Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The Reserach Trip Gets Much, Much Better

[Posted from the St Louis Public Library, St Louis, Missouri] Life on our big research trip has gotten much, muuch better! On Friday, I explored the well-maintained genealogical collection of the St Louis Public Library at the central branch downtown, as well as the archives of the St Louis Post-Dispatch and the now-defunct St Louis Globe-Democrat. The complete archives of these newspapers are available only on microfilm at the St Louis Public Library. On Saturday, we headed across the Mississippi River to the town of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois. We had several pleasant surprises there, from a friendly and helpful encounter with the local police, to an enlightening chat with the parish priest, and then, most surprising of all, a chance encounter with an internationally-known historian!

On Sunday, we basically rested, but found time to go through and scan a treasure trove of old photographs. On Monday, we found another cache of old and valuable photographs. Today, we're back in the library in the morning, and then out Calvary Catholic Cemetery in the afternoon.

So lead has turned to gold. And I've learned a few practical things as well. Later, I'll write about all the things I've mentioned here as well as the practical lessons learned.

We're headed to Kansas City tomorrow.

2 comments:

True Crime Writer and Genealogy Sleuth said...

Hello Craig - enjoyed reading about your research trip to the Gateway City. I have lived in St Louis most of my life.
However, please name the internationally known historian the you met.
Thanks, Judy Lewin
A Genealogy Sleuth

Craig Manson said...

Judy--Thanks! The historian was Margaret Kimball Brown, Ph.D., founder of the Center for French Colonial Studies.