History-writing seminar at Cape museum teaches people how to document the past

Two months ago Jo Duff wrote a one-page letter to her nieces and nephews about her maternal grandfather. Soon afterward she heard back from two of the nephews, who are in their late 20s, that it was the first time they had ever received a letter from anybody.

"I'm inspired now to write letters," Duff said. "It's something that's not computer-generated."

Her goal is to write holiday letters about her experiences to nieces and nephews, Duff said, in the hopes they will remember a part of history in the letter writing and to learn of her experiences.

Duff spoke Wednesday about her letters at the second "Writing Your Own History" workshop held at the Cape River Heritage Museum. Eight people attended.

The workshop was created to give participants a place to share ideas on how to document history and to help bring more people to the museum, said Bonnie Stepenoff, the coordinator of the workshop. She is a professor of American history and historic preservation at Southeast Missouri State University.

"If you're doing it by yourself, it can be real lonesome doing a history project," said Stepenoff, who has published her memoirs and three books on subjects related to Missouri and Pennsylvania history.

Stepenoff said it's important for people to write their own history because understanding the past helps build a sense of community. Many things in history haven't changed over time, she said, and writing about the past can improve understanding between older and younger generations.

"I think it's important to remember the people who came before," she said.

The workshop's name may indicate it's only about writing personal history, Stepenoff said. But that was only a launching point to get people to attend.

Participants asked questions about how to date family photos, received advice on how to write about nonfamily matters and inquired where to get personal information on distant family members.

Doris Eddings of Cape Girardeau brought in two photographs of distant relatives she doesn't know.

"If I know what year this was," said Eddings, pointing to the photo, "I might be able to tell who they are."

A participant suggested she ask someone knowledgeable in period fashion to date the clothing.

After attending the first meeting, Jim Blakemore of Cape Girardeau heeded Stepenoff's advice and designed an outline for his writing, which would be about the proper placement in Cape Girardeau of a Louis Lorimier mill. He brought the outline to the second meeting and got new advice from Stepenoff about how to organize his information.

Kim King of Jackson said she would like to tell a story about her paternal great-grandfather, who nobody in her family knows about because he died at an early age. King said she attended the workshop to learn how to get more information on him.

Stepenoff said good information can be found online and on paper. She suggested that King search the online Social Security death index, which can help find obituaries or little biographies, she said.

Another participant who had questions about how to date her photographs without using a computer.

"Follow every lead," Stepenoff said.

Even though college students haven't attended the workshops, it doesn't mean they aren't interested in writing about the past, Stepenoff said. Many students study historic preservation, she said.

The next meeting will be in January and is free, Stepenoff said.