined? In January 1965, the Medicare battle was heating up and these seniors were organized and brought to Washington. They were not forced. They must have felt strongly enough about the importance of Medicare that they were willing to leave their comfortable homes and ride to Washington. What did they do once there? Perhaps another family member will fill us in on more details. 

How lucky MJ's family was to have such a Bubbie. She is probably the source of much of the family's strength and willingness to do what is necessary, whether leaving the old country for a better life in the new or riding a bus to Washington in the middle of winter. There are a lot of characters among descendants of Sarah Brisk and Mendel Shoer and the world is better for it. 

Happy Thursday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Cousins, cousins, everybody loves cousins!

We headed down to the homeland last night; Swampscott, Massachusetts, my husband's homeland, that is. The homeland encompasses the surrounding towns of Marblehead, Salem, Lynn, Danvers and Peabody as well. We had dinner at the old watering hole, Fantasy Island, where it was told that many a Bar Mitzvah party was held in the basement. 

The original goal was to scan some old Shoer and Brisk photos that a couple of the cousins had, but it turned into a mini reunion and a birthday party. Cousins born of four different offspring of Bubbie and Zayde were in attendance and we shared lots of stories and laughs over eggrolls and chicken teriyaki. I am still full this morning and missing everyone already. 

Here are a few goodies I scanned while reminiscing:

Everybody loves cousins! They are like siblings, without the rivalry. They have goodies tucked away in their attics, basements and spare rooms. Thank you cousins for sharing your memories and mementos!

Happy Sunday!

Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Wordless Wednesday - Zayde Shoer - What a handsome guy!

This gentleman may not have been as pretty as his future bride, Sarah, but he certainly was handsome. 

Possibly I am biased. This is a picture of M.J. at about the same age:

Do you see the resemblance?


Just remembered this is supposed to be a wordless post. Oops! Please forgive me. I'll be quiet now.


ScrappyGen

Photo Clues for Genealogical Success - Mendel Shoer and Sarah Brisk Family Photo Circa 1915

The descendants of Bubbie Sarah and Zayde Mendel have turned out to be my most prolific readers, in addition to all of my wonderful new geneablogging buddies. Yesterday's post of the beautiful image of Bubbie Sarah brought a record number of visitors to my blog. To thank you for visiting, here is another picture that probably not all of you have seen.

Who: Standing on the left is Zayde and on the right, still as beautiful as ever, is Bubbie. Seated are Mendel's parents, Pauline and Jacob. Pauline is holding baby William. The eldest child standing is Leo. The young man behind them is Mendel's brother, known as Eli or Leo. He is holding Irving.

When: The photo was most likely taken sometime in the Spring or Summer of 1915. William, the youngest boy in the picture, was born in June of 1914. He looks to be assisted by his Grandmother Pauline in the sitting position, but he is wearing shoes, which would peg him as a walker. The next sibling arrived in 1916 and Bubbie doesn't appear obviously pregnant yet. 

Where: Leo, Irving and William were all born in Michigan as were the next four to follow them. Leo or Eli arrived in Michigan sometime after 1912 and, according to his World War I draft record, was still living there as a single man in 1917. Zayde's parents arrived in America in 1913 and headed to Michigan.The copy that I have does not indicate a location or a photographer, but the evidence suggests that this photo was taken in Michigan. 

Clues to Ponder: Here is a close up of the locket Bubbie is wearing:

and here is a close up of the locket her mother is wearing in this photo. 

What do you think? Do you think her mother gave Bubbie the locket before she left for America?

Scrappy Gen

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

Tombstone Tuesday: Sarah Brisk - What was her father's name?

If you stand with your back to Jacob Shoer's gravestone:

you will see this gravestone, which marks the burial of his son, Mandel, and Mandel's wife, Sarah Brisk. 

 

Last week I mentioned that MJ's Bubbie, Sarah Brisk, and her two sisters give different names for their father, who is presumed by the family to be the same for all three. Bubbie's Ketubah (marriage contract) names her father as Yehuda Lev while her sister Ida, according to cousin Cathy, names her father as Aryeh Zev. This tombstone inscription gives Sarah's father's name as Aryeh Lev. Very interesting and perhaps a step closer to confirming that their father's name was Aryeh, but certainly not conclusive proof. Perhaps one of MJ's relatives will know who gave the information for her tombstone.

Here is a closer image of Bubbie's inscription:

If you have any thoughts about Bubbie's father's name, please post a comment. 

Thanks for reading!

Scrappy Gen

Tombstone Tuesday - Jacob Shoer

This is the Sons of Jacob Cemetery located in the Danvers Jewish Cemetery complex at 16 Buxton Road in Danvers, Massachusetts.

This is the building attached to the cemetery:

It doesn't look as if a funeral has been held there recently.

This is the row where the tombstone in question is located:

I should have counted when I was there, but it looks to be about six graves up on the right against the fence:

This is the grave of my husband's Great Grandfather, Jacob. This grave lists his Hebrew name as Yehuda son of Yitzchak. Of course, when Jacob came to America, he gave his Yiddish name, Yudel. 

Gravestones give vital clues in Jewish Genealogy, almost always listing a father's first name, although not always correctly. My husband's Grandmother (Bubbie) and her sisters list different names for their father. Did they have different fathers, or did Bubbie forget her father's name? That would be a good mystery to tell you about next Tombstone Tuesday!

Scrappy Gen