Letter #30: Start Living

Letter #30: Start Living

I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: How to Preserve Your Papers and Photographs.

In the 30th letter of Grandpa's Love Letters series, Grandpa is making plans for their new apartment. There seems to be a lot of logistical details to take care of before their nuptials. 

The line that stuck out to me was: "The more I think of it I become surer that we will at least have our floor coverings, curtains, kitchen set and either a studio couch or a bed room set in our home by Saturday June 29th and then we can start living." "Living" is underlined twice. 

Letter #28 and #29: Apartment Hunting

Letter #28 and #29: Apartment Hunting

I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: How to Preserve Your Papers and Photographs.

The latest entries for the Grandpa's Love Letters series are double letters. One was written in the afternoon, while the other was written that night. Grandpa is looking for a new place to move into once they get married. The options are interesting--an apartment with a shared bathroom for $23 rent or one in an attic for $25. Is the rent weekly? Monthly?

How to Write a Thesis Statement

How to Write a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence declaring what your essay is going to contain. It proposes the position you are going to argue for in your paper. It presents the topic of your writing and also comments on your position on the issue. Your thesis statement provides a roadmap for you as you write your paper, and it also helps your reader follow your argument as it develops. It lets your reader have an easier time understanding your argument.

Discover Your Learning Styles

Discover Your Learning Styles

One of the best ways to improve your research methods or academic performance is to discover your learning styles. Some people favor a particular way of learning, while others find that a blend of techniques work best for them. I've also found that learning styles can change over time; what may have worked with you while you were in school, for example, may shift when you are learning in a professional environment. 

Letter #27: Paper Kisses

 Letter #27: Paper Kisses

I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: How to Preserve Your Papers and Photographs.

In the 27th letters in the Grandpa's Love Letters series, Grandpa discusses the plans for their upcoming nuptials--which is only a month away. They need to find a new, furnished apartment in Scranton, buy a gift for their friends getting married, figure out how many people are attending, send out the invites, and get Grandma's ring. 

Thanatopsis: Seeing Death with Postmortem Photographs

Thanatopsis: Seeing Death with Postmortem Photographs

I presented this paper at "The Art of Death and Dying" symposium on October 24-27, 2012. The symposium was hosted by the University of Houston Libraries, in partnership with the Blaffer Art Museum, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, the Department for Hispanic Studies, the Honors College and School of Art. Far from being morbid, this was the best, most well-planned, and liveliest symposium I've ever attended. (Soon afterward, I was contacted to be interviewed for a Norwegian docu-series on death, which is just as awesome and metal as it sounds). 

Letter #26: Consent to Our Marriage

Letter #26: Consent to Our Marriage

I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: How to Preserve Your Papers and Photographs.

In the 26th letter in the Grandpa's Love Letter series, Grandpa prepares for another weekend home. During the visit, he is going to ask Grandma's parents for her hand in marriage. 

Letter #25: Confession on Saturday

Letter #25: Confession on Saturday

I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: How to Preserve Your Papers and Photographs.

In the 25th letter of the Grandpa's Love Letter series, life's little annoyances get in the way. It's funny how looking back at this letter so many years later, the problems seem so minuscule in the grand scheme of things. It allows me to put the minor inconveniences of my own life in perspective. Problems at work, headaches from glasses, moving, finding new apartments, and a landlady who no longer wants to do your laundry: it doesn't sound like fun for Grandpa. He probably has a number of sins to confess on Saturday too!