Mental Health Facilities and the State Hospital Records

Missing Ancestors?

It didn’t take long to figure out that people don’t actually disappear into the abyss. Perhaps my research needed to be more thorough. Had I really researched all of my sources? Two commonly forgotten sources are prison records and mental health facility records.

Not everyone can boast that at any given time one, or more, ancestor was being treated in the State Hospital, but I usually exclaim that my family actually had a wing at the Kansas - Osawatomie State Hospital, also known as the “State Insane Asylum.” (This claim usually gets me off the hook from odd or peculiar behavior.)

I’ve always heard of poor Great-Aunt Hattie and her mental unrest, and I remember dear Grandma Maggie who died in the Larned State Hospital (KS), a psychiatric facility, but what about the others who can’t be accounted for using normal means?

There was the case of 3rd Great-Uncle Willis Cox and his daughter Freddie Reba (Cox) Looney. (I’m not making up that surname). They both disappeared about the same time. Last noted, Willis was living in the Coffeyville, Kansas area and Freddie Reba had left husband number two (Jake Looney) and was living in Washington County, Oklahoma, close to the Kansas border. Both Willis and daughter Freddie Reba dropped off the radar between 1910 - 1920.

By running a quick check with the state hospitals, both were found as patients in the Osawatomie State Hospital. Yes, coincidental (or disadvantaged gene pool), but they were both there.

Finding Records
The biggest issue was not in locating them, but trying to pull their medical records. Osawatomie will not share, or do not own, the patient’s files. However, as luck would have it, Willis Cox’s medical records from the State Hospital were complete with his Civil War Pension records. In the survey for family medical history, a bit of information from the attending physicians was also provided about Freddie Reba’s stay.

I suggest as you expand your research for that missing ancestor, you go a little mental!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Military Records Burnt in Fire? Try Morning Reports

We all know that between 16-18 million Military Personal Files were destroyed in the fire of 1973 at the St. Louis National Personnel Records Center. This fire destroyed about 80% of Army records from Nov. 1 1912 to Jan. 1 1960; and 75% of all Air Force records from Sep. 25. 1947 to Jan 1. 1964. So how can you get military information on your ancestor?

NARA National Personnel Records Center has always had access to Morning Reports to recreate records lost in the fire. These Morning Reports for the Army and Air Corps units are for 1940-forward. Although reports are not based on an individual, they do give a daily account of the unit. Individuals are listed in the case of promotion or demotion, being killed, wounded or missing in action, or going to a hospital for treatment. Monthly, quarterly, and semi-annually Unit Rosters are also included.

In order to access the correct Morning Report, the veteran’s exact unit of assignment must be known. Morning Reports and Unit Rosters are available on microfilm and not indexed by individuals. These reports, now available to researchers, gives additional ways to recreate your ancestor’s service. But prior to reviewing the Morning Report for details of that incident, the exact unit will be needed. One customer was looking for a veteran who was wounded while “taking a farm house” in Holland during the “Battle of the Bulge. The approximate date given was Oct 15, 1942, but the exact unit was not known. It is possible, however, that his discharge date and the battalion listed on his payroll will provide us with the first Morning Report to research. Additional reports may need to be researched to pinpoint the exact incident.

Each related film must be read, and searches are often needed for several years. This must be taken into account when budgeting for research. 

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Winter Projects – The Genealogy To Do List

(Photo by CafePress.com
www.cafepress.com/jmkbooks/2577398)

I always wind down right before Thanksgiving. Winding down this year includes finalizing projects, closing the books for 2009, and writing a list of needed changes and implementation strategies for 2010.

This year I sent a 72 page genealogy Christmas booklet to ColorMark, the local professional printer, the Monday before Thanksgiving. Right on time. I’ve already finalized the printer’s proof, and when the printed pages are complete it will be bound in burgundy leatherette with gold foil typeset from Engle Bindery. My goal is to deliver it to the customer the first week of December, but at least it is off my desk.

Because I like to eat, I did take on a small freelance job, writing for an online Genealogy magazine (Genealogy Archives). This is the only project I have for the month of December with the deadline of December 19. Then off to holiday heaven.

Although I will enjoy a short vacation from the cold weather, in Kansas City, I go into hibernation in the winter due to breathing issues that are exacerbated when exposed to the cold weather (and the heat, and wind, and too much pollen – you get the picture). But, it’s during this time of being locked up in the home/office, that I get to do research, finish the last chapter of the Morris book, make changes to and publish the Tinberg Tales, and work on my to do lists.

Ah yes the “to do list.” I keep it for 12 months of the year, and tackle as much as I can between December 19 and the planting of the onions season. Here in KC that is March. I will update forms, research conferences, work on blog topics, close up personal genealogy projects, work out volunteer efforts at the Mid-Continent Genealogy Center in Independence, schedule spring/summer speaking events, etc. All of this, in addition to working on new/repeat customer projects that pays the bills, must be accomplished between the planting of garlic (Dec) and the planting of onions (Mar).

The best part about the winter months for me, is I get extra hours in the day, since I’m limited on distractions. I love snowy cold days…work, work, work. It’s my most productive time of the year. And I hope it will be yours too. Start planning now and began listing all of your definite, hopeful, and maybe projects now!

Hope you make the best of winter!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Under Priced a Project?

As I worked on the rush of hardbound family books, I found myself making notes of the things I need to change, update, and renew. I will have to alter my price structure for these 40-75 page books I create. I often price by the job based on my estimated hours. And in one particular case, my old calculation, lost me about 25-30 hours of work. That’s a lot of dough!

Allow for Growth in the Contract
One project began with the Tinberg and Schmotz families, but grew to include wives. In the end, the customer received an overview of six families: Tinberg, Andersson, Schwarz, Schmotz, Waymire and Sieg. My pricing structure was not specific enough for me to estimate my costs. Of course Tinberg was married to Andersson, she couldn’t have just dropped in from the sky, so background info, social standing, etc., was needed to make the text cohesive.
Lost 15-20 hours

Allow for Scanning and Cropping Pics
The customer provided over 100 family pictures and newspaper articles that she wanted to be considered for the text. Whether or not I use all of them, each photo had to be scanned. My current price structure did not take this into consideration. Even though the high tech scanner used can scan 10 pics at a time (and place them in separate documents) is fast, I still had to name each file, crop each picture, and have a few cleaned up for publication.
Lost: 3 hours of pay.

Give Client a Checklist
I actually have a personal relationship with this client. And although I believe every client should have a special relationship it is difficult to reign in the time spent over labeling pictures at her dining room table. A checklist of things needed from the client may have assisted in cutting out the excess time with post-its. So, my newly created checklist includes: “client must label each photo on the back or with sticky notes, or distinguishable file names.” I even provide examples. Maybe next time, I can enjoy that peach tea over a chat at the table, not for work.
Lost: 6 hours.

Outline Binding Options
This client began with a GBC book, which is standard, but through her excitement, she upgraded her family book to hard-bound, preferably leather-bound. Just working with the client in choosing, working out minimums, and working with various binders, requires a surcharge.
Lost: 2 hours

How to Recoup Your Losses
But all is not lost. I will be publishing this booklet, with the client’s permission of course, so that it will be accessible to others through the Interlibrary Loan System and available for sale.

In the meantime, my price list for these kinds of projects, will include options, but with the pricing itemized. My per project pricing will better reflect the hours worked.

Hope you never under bid, but, the more you publish, the more clients you will have.

Kathleen

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Searching in the Maryland State Archives

I visited the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. I was looking specifically for militia and volunteer Revolutionary War records for a client in hopes of getting birth information of his ancestor or additional family data. It’s not everyday that we find an ancestor in the states during the Revolutionary War, but believe me, there were a lot of Tucker’s.

Needless to say, the search became a needle in the haystack, but the experience was quite successful. The Maryland State Archives’ staff was the most helpful and knowledgeable group I have worked with in a State Archive (and I have visited many for research). The volunteer, that day, was resourceful and had experience in searching for that allusive soldier. She was able to suggest many overlooked options. Unfortunately, time was limited to too few hours and after giving the Tucker family about 5 hours Pro-Bono (do genealogist get to use this word?), my search had to come to an end. Anytime, I go to a new State Archive, I give my customers about 2 hours free. I chop this time up to my “education – learning the repository, retrieval system, and the online website and resources.” But, in this case, I was so intrigued; the customer got a full five hours, in addition to his paid time. (I applied the customer’s paid time to the NARA and DAR research I promised to do in DC.)

I was guided to the Maryland online site to begin my research. I would suggest you do this prior to going: http://www.msa.md.gov/. I also suggest you review the “Reference & Research” site: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/homepage/html/refserv.html. Be sure to go to “Special Collections.” http://speccol.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/speccol/catalog/cfm/dsp_online.cfm
This is where you can obtain more information on church records, maps, newspapers, etc.

Your choices are many and for this reason you should limit your search prior to arriving, based on your time. It will take a couple of days to get access after you set up a username password online. Note, however, at the Archive you have immediate access.

For me, I count this visit as educational hours; and for the client, well, he got a lot more than he bargained for and that’s always a plus. What’s even better is I’m familiar with the Maryland Archives, (in Spanish I would still use conocer not saber) and although I didn’t find that Tucker needle, my research for the client at the Md. State Archives, was thorough.


Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Are You Analyzing Your Data?

Anna Charlotta was NOT Alma Charlotta

Swedish Research

I suggest to beginners to collect their data, but don’t just pull document after document to prove your ancestor’s existence without understanding what the data is telling you. What is your ancestor’s story? It is written between the lines, hidden within one word, or in one obscure date.

I recently pulled no less than 30 pages of Swedish records on a Samuelsson family that I was following. I copied birth, marriage, household examinations and death records for a period of about 50 years. Then, I paused!

The best way to analyze your data is to write about it. Begin writing for yourself or your client, not when the project is finished - since it will never be finished – but when you believe you have sufficient data to tell a story. Then, you will find your holes, which will keep you focused toward finding “the rest of the story.”

With magnifying glass in hand, I realized that my Samulesson’s marriage record revealed that he was a soldier in the Swedish military and had served in both France and England. It was buried between his homeplace and date and marriage date. Just “aft. sold P. France, Lon England…”meaning formerly soldier. . Why not find out what was going on in the 1850’s in Sweden that would warrant such a service?

I mistakenly assumed two children as being one: Anna Charlotta and Alma Charlotta (Samuelsdotter). But in analyzing church records and various household examinations, it was clear that these were two different daughters born within two years of each other. With this knowledge, I was able to find the death record of Anna Charlotta and her losing battle with smallpox. She was born and gone, before her sister Alma ever entered this world but who was given Charlotta as her baptismal name also. With the quality of the microfilm copies on Genline, it was easy to mistake Alma for Anna and not realize that they were two individuals not one. But, by reviewing all the documentation, the one household examination with Anna’s birth date was uncovered. Was smallpox in an epidemic stage in Sweden in 1860?

By analyzing data, you not only can prove a hypothesis, you are able to uncover social history and culture and make your story more interesting. Sure the dates are useful, but it’s the story we are after.

Happy researching and analyzing. Hoping you uncover your story!

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Originally printed 9 Sept, 2009, Are You Analyzing Your Data?

Fun Emergency Projects

I have this rule that I don’t do emergency projects for clients. First of all one would have to wonder, what is an “emergency project”. Well, it’s the one that you have less than two weeks to do, the deadline is immoveable, and the job was not scheduled or expected so it has to be fitted in the work schedule.

So what am I doing right now? An emergency project. I have been 99% successful in saying “I’m sorry, but I would be unable to assist you on this project.” But what do you do, if the project is for one of your best clients and he has a business trip in 10 days in the area of his GGGGrandparents. Let me add, he is traveling from California to Missouri. For me, the answer was easy – you assist the client and plan on sleeping very little for the next 8 days (the package should be in the overnight and to arrive on day 9).

I pulled the needed file from my archival system immediately and reviewed my final report before I even answered the request. I sketched out a plan of how to attack his specific requests of land locations and living direct lineage or distant cousins in three remote counties of Missouri. Yep…I can do this in 20 hours (all I could possibly give up in 8 days) and have the package prepared for him.

I am half way through with the project now - Day 4. I will finish up county two today, and start with county three. I have already sent him what I considered to be time sensitive data and have actually given him a page and a half of a preview of what to expect based on a few questions he has sent me for his preparation. His excitement vibrated through his email response. He actually called me “heaven”.

No, I’m not a travel agent, but 27 phone calls later, I have found him local hotels, places he must see with directions, and very needed host/hostess names for the area. This is a remote area with directions given as “the oiled road south of town”. No name, just that it goes between the church and the cemetery and over the hill. It took me a few questions to figure out that the “oiled road” was a blacktopped one. Opposed to what?

This is the interesting part. As a genealogist, I would not normally call half a town to see if they knew of my subject. Time is limited so I normally spend it on county courthouses, city halls, libraries, genealogy societies, etc. I don’t normally spend client hours talking to a farmer on Rt. 1 who starts a chain of telephone numbers and names accompanied by failing health anecdotes and recent family deaths worthy of a town directory and a gossip column. No…I don’t usually start any project like this. But, it is a great way to get social history and a feel for a location if your client is off to the wilderness. And, I have gathered gads of additional genealogical tidbits of his family by doing so, including finding a local genealogist, who happens to be a distant cousin, and has a database of over 27000 relatives. We were easily able to pinpoint that they were 6 cousins, once removed. Now this is the contact your client really needs. And I will probably lose his business to this distant cousin, but isn’t that what we all want – an exhausted history of our family?

Hope you are saying yes to the possible, and breaking a few of your own rules for a little genealogy fun!

Kathleen

a3Genealogy

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com