A Glimpse Into The Past

I am a genealogist. Not a terribly profound statement, but by making it, I acknowledge a greater weakness. I love history, particularly forgotten family history. Nothing tells the story of a people, their country and family better than what a genealogist finds searching old handwritten documents that might normally be trashed, but, for reasons I do not care to explore right now, often are not.

Recently, I renewed my efforts on the Whalen family of Howard County, Maryland and came across the following letter. It was written by a young Rebeckah Jane Whalen to her mother after she visited her brother's ill child.

I'll let the letter tell you more, and comment after you have the opportunity to read what she wrote.

Incidentally, I asked for and received permission from a Whalen family member to post this letter.

Rebeckah, at the time she wrote the letter, was about eighteen years old. The child -- Jane Whalen -- she wrote about was just over one year old. Jane died soon after the letter was written.

Perhaps this post is not that pleasant to read, but it demonstrates several different things. Emotion communicated through writing was and is powerful. Rebeckah was clearly intelligent, loving, and badly hurt by what she saw. I know from family members that this was a major turning point in her life and, perhaps, influenced many decisions she made afterwards.

Also, I think this is very pertinent now, and less obvious too. The digital age will not produce anything like it. One hundred years from now, Tweets, emails, and text messages, etc., will be long gone and long forgotten.

History is better served when written in a format that will not be lost or altered to please those who follow.