From: John Minton, Sgt. USMC
Question: I am researching
the Spanish American War and the Boxer Rebellion. Specifically,
I hope to find information on a Medal of Honor awards
ceremony at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA,
on December 31, 1901.
These Sailors and Marines served in the Boxer Rebellion
(and possibly the Spanish American War). One was Pvt.
France Silva, USMC. He is buried not far from my home
(Tehama County, CA). My research concerns local history.
I have already found much on him but I have no photos
of him or of the ceremony. His family is no where to be
found so far. His wife is not buried in the Corning Cemetery
and no one actually knows her whereabouts. Her maiden
name is also not known. If I can locate children, grandchildren,
or his sibling's children I may be able to interview and
obtain photos and information (from them). Any information
you could provide or any leads would be truly appreciated.
Thank you.
Answer: Dear Mr.
Minton:
Have you asked your local library or historical society
about the availability of microfilms of Vallejo newspapers
for January 1902? They may be your best source for photographs
of the ceremony and of Pvt. Silva.
What libraries have you used so far? I don’t want
to suggest any avenues you’ve already traveled.
Make sure you consult these books on the Marines in China
in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries:
Clark, George B. Treading Softly: U.S. Marines in
China, 1819-1949. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2001.
Biggs, Chester M. The United States Marines in North
China, 1894-1942. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &
Co. Publishers, c2003.
Also get in touch with the reference branch of the Marine
Corps’ History Division:
http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Contents/Oganization/HDR.htm
Let me hear back from you.
Mary-Jo Kline
From:
Sheila Middlebrook
Question: I'd
like information about lesser-known but just as active
black female Underground Railroad conductors. I need
documentation to demonstrate to young audiences that
Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were not the only
black ex-slaves (or black women from any American social
strata) to dare to directly combat the evil of slavery,
because there were many other uncelebrated black contributors
to the Underground Railroad movement in the pre-Civil
War era.
Can you supply me with some names
and research resources in order to present them to K-12
graders in the Columbus, Ohio educational system? I
believe that our younger generation needs to be informed
of the sacrifices that were routine within black society
during the Civil War.
Answer: Dear
Ms. Middlebrook:
In Columbus, you have a good choice of fine libraries,
so you should be able to find all of the books listed
below.
I urge you – beg you – to start with this
series:
The Black Abolitionist Papers -- C. Peter Ripley,
editor; Jeffrey S. Rossbach, Associate Editor. Chapel
Hill: University of North Carolina Press, c1985-c1992.
These volumes publish letters and speeches of African
American abolitionists, male and female, as they campaigned
for an end to slavery in the U.S., Canada, and Britain.
The editorial notes identifying the abolitionists are
superb – in many cases, they are the only information
you’ll find on these men and women. You’ll
thoroughly enjoy meeting the unsung heroes and heroines
you will find.
This is a good recent book that focuses on African American
women in the antislavery movement:
Yee, Shirley J., Black Women Abolitionists: A Study
in Activism, 1828-1860. Knoxville : University
of Tennessee Press, c1992.
This one is a good collection of papers on women of
all races in the abolitionist movement:
Yellin, Jean Fagan and John C. Van Horne, editors. The
Abolitionist Sisterhood: Women's Political Culture in
Antebellum America. Ithaca : Cornell University
Press, 1994.
Are you familiar with the National Park Service’s
programs for identifying and preserving UGRR sites?
If not, here’s the website. You may be particularly
interested in the sites they’re already working
with in Ohio:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/
You might also want to look at History Now’s
“Abolition” issue – the essays and
lesson plans and my suggestions for further reading
may give you some ideas:
http://www.historynow.org/09_2005/index.html
Mary-Jo Kline
From: Jean Brazos
Question:
I'm trying to find photos and information on Martin William
Jones who established The Royal Colony, White County,
Arkansas, and was the first county representative in Little
Rock. He served from 1835-1837. I'm told he wore a coon
skin cap and was a "colorful" gentleman.
I've found some information from the White County Historical
Society but it doesn't provide information regarding documentation
of the County Representatives. Any suggestions on where
I should inquire? Would the state archives have documents
and or photos ?
Answer: Dear
Jean:
You’re right. The Arkansas History Commission in
Little Rock would be your best bet. As you’ll see
from their website:
http://www.ark-ives.com/
They can’t do your research for you, but they’ll
help you plan your work.
You should also check with the Arkansas Historical Association
in Fayetteville to see what help they can offer:
http://www.uark.edu/depts/arkhist/home/
Good luck with your research. Politicians from the
West and Southwest in that period were always “colorful.”
You should have a lot of fun. But remember that there
weren’t any photographers wandering around Arkansas
(or much of anywhere) until the 1840s.
Mary-Jo Kline
|
