First of all, mia culpa for being absent the past many months. During the summer in particular I was focused on family health issues (all are fine now) and just didn’t have the bandwidth to research and write. Now that I’m back, I am focusing my energies on my Canadian ancestors once again, in partContinueContinue reading “Changing Course : Canadian History”
Category Archives: Places
Cyclone Harry
This is not my usual type of post about history, architecture, or family. The heaviness and upheaval around the world is felt in so many ways. This week a devastating storm hit the east coast of southern Calabria, as well as Sicily and Sardinia. I watched videos of 26-foot high waves crashing along boardwalks andContinueContinue reading “Cyclone Harry”
Discovering Calabria: Part Two
One thing I did not fully realize about the Calabria was the wide variation in the landscape. Yes, on a map you can see that it is situated between two seas with a mountain range running up the center of the region. And yes, if you google certain locations, you get some idea of howContinueContinue reading “Discovering Calabria: Part Two”
Discovering Calabria
Calabria. Birthplace of my great-grandmother (bisnonna), and many many generations of her ancestors. It stretches from the heel of the boot (Puglia) to the toe, the most southern part of mainland Italy, and is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the east. Through experiences made possible by MadeContinueContinue reading “Discovering Calabria”
Museo Faggiano: One Family’s Archaeological Museum
This past Monday, my daughter and I drove to Lecce, which surprised us by its size. Why Lecce? I was first interested in the ancient Roman below-ground amphitheater that graces the center of the old city. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we discovered the entire area was under construction and sealed off due to paving workContinueContinue reading “Museo Faggiano: One Family’s Archaeological Museum”
Valle d’Itria
A day in the southern Italian Valle d’Itria. We drove south thinking we would stop first in Martina Franca. I don’t know why it was so crowded and busy, perhaps because it was Sunday and all the locals were coming and going to church, but we could not find a spot to park so weContinueContinue reading “Valle d’Itria”
Puglia!
Centro Formaggi A travel day. Left windy Firenze – first a bus to the train station, then a train to Pisa. Loved looking at the countryside. Then we took the Pisamover to the airport, where we boarded Ryan Air (yes, my checked bag was under weight!) to Bari. It was POURING rain when we landed;ContinueContinue reading “Puglia!”
The Other Half I Shall Keep
Did you ever come across a document or an artifact that changed you in some way? Surprised, delighted, or elicited strong emotions? This happened to me last year when I traveled to Bologna to visit my daughter who was studying there. No matter where I travel, I visit libraries and archives and do research ifContinueContinue reading “The Other Half I Shall Keep”
A Fresh Perspective
This past week was not only a walk down memory lane, but a healing within myself. For sixteen years I worked as the Head Archivist at Cranbrook Archives. It was a job I took great pride in. I learned about art and architecture, studied the crafts women and men who created the objects and theContinueContinue reading “A Fresh Perspective”
Travel. Research. Learn.
Historical research is akin to traveling. In fact, one might say that when you research history of any kind, you ARE making a journey. Back in time, to another place or set of circumstances. During the past year, I have been fortunate to travel, both nationally and internationally. As a historian and archivist, I alwaysContinueContinue reading “Travel. Research. Learn.”
