Follow Friday - I Get Into These Moods...

Germans pass by the broken shop window of a Jewish-owned business that was destroyed during Kristallnacht

A very special thank you to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for granting permission to use these photos in this blog post.

I tend to be quite an empathetic person.  That means that there are those times that my little activist button gets pushed and I go into over-drive.  There are so many posts that I wanted to share today, but when I read this one I had to make it a priority. A little background first.

I was a German major at Millersville University and we had to take a German history class as part of the coursework.  My history teacher was a gentleman by the name of Dr. Reynold Koppel.  The way he talked kind of reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock and his class was one of the hardest I had ever taken.  It was "Modern Germany" so we covered everything from the late 1800s to just after WWII.  I found out that he was one of the most captivating storytellers ever.  One day he told us a story that brought me to tears.  It is a bit gruesome so please be warned...

On November 9-10, 1938 anti-Jewish riots sanctioned by the government were staged across Nazi controlled Europe.  Jewish shops, buildings and synagogues were vandalized and set aflame.  Fire departments were under orders to not put out the burning buildings, but to merely keep the flames from spreading to non-Jewish structures.  There was so much broken glass littering the streets that the pogrom became known as "Kristallnacht" (Night of the Broken Glass).  Eventually the Jews were punished further by being forced to pay 1 billion Reichsmarks for the damages.  Yep, you read that right.  Make the victims pay, because it's their fault...at least in the minds of these sick individuals.  Thousands of Jews were then rounded up and taken to concentration camps.

On the morning after Kristallnacht local residents watch as the Ober Ramstadt synagogue is destroyed by fire.  The local fire department prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby home, but did not try to limit the damage to the synagogue.

Dr. Koppel was a young child during Kristallnacht.  His family lived in a castle in Germany (hard to believe, I know, but still very cool).  During Kristallnacht the Nazis came into their home and tried to rape his older sister.  She resisted.  One of the Nazis went to the wall and took down a sword that was hanging there and killed her with it.  They then took her body and threw it on their parents' bed to wake them.  Shortly after the family was taken to Dachau.

Most all of the Jews that were sent to concentration camps as a result of Kristallnacht were eventually released.  Dr. Koppel's family fled to Britain and then to the United States.  They were lucky to have gotten out when they did.  Lucky that they only lost one family member.  Had they stayed what would their chances have been?  Would they all have died?  It may sound strange to say "lucky" after the loss of a precious family member, but I know that he considered themselves lucky to have fled when they did.  During Kristallnacht fewer than 100 Jews were killed.  His sister was one of that relatively (when compared to the massacre to come) small number.  You can read more about Kristallnacht (and the Holocaust in general) by clicking here for The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

So what sparked these memories of my history professor was a post by Heirlines called "Petition to German Government to Restore Polish Jewish Cemeteries". The petition asks that the German government take responsibility and care for the graves of these Jewish cemeteries.  It points out that had these Jews not been murdered that they would be caring for their ancestors.  Now because of these atrocities there are few to care for these graves and cemeteries.  Additionally, Jewish cemeteries were regularly desecrated by the Nazis.  Gravestones and monuments were used to build walls, line roadways, etc.  We genealogists get pretty riled up when we hear of cemetery vandalism.  Could you imagine seeing an ancestor's stone used as a piece of roadway?  Not knowing where they are buried?

View of the old synagogue in Aachen after its destruction on Kristallnacht

When I signed the petition just over 2300 people had done so as well.  2300 people?  Seriously?  Over 6 million Jews were exterminated as a result of Hitler's policies in concentration and extermination camps (yes, there is a difference between the two). We can make a bigger difference than that!

I know sometimes people say, hasn't enough time passed?  When will we stop yelling at modern Germany for what the Nazis did?  All I can say is...not yet.  It's a pretty big mess to clean up.  It's an extraordinarily large wound that needs healing.  Additionally, I don't think that making this request is an unfair burden.  I think it is something the German government should be jumping on.  Should be shouting out how delighted they would be to do it.  Let them know the world is watching.

Let them know...We Will Not Forget...

Check out Kathy Reed's blog post on another family's experience during the Holocaust by clicking here.  Thanks for sharing, Kathy!

The views or opinions expressed in this blog, and the context in which the images are used, do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of, nor imply approval or endorsement by, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - A Yearbook Dedicated to My Great Aunt

OK...it's almost wordless.  A little explanation is in order.  I was looking for faculty pictures of my great aunt, Marian Brown, at the Greater Hazleton Historical Society when I grabbed this edition of the Hazleton High School Janus.  I had wanted to find her earliest faculty picture (I had already found some of her older pictures).  I opened the yearbook to the beginning and was preparing to flip to the faculty/staff section when I found myself staring down at a full-page picture of the woman I was looking for.  And as it turned out the yearbook had been dedicated to her.  I posted her obituary the other week and was impressed by the impact that she had obviously made.  This was at the beginning of her time at the school and she was loved enough to have a yearbook dedicated to her.  It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  Boy, I so wish that I had met her!

Tuesday's Tip - Inputting Data on the 1860 U.S. Census, Schedule 1

1860 U.S. Federal Census, Schedule 1

Sorry for the delay in the next census form, but I couldn't get it created before the long drive from Pennsylvania back to Texas!  So the last form I posted was the Schedule 2 for the 1850 census.  Onward to the 1860 census, Schedule 1 this week.

Very few changes in the 1860, Schedule 1.  In fact I only noticed 2.  The first being in the value of a person's estate.  This time it is broken down into both real estate and personal estate value.  The other difference was they finally did a little acknowledging of women holding jobs.  Instead of asking "Profession, Occupation, or Trade of each male person over 15 years of age" it's been altered slightly to "...each person, male or female, over 15 years of age."  Ah the subtle advancements.

As before the U.S. Census Bureau has some great information on their site for the census to include the instructions for U.S. Marshals and Assistants.

At 1930census.com we've again got the map of the U.S. at the time of the census, as well as a history of the decade to place your research in historic perspective.

As always, if you have any trouble viewing or downloading the spreadsheet, just comment or send me an email and I'll see what I can do to fix it.  So far there hasn't been any trouble since the very first sheet I posted.  I'll cross my fingers!

When you view the census through Google documents it does appear as if it were 3 pages, but rest assured that when downloaded it looks like the image at the top of the blog and in one simple page.

Let me know if there are any mistakes as well.  I'm sure you can imagine my eyes were starting to go crossed by the time I was done with this form!  Corrections and suggestions are always welcome!

Next week I'll post an inputtable Slave Schedule for 1860.  Until next time, have fun tending those roots!

Sunday's Obituary - Not Just Any Ol' Priest in the Family

I was always told that Aloysius McElwee was related to me (he's my 1st cousin twice removed).  I knew from his tombstone that he was a Brigadier General in the Army.  His obituary was still incredibly awe-inspiring.  It also helped connect one other link.  My sister's childhood friend was a Sherrock and we knew we were related to a Sherrock, but didn't know how.

I was very impressed when I read about his education as well as his military service.  He was obviously a very respected clergyman and I know looking back at other relatives' obituaries that having him preside at their funeral or a loved one's funeral must have been special indeed.  I wish I had a picture of him.

It's a bit sad.  I lived in Hazleton up until October 1990 and never knew him.  Never met him.  Wilkes-Barre is a neighboring town and I lived in his hometown. 

"Monsignor McElwee dies, served church for 50 years

Monsignor Aloysius J. McElwee, 76, pastor emeritus of St. Patrick's Church, in Wilkes-Barre, and a native of Hazleton, died Tuesday afternoon after being ill.

McElwee, son of the late Owen and Bridget (Brown) McElwee, was born in Hazleton on Oct. 26, 1913.  He attended St. Gabriel's grade school and Hazleton High School.

Msgr. McElwee was also a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Olean, N.Y., and St. Mary's Seminary.  He did graduate work at George Washington University.

He took his preparation for the priesthood at the Collegio Brignole Sale Negroni, Genoa, Italy, and was ordained by the Most Rev. Francesco Canessa, D.D., in Genoa on May 18, 1940.

Hazleton Standard Speaker, 17OCT1990

Upon his return to the diocese, he was first assigned as assistant pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Susquehanna, and later assigned at St. Patrick's, Wilkes-Barre.

In August of 1944, Msgr. McElwee was released from the Diocese of Scranton by the late Bishop William J. Hafey for active service in the Chaplains Corps of the U.S. Army.  In December of that year went to the Pacific Theater with the 13th Tactical Division from Fort Jackson, S.C. He participated in invasions of Leyte in the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, and Ie Shima.

In 1947, he was assigned to Nanking, China, as chaplain of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group.  In 1949, he was assigned to the Eighth U.S. Army in Japan and late to the headquarters of the Yokohama Command.

In 1950, he was stationed at Fort Jay, N.Y., and Fort Benning, Ga., with the Eighth Infantry Regiment, the Fourth Infantry Division, and accompanied this unit to West Germany.  After three years in West Germany, he was assigned to Fort Devens, Mass., where he remained from 1954 to 1958.  While at Fort Devens, he attended the Command and General Staff College.

After serving at Fort Devens, McElwee was appointed director of plans and operations at headquarters of the USAREUR.

In 1962, he was appointed Deputy Army Chaplain of the Second U.S. Army at Fort Meade, Md.  Later, he was appointed to the office of the chief of chaplains as director of plans, programs, and policies and remained there until 1966 when he was appointed command chaplain in Europe.  He also served as vicar delegate in Europe of the Military Ordinariate.  He was then appointed post chaplain at Fort Meade and command chaplain, in  1970, USARPAC.

In 1971, he was promoted to brigadier general and appointed deputy chief of Army chaplains and continued in this office until his retirement from Army service in 1974.

He was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Church, in Wilkes-Barre, on Sept. 3, 1974.  He served in this capacity until his retirement in September 1982.

He was named Domestic Prelate (Monsignor) in 1964, by the late Pope Paul VI.

He received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), and the Distinguished Service Medal.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Eugene.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Stanley J. Sutula, Kingston; Mrs. Robert Sherrock, Hazleton; one brother, Neil McElwee, Harrisburg, and several nieces and nephews.

The transferal [sic] of the body, followed by Mass, will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m., with the Monsignor Donald A. McAndrews, V.F., presiding.

A Pontifical Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend James C. Timlin, Bishop of Scranton, on Friday, at 11 a.m. in St. Patrick's  Church, Wilkes-Barre.  Interment will be in St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Hazleton.

Friends may call tonight at St. Patrick's Rectory, Wilkes-Barre, beginning at 7 p.m."

A Quick Update from FamilySearch

I wasn't planning on a post until this Sunday since I'm still traveling, but since I got to the hotel earlier than expected and saw an email from Paul Nauta at FamilySearch with some new and interesting news, I figured I'd pass it on!

To save my already travel-worn brain, I'll let you check out the release from Paul yourself.  I look forward to checking out the different channels at the FamilySearch YouTube page once I'm more coherent.

"FamilySearch Announces Updated YouTube Channel

4 August 2011

SALT LAKE CITY— FamilySearch has unveiled a newly updated YouTube channel giving viewers an informative, fun and fascinating look at several different aspects of genealogy through a growing number of videos in five playlists.

High-quality videos are available for the rookie genealogist and the seasoned veteran alike. The Genealogy in 5 Minutes playlistdemonstrates how, in just a few minutes, individuals with little or no genealogy experience can make some headway on their family’s history.

The Woven Generations playlist features powerful, personal experiences from those who have found success or inspiration through family history work.

Additionally, FamilySearch sent camera crews to Virginia, Ohio, California, Indiana and other locations for a closer look at how FamilySearch works with societies and archives to provide access to more records online and to further mutual interests in family history. These videos can be found in the Societies and Archives playlist.

These videos and others are available at YouTube.com/FamilySearch and can be powerful tools in introducing the excitement of family history to a friend or family member. They will also enrich the life of a veteran genealogist."

Wordless Wednesday - My Aunt is So Going to Kill Me!

  My super cool Aunt Cathy Ryan nee Brown.  The captain of the majorettes in her senior year (left picture).  I'm told that she twirled flaming batons. Absolutely 100% awesomely cool!

Tombstone Tuesday - I'm a Bit Disappointed and Angry

Nancy O'Donoghue nee Brown (middle)

I'm traveling back to Texas while this posts so no 1860 census form this week, so I decided to post one of the many tombstones that I visited while on my trip home.

One of the gravestones I very much wanted to visit was for my cousin, Nancy O'Donoghue nee Brown.  She was killed last October.  I never met the rest of the family.  Nancy and I corresponded because we were both researching our Brown line and realized that it was the same line.  We met once and exchanged information.  We corresponded occasionally on Facebook and would email each other from time to time with life events or if either of us discovered something new in our research.  She was an incredibly warm, sweet lady.  I wanted to visit her grave and get a picture of the tombstone.


There was no tombstone.  There was only the metal marker that the funeral home puts out after burial.  The temporary marker.  I spoke with the caretaker and the rectory and was told that many friends had stopped by looking for Nancy's grave to pay their respects, but that the temporary metal marker wasn't even placed by the funeral home until recently.  She was buried in October and nothing had marked her grave until very recently.  Unacceptable.

A bit harsh perhaps.  I never met her immediate family as I mentioned, but I don't understand the hold up.  I know that the family no longer lives in Hazleton, PA where Nancy was laid to rest in our old parish cemetery, but wouldn't someone have checked to see if the marker had been placed?  Wouldn't someone at least have insisted on the temporary marker after the funeral?

I know they are going through hard times right now.  Money may be tight.  I won't go into the circumstances surrounding Nancy's death in this post.  It is truly horrific and is undoubtedly tearing the family apart, but with so many people wanting to visit Nancy's gravesite could a memorial fund not have been created?  I would have given money for a marker.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet though.  I've got the funeral home's telephone number and I intend on calling and asking if the stone was purchased through them or if other arrangements have been made.  If I have to I will raise money for a marker for my cousin.  I will not let this sweet lady's memory fade away.