Community and Collaboration – World War II History
Written by Lorel Kapke, Sort Your Story Founder
When dad was sharing his WWII experience I realized he was about to engage in a war with Germany, spring of 1943. His direct ancestors (Kapke) left Pomerania, Kriess Kammin and arrived in this country fall of 1843. When and where after emigration did the break of his “German ancestry connection” occur?
After creating the Kapke timeline card and writing a brief synopsis of his line (father, grandfather, GG and GGG emigrant grandfather), it appeared to me, the one who left the farm and moved to a town nearby to work in a trade, may have altered the farm family “tight community?” This was in 1878. However, I understand after WWI (1918) this war left the “German community” in Wisconsin in a shambles and after WWII, the damages brought to the German community was the ending of a tight community (per family stories and copious amounts of written data.)However, my father born in 1923 did speak German for a few years. His older brothers born 1914, 1917 and 1919 did speak German.
To explore the past is to understand the present. How can we collaborate with family members and bring up touchy subjects and open communication without offering opinions? How do we avoid upsetting family members when we talk about subjects such as ethnic communities and discrimination?
Can this be accomplished?
© 2013 Sort Your Story, Sonoma, California
Follow Friday – April 26, 2013
These are a few blog posts we thought you might find interesting which we hope will help you with your research and writing.
Sassy Jane Genealogy’s National Digital Public Library Launches Tomorrow
Are you going to the Federation of Genealogical Society’s conference in August? Check out their blog and see what they have to offer.
The We Tree Genealogy Blog’ All New FamilySearch Website
Have you found some great posts you think we should read? Please comment below.
© 2013 Sort Your Story, Sonoma, California
Tuesday’s Tip – #Genchat
Have you heard of #Genchat? It is a Twitter Chat that allows genealogists from around the world to collaborate. Two Friday evening’s a month you can sign onto Twitter and participate. The next #Genchat will be held on Friday, April 26. You can view the entire year’s schedule here.
Here are the upcoming April – July chats. All chats start at 9:00 Central Standard Time. And additional details can be found on the schedule page.
- 26 Apr: Oral Histories and Interviews
- 10 May: LIVE! From the NGS Conference in Las Vegas!
- 24 May: Utilizing Census Records
- 14 Jun: Data Analysis: Do you see what you have for all its worth?
- 28 Jun: Cemetery Projects
- 12 Jul: Your Latest Greatest Find! Share with us!
- 26 Jul: Putting Flesh on the Bones; Telling the Stories
Have you participated in #Genchat? What did you think? What great things did you learn? How has that helped you with your research and telling the story of your family?
© 2013 Sort Your Story, Sonoma, California
Follow Friday – Writing Posts
Have you been writing your family history? Have you thought about the various ways to write it? Check out some of these writing posts and give it a try!
Get Writing, Know Your History
The Armchair Genealogist’s A 10 Step Plan For: Getting Sources & Citations Under Control
While you are on The Armchair Genealogist, download Lynn’s free ebook The Complete Guide to the Family History Interview
Writing Your Way to the Past’s Mashable Highlighted 2 Storytelling Apps This Week
Need a way to organize your writing? Check out Scrivener.
© 2013, Sort Your Story, Sonoma, CA
