In 1972 my paternal grandfather Maurice Leonard Reed died on the other side of the state in Bradenton, and my father, who was the executor of his estate, made the 3-hour trip every weekend in order to wrap up his affairs and sell the house. One of the many things my dad brought home (besides stacks of hand-woven rugs, antique lamps and clocks, and my grandfather's complete set of journals covering 1928 to 1957) was the files of family papers and records.
I was immediately hooked. There was a typewritten family tree (done by a professional genealogist for the family back in 1936) showing our history back to William Bradford, several letters and poems typed on onion-skin paper, and scribbled notes on the backs of envelopes. Plus a luggage tag, which I held onto, and which proved to be a major clue in my later research.
My next step was (naturally) going to the public library, where I checked out Searching for Your Ancestors, by Gilbert Doane. I started writing letters to everyone I could think of - my other grandparents in Michigan, elderly aunts and uncles, and Michigan libraries and courthouses. I started haunting the mailbox, whooping with joy when I received an answer in the mail.
I was on my way!
I was immediately hooked. There was a typewritten family tree (done by a professional genealogist for the family back in 1936) showing our history back to William Bradford, several letters and poems typed on onion-skin paper, and scribbled notes on the backs of envelopes. Plus a luggage tag, which I held onto, and which proved to be a major clue in my later research.
My next step was (naturally) going to the public library, where I checked out Searching for Your Ancestors, by Gilbert Doane. I started writing letters to everyone I could think of - my other grandparents in Michigan, elderly aunts and uncles, and Michigan libraries and courthouses. I started haunting the mailbox, whooping with joy when I received an answer in the mail.
I was on my way!
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