Grandma's Kitchen - 52 Weeks

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Grandma's kitchen was small by today's standards, and old, even by 1960s standards. I have many warm memories of "helping" Grandma cook in her kitchen. While unpacking one of the many boxes from my grandparents' house that had been sitting in the Family Home for several decades, I ran across this set of measuring spoons. I immediately recognized it because I used to love to measure out ingredients with these spoons. It now has its own place on our counter at the cabin.

One conversation I remember having with her, while sitting on the countertop one day, was asking how or where people went to the bathroom back in the olden days. Since Grandma grew up out in the country as a little girl, they had an outhouse. I was fascinated by that thought. Not so much anymore today though...ewww.

Amy Coffin's series, 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History is a series of blogging prompts that "invite genealogists and others to record memories and insights about their own lives for future descendants."

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Adventure in my Grandparent's Bathroom - 52 Weeks

Former home Dick & Margie Roos taken June 1994 by J. Richard Roos.
Cheney, Washington. It's pretty much as I remember it was when I last was there in 1977.

This is part 2 of a 3 part series about my grandparent's home. Yesterday I wrote about their very cool basement. Today, I'll tell you  about a little adventure in their bathroom when I was about five.

One summer day after using Grandma and Grandpa's only bathroom, I found myself locked in. I'm really not sure how that happened but I couldn't open the door to get out. So I called out to the family through the window that was over the steps leading to the back door. Everyone was on the patio which was just beyond the steps and a conference convened at the bathroom window.

Old House Parts

After demonstrating that the vintage lock was jammed and not allow me to turn the glass door nob and open the bathroom door, the search for some rescue supplies began. I'm not sure if someone tried unlocking the door from the other side with a skeleton key, which were in abundance in Grandma and Grandpa's home. I've always wondered about that...but I have to assume they tried this and failed.

So, I waited in the bathroom and visited with whoever was hanging with me at the window. I probably stuck my head down the laundry shute and asked if I could escape that way. I always wanted to do that but was strictly forbidden...

Eventually Grandpa returned with a very long dowel or something that would reach the length of the bathroom. He always had stuff like that around. He had carved the end to fit over the jammed latch and made it a game for me to guide the dowel securely over the latch and help him turn it to unlock the door. Wouldn't you know it worked! I was free!

I was told later that the entire ordeal was made out to be a game so that I wouldn't panic. Dad and Grandpa were really good that way and it worked.

Amy Coffin's series, 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History is a series of blogging prompts that "invite genealogists and others to record memories and insights about their own lives for future descendants."

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

My Grandparents had the Coolest House - 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Richard & Margie Roos home circa 1930.

My grandparents had the coolest house. At least it was cool from the perspective of a little kid. Over the next three days I'll tell you three things about the house, and our adventures there, that made it so great.

First, there was the basement. It was never properly graded and so there was a slope to the floor. Dad's bedroom was down there and since there was a slight slope, if you got out of bed on one side, it was a bit of a drop to the floor! This was where I slept most of the time when we visited. I always made sure to get out of bed on the uphill side until I was older and taller. I loved this room because all of the cabinets and drawers were built into the wall and there were lots of them. They were full of old things like toy soldiers and marbles. Some of those very items have appeared from boxes this past year in our adventure of cleaning out Mom and Dad's house, where I grew up, and have brought back many fond memories.

In addition to Dad's room, there was a dark room for film developing (remember, I'm the 3rd generation of avid amateur photographers). There was a freezer and washing machine too. I don't remember if there was a drier but I do remember there being clothes lines that Grandma used to hang clothes to be dried in the winter.

There also was a door that led out the back of the house to the garage. I remember everyone using that door in the winter instead of the back door to the main floor of the house. That's probably because it was only a few steps from the garage to the basement door and then you were out of the snow and ice.

Finally, there was the back half of the basement that was Grandpa's workshop and storage. Since the floor sloped, the adults had to stoop a little when they got back to this corner. I remember the storage area being kind of dark and creepy. Come to think of it, all of these super old boxes of photos and other papers that I have inherited were probably stored there!

More tomorrow...

Adventure in my Grandparents' Bathroom

Amy Coffin's series, 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History is a series of blogging prompts that "invite genealogists and others to record memories and insights about their own lives for future descendants."

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Thank You for your Service, Dad

That's one of the few things I never got around to saying to my father.

Dad did "double duty," serving first in a Navy training program for fighter pilots in the later years of WWII. Fortunately, the war ended, the program was cancelled, and his service was no longer needed. So he was discharged.

Years ago, I asked Dad what he thought about dropping The Bomb on Japan. I didn't fully appreciate his response until recently, when I discovered some of his military and personal papers. His response was that it was the right thing to do. It saved American lives and that he would have gone in next. I now understand that he would have gone in next in a fighter plane. I hate to think about that because it could have meant that I might not be here today and my children might not be here today.

During the Korean conflict, Dad went on to serve in the Air Force in Mountain Home, Idaho. Fortunately, his life was not particularly at risk.

Thank you Dad for your willingness to serve your country not once but twice and for being willing to put your life on the line for us.

Credits:
Artwork assembled by Michelle Goodrum using My Memories Suite.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Grandpa Was A Cross Dresser! - Wordless Wednesday

While organizing the Arhival Closet, this photo of my grandfather, Richard Roos, turned up. Apparently there was a production of the Folies in his hometown of Cheney, Washington. I imagine it was put on by the community or the high school. I have a hard time envisioning the man I knew as my grandfather dressing up as a woman, even if it was for a local production!

Richard Roos in the Folies.

This photo of the group is especially precious because many of the participants are identified on the back of the picture (including one of Richard's brothers).

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

It Takes A Thief - Discharge Papers



 A while back, I wrote about breaking into the locked “safe” in my parents’ basement. Inside were numerous papers belonging to my grandparents. One of those items, I was particularly excited to discover was my grandfather's World War I discharge papers. Initially I thought they were the originals but upon closer examination I noticed they are a notarized copy. If you're familiar with the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center, you know that this is quite an exciting find.

The Enlistment Record portion expands on some of the details of my grandfather's service. This should help me verify information that I've pieced together from other sources and provide a more complete timeline. Down at the bottom in the notary area, it states that my grandfather has the original in his possession. I'm still hoping the original will turn up and have no doubt it might.

I also noticed Grandpa recorded his discharge papers with the Spokane County Auditor upon his return from the war.

I can see why Grandpa kept his discharge papers locked up and am thankful that he did.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Photo by Marcin Wichary

It Takes A Thief - To Solve a Birth Record Mystery - Part 4

Photo by Marcin Wichary

If you are coming into this series on my grandparents' efforts to provide proof of their age for Social Security and my efforts to locate an original birth record, you might like to catch up by reading Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

What I found interesting in this document called Instructions on Required Proofs that Grandpa received from the Social Security Administration, is that there were two categories under Proof of Age.

Social Security preferred documents from the first category- Documents Usually Recorded in Early Life. Notice the last item - f - U.S. census record for the first or second census after birth. That is what Richard obtained back in 1960 (see Post 2).  I was surprised that the first or second census record after someone's birth would fall into this category.

Here was another surprise. In the second section, is a list of documents that could be used if a document recorded early in life was not readily available. Note item s - Delayed birth certificate.

Maybe I am mistaken but it seems like I've read, in several places, that people born before vital records were required to be kept often would obtain a delayed birth certificate in order to collect Social Security benefits. Yet here on this form from 1965 (see the year on the bottom of the form), the Social Security Administration is saying that a census record for the first or second census after birth is preferable to a delayed birth certificate. Very interesting.

Richard did end up sending in his Census Bureau transcript as proof of birth asking that it be returned to him, which it was (see Exhibit 5 below).

Summary
Sometimes in our research we need to accept that not finding something is still a good thing. I am thinking there is no reason to continue looking for a birth certificate for Grandpa, or a delayed birth certificate. He used a 1900 Census Bureau transcript as proof of his birth with the Social Security Administration probably because a birth certificate doesn't exist.

Going back to the original hypothesis in Part 1: Richard Roos was born 7 August 1895 in Los Angeles, California. It looks like I may have to be satisfied with the other sources I already have that prove this. That's OK as I have plenty of convincing evidence that my hypothesis is true (not to mention the fact that I used to send Granpa a birthday card every August!). If I could just get the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to cough up the baptismal record...

I hope you enjoyed this series and that it helps you with solving a genealogical problem of your own.

Exhibit 5 - Letter from Richard Roos to Social Security, dated 4 November 1965,submitting proof of birth

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

It Takes A Thief - To Solve a Birth Record Mystery - Part 3

 If you are coming into this series on my grandparents' efforts to provide proof of their age for Social Security and my efforts to locate an original birth record, you might like to catch up by reading Part 1 and Part 2.

• Sometime in 1963, or later (Thank you Susan in Wi for spotting the date when I could not!) On 19 October 1965, Richard received an undated letter from the Social Security Administration requesting proof of his date of birth in connection with his application for Hospital Insurance Benefits. (See Exhibit 3 below.)
• Here's the good part. They included acceptable proofs and not just for proof of age, which is what Richard needed to provide. (See Exhibit 4 below.) This document includes a list of proof of marriage, death, burial expenses, court appointment of legal representative, dependency, military service after September 7, 1939, and proof of earnings. These might be helpful to you in solving other genealogical problems.
• In Part 2, one of my readers, who wishes to remain Anonymous, supplied a link to the a Social Security Number Chronology.  You might find this helpful. Thank you Anonymous!

 Stay tuned...

Exhibit 3 - Letter from Social Security

Exhibit 4 - Instructions on Required Proofs (from Social Security Administration) - 2 pages

Safe Photo Credit: Marcin Wichary, reprinted under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic 
(CC by 2.0) adapted.
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

It Takes a Thief - To Solve a Birth Record Mystery - Part 2

Photo by Marcin Wichary

After years of searching for an original birth record for my paternal grandparents, Richard and Margaret Roos, and coming up empty handed, I discovered that they had been trying to do the same thing in the early 1960’s! So for all the searching I've done for grandpa's birth certificate, it's beginning to look like maybe there never was one. Or at least that’s the conclusion my grandparents reached.

Now I've always been confused about when people would try to obtain proof of birth. Was it when they were applying for their Social Security card? Or was it when they became old enough to collect Social Security? Judging from what I found in my grandparents letters and the related papers. It would appear that the answer may be the latter (although I'm really not sure so if you have some insight, please speak up).

Here’s what I’ve been able to recreate of the process Richard went through to obtain proof of birth. First a little housekeeping. In order to be succinct, I've bulleted each step and referenced the appropriate "Exhibit". You will find the image for each "Exhibit" at the bottom of the post, if you really want to get into the details.

• In a letter dated 26 November 1960, Richard wrote the US Census Bureau requesting a transcript of his census record. He gave them the information regarding where he was living in 1910. (See Exhibit 1 below.) He attached a handwritten list of his family's residences on enumeration day from 1900 to 1950 and stated the purpose was "In Lieu of Birth Certificate." (See Exhibit 2.) To me that is a hint that Richard believed he did not have a birth certificate.
• In a document from the Bureau of the Census, dated 28 December 1960, Richard received an "EXACT COPY" of his 1900 census. (See Exhibit 3 below.)
• Several years passed...

Part 3 coming soon...

Exhibit 1- Richard Roos 26 November 1960 letter to US Census Bureau

Exhibit 2-Richard's census summary 1900-1950

Exhibit 3-1900 Census entry for Richard Roos

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

It Takes a Thief - To Solve a Birth Record Mystery - Part 1

In my "It Takes a Thief" posting from December, I mentioned how we broke into a safe in my parents’ basement. Today we are going to begin to examine one group of items found in that safe. I don't want to look at it from a show and tell aspect, but rather from the perspective of how these documents may answer a research question I've had for quite some time. I'm still left with some questions of my own, so maybe we can all learn a little from this posting.

Background

Since I began researching my family history, I've been looking for birth records for my paternal grandparents. They were born in the 1890s, before vital records were required to be kept. Yet later in life they would need to present proof of birth in order to collect Social Security. What I discovered in the safe were letters written by both of my Roos grandparents. They were attempting to obtain acceptable proofs of their births for Social Security purposes.

My original research objective was to obtain an original copy of their birth records. The question wasn't so much one of when and where they were born, I wanted an original birth record to back up the information I already had.

Using my grandfather, Richard Roos, as an example, the research process I’ve been through for the past 15+ years looks something like this:

Known Facts:

Numerous sources indicate Richard was born 7 August 1895 in Los Angeles, California. Here is a sampling:

1. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
2. Roos family Bible lists Richard’s DOB as 7 August 1895.
3. Application for Equalized Compensation-State of Washington [WWI Veteran’s Bonus]. This document is in Richard’s handwriting.
4. Richard’s death certificate (his wife, my grandmother, was the informant).

Working Hypothesis: Richard Roos was born 7 August 1895 in Los Angeles, California.

Research Steps Taken:

1. Wrote to Los Angeles County Recorder, in 1994, requesting copy of Richard's birth certificate. Result: Issued a “Certificate of Search” stating they searched from January 1895 to December 1895 and were unable to locate a birth certificate.
2. Wrote to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1994 and again several years later, requesting a copy of Richard's baptism. Result: I never received a response from them.
3. Examined FHL Film 1033120, Index to Delayed Certificates of Births, only to discover that all of the surnames beginning with the letter R were missing from the film!

At this point frustration took over and I set the project aside.

Stay tuned for part 2…

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - Note to Self on a Bakery Picture

One of the great things about having your own blog is that you can write anything you want. Including a note to yourself - a kind of bulletin board if you will. Over 10 years ago, I found this picture in my great grandmother's (Eugenie Roos) postcard album. Only somewhere along the way, I forgot just where I had seen this picture. After going through boxes and boxes and coming up empty handed, I finally gave up. Maybe I dreamed it or something. Well, it resurfaced when I was working on the postcard album rescue project!

Now for the back-story. Great Grandfather Eugene Roos was the proprietor of the Cheney Bakery in Cheney, Washington in the late 1800's and the first part of the 20th century. Before that he was a baker in Los Angeles. I don't know when or how he became a baker but he may have learned the trade as a young man in St. Louis, Missouri.

The family lore is that he owned a bakery on what is now some very prime real estate in downtown Los Angeles. Had he remained there, we would all be rich because the land became so valuable. OK, there's one small problem with this story. Had Eugene remained in Los Angeles, my grandfather would never have met my grandmother....and none of us would be around talking about it. Nevertheless, I've always been curious about where this bakery might have been located as well as where Eugene learned the baker's trade. This picture could be a clue.

Transcription:

1887

Paul Schilling

Building

Here is the old
saloon. You had a
room hear, when you were
working in the bakery. Part
of the building on one side has
been taken down.
[check mark in circle] was your room if I am
not mistaken.

First, I must remember that the photo was found in his wife, Eugenie's, album. So for all I know the note on the back could have been addressed to her. At any rate I've got a little to do list for when I get around to investigating.

Note to Self:

• Analyze the photograph for possible clues.
• Investigate the Paul Schilling Building - 1887 - possibly in LA or St. Louis.
• Handwriting comparison to try and determine who wrote this note.
• Keep an eye open for references to this building in any of Eugene's papers.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Sorting Saturday – Postcard Album

Collecting postcards seems to be a timeless hobby. My great grandmother saved cards sent to her and purchased them in her travels. My grandparents and parents saved postcards and I can’t resist doing it. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s a postcard received or purchased from another part of the world or down the street, people can’t resist the urge to save those cards with interesting pictures or artwork. I found it interesting that in the NGS Exhibitor's Hall this past April, the busiest booth on my first pass through the hall, was one with boxes and boxes of vintage postcards. This week’s selection from the Archival Closet was my grandmother’s postcard album which I am told is one of several she had that were ultimately distributed among family members.

Being that the album is nearly 100 years old, it’s not in the best of shape, and it’s not the most wonderful place to safely store those vintage postcards, I decided to disassemble the album and place the postcards into clear pages designed for photographs of the same size as postcards. One great thing about this set up is that the backside of the postcard can be viewed and read without having to remove the postcard to do so. The other advantage is that these clear pages have the exact same layout as the original album allowing me to preserve the original order of the collection. Eventually I may opt for storing them in a card file type box but for now while I know the postcards will be handled, read, and transcribed this seems like the best situation.

This week’s mini project from archival closet was a simple and pleasant one; and a nice reprieve from the massive and daunting challenge that waits.


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandpa's WWI helmet

Apparently, Grandpa (Richard Roos) saved his WWI helmet.  After I don't know how many decades of sitting in a cardboard box, it now enjoys a place of honor.  I was able to make a definitive identification of it by the 91 Division's evergreen tree insignia on the front.  By the way, their motto - Always Ready.

There's even still a blank piece of the stationary Grandpa used to write home on stuck way up in the crown.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday (not so) - Richard Roos

Let me introduct you to my grandfather, Richard Roos, and the procurer of the WWI treasures I've been writing about lately.

Richard served with the AEF, during the latter part of WWI, as a cook with the 361st Infantry, Machine Gun Company E, out of Ft. Lewis, Washington.

This is one of the pictures my grandparents gave me when I first started inquiring about the family history in the early 1970's.  It's something I've always treasured.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - Photo Locket

This locket was in the same little box as the WWI pins and buttons I wrote about on April 8th.

Grandpa was able to get a 3 day pass while with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.  He went to Paris to check up on his father's family and must have picked up this tiny souvenir.  The pictures from top to bottom are of the Statue of Gambetta, the Monument of the Republic, the Grande Roue, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Notre Dame, Invalides and Sacre Coeur all in Paris.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday & 52 Weeks Challenge-Week15-Write a Letter

This week, I'm doing a dual assignment since I've had one of those "what the heck?" moments that fits the Madness Monday theme and the solution fits right in with Amy Coffin's blogging prompts, 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Challenge 15 which is:

Write a letter. It these days of emotionless email, the art of letter writing is getting lost. Pick one of your information needs or queries and write a letter requesting information. You may want to write to a small library or a relative asking for family history information. If you’re requesting a return reply, be sure to include any forms that are required, funds (if necessary) or a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return correspondence. If you write a genealogy blog, include a post about the information you requested and from whom.

To be perfectly honest, I had pretty much decided not to do this week's challenge just because I'm so busy.  But then this turned up:

We all looked at other and said, "What the heck is Grandpa's marker doing in the garage?"  Or at least that's what we think it is.

Our theory is that since he was cremated, the marker may have been too large (its dimensions are about 12” by 24”).  But then one asks the question, does he have a marker?  No one can remember and anyone who should remember is no longer with us. 

So, I've written a letter to Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane, Washington where my grandparents are interred, asking if they have a marker of any sort for my grandparents and if not how we can go about rectifying the situation.  It seemed like this warranted a letter, rather than a phone call, and the timing of this week's challenge couldn't have been better!



© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - WWI tags and buttons

While going through some boxes a couple of weeks ago, some interesting items turned up. 

These are my grandfather's dog tags, some buttons and a pin from a reunion.  He served with the 361st Machine Gun Infantry in WWI.  I was surprised while watching the WDYTYA episode with Matthew Broderick.  They mentioned his grandfather had fought in the Meuse Argonne offensive.  My grandfather had been involved in that battle as well only several days earlier.  I loved being able to see the area in living color.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - WDYTYA - John Eugene Roos

This is my first time participating in Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.  The mission:

1) Pretend that you are one of the subjects on the Who Do You Think You Are? show on NBC TV.
2) Which of your ancestors (maximum of two) would be featured on your hour-long show? What stories would be told, and what places would you visit?
3) Tell us about it on your own blog, in comments to this blog post, or in a Note or Comment on Facebook.

My great grandfather John Eugene Roos would be the subject  of my WDYTYA episode.  Eugene was born in February 1858, allegedly, in the Alsace region of France.  We know from family photos and letters that he had siblings and other family members in the Colmar area so I would begin there hoping to locate family records.
 
Since Eugene came to America as a child and was taken to live with sisters in St. Louis, that would be my next stop.  I would like to visit some of their homes and the cemeteries where they are buried. 
 
Next as a young man, Eugene went to live in Naperville, Illinois which is there he was living for the 1880 census and where he obtained his US citizenship that same year.  As the story goes, he attended Northwestern University for a time.  Whether or not he graduated is unknown.  So that is something I would love to look into. 
 
In 1885, Eugene supposedly went back to St. Louis for a time and moved to Los Angeles around 1887.  The family story is that he owned a bakery in what is now downtown LA on some really prime real estate.  Family members have for years pointed out that had he stayed there, we would now all be rich!  Eugene definitely was a baker but I have yet to find any evidence that he actually owned a bakery.  I like to point out to family members that had Eugene stayed in LA, none of us would be around to discuss this bakery story because grandpa never would have met grandma! Anyway, this is an intriguing story that I have always wanted to get to the bottom of.
 
While living in Los Angeles, Eugene met and married Eugenie Georger.  They were married in June of 1893.  Their first 3 children were born in Los Angeles before they moved to Cheney, Washington to open a bakery in the young town.  It was here that the family spent the rest of their lives and it is this town that would be my last stop.  Since it has been many years since I've been to Cheney, I would like to see the homes where various family members lived, visit the Cheney Historical Museum where there is an exhibit regarding the Cheney Bakery and visit the graves of the various Roos family members at Riverside Memorial Park in Spokane.  Finally, I would want to meet face to face, and take her to lunch, a lady who has been helping me with my Roos and Georger families in Cheney for a number of years. Barb Curtis has been sending me little newspaper tidbits for probably 10 years now.  Maybe longer.  Genealogists are such wonderful people!
 
So that's my WDYTYA adventure and after watching the real show last night, I believe my episode or any other genealogist's episode would be every bit as exciting as Sarah Jessica Parker's.

Copyright 2010, Michelle Goodrum