Past and Present
An exploration of the stories, customs, and creations that illuminate the shared fabric of history and heritage
The Camperdown Elm
During my retreat, I encountered a magnificent Camperdown Elm near the stone remnants of a former Gilded Age mansion. This wasn't just any tree, as I quickly informed anyone unfortunate enough to make eye contact with me. No, this was a cultivated specimen, incapable of reproducing from seed—a botanical metaphor so perfect for my personal journey that I nearly sprained something rushing back to my journal to record it.
Juneteenth: Uncovering Heritage
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The holiday marks the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation which had been issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had declared all enslaved people in Confederate states free, it wasn't until Granger's announcement that the emancipation was fully enforced in Texas, one of the last holdouts of slavery.
PSA: Thank your librarians & archivists, please!!!
Very few people in the world, I imagine, have ever said "I don't know what I want to do with my life. I guess I'll be a librarian". The people who work in libraries love books. Like, a lot! They have deep relationships with the stories of the first book that ever blew their mind
Sharing the "bad" stories in your family tree.
As we keep going down the rabbit hole, more clues pop up to pique our interest. What many of us find, however, is that there are a lot of unpleasant stories. So, what do you do about sharing them?
If you've reached this blog through a search engine, allow me to introduce myself:
I'm Susan, an essayist and narrative storytelling specialist dedicated to preserving authentic historical narratives and perspectives. My work as a historical researcher, archivist, and family history analyst is guided by the understanding that perspective fundamentally shapes our interpretation of history. Through rigorous research and compelling storytelling, I help uncover overlooked narratives that can transform our understanding of the past. I offer consultation services for projects requiring both accuracy and nuance, whether for personal family histories or broader historical accounts aimed at social betterment. Feel free to contact me to explore how alternative perspectives might reroute our understanding of your historical project.