Washington, D.C.

I returned to Washington, D.C. (via Fredericksburg and Arlington, VA) on Sunday, October 28th, 2007. I stayed with my new friend Kathy, whom I met this summer (my first time through Washington, D.C.). I commuted each day via the METRO (on the orange line) from East Falls Church.

At the National Archives, I looked through passenger manifests of vessels sailing between Liverpool, England, and Queenstown, Ireland to the New York Harbor. I had some information regarding the sailing of the men in the family, but not a clue about the passage of the women I am studying. The indices of the passenger lists (including ancestry.com, library edition) have huge date gaps - and wouldn't you know, the dates I am searching for fall within those gaps! A lot of microfilm for a little reward... (and I got dizzy, too).

Tuesday morning I poured over historical maps in the Map Division of the Library of Congress, Madison building. This past summer (during the teacher institute) we had a tour of the Map Division, and it was satisfying to put the knowledge from that training to use on my own project. In the afternoon I went to the Photograph and Print Division to find images relating to my research. The librarians in these divisions were very helpful and accommodating.

Wednesday I spent the day in the Manuscript Division selecting, requesting, and reading microfilm copies and original files seeking letters written back and forth between members of the family and Theodore Roosevelt. I was sidetracked momentarily by a woman's love letter to T.R., her last name being the same as the family I am studying...

Thursday I tied up loose ends in each of the divisions I had researched; collecting price lists, downloading images, and checking references. Then I went to the Current Newspaper and Periodical Division to find the institutions which have holdings of the historical newspapers I will need to consult. I also walked across the hall to the Film Division and watched a brief promotional film produced by the Northern Pacific Railway about North Dakota. I was aghast as I watched the 'spin' on acculturation of the American Indians. In the afternoon, I walked back to the National Archives to find an unusual discovery about my subject (which may contradict some earlier findings).

Since I had a few hours to kill in the late afternoon, I decided to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial (island) and Georgetown, so I jumped on the METRO, and off I went. I walked so much that day, that I wore a hole in one of my socks!

On Friday, I drove back to northwest New Jersey (about a 5-6 hour drive). En route I finally took the time to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park, which was amazing. At first, I thought I'd be satisfied to stretch my legs and walk around the cemetery, but then I decided to walk the route of the 2 hour auto tour, which I accomplished in an hour! (Of course, I didn't read every inscription along the way... but I highly recommend a visit for anyone who happens to be in the area!)

Next stop - New York, New York.