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Stumpage Reports
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Thursday, November 27, 2003 :::
Happy Historically Inaccurate Thanksgiving
There are two, count 'em two, primary sources for the menu and circumstances of the Pilgrim's first thanksgiving feast. From these two bare descriptions have come our turkey dinners, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and if you live at my house, stuffed celery. Also, I could add the traditions of selling things and making money.
Just in case you're interested, and even if you are not, here's the original sources for Thanksgiving:
"...our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some nintie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which we brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodnessr of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie."
--- Edward Winslow, Mourt's Relation, 1622.
"They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; fFor as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports."
--- William Bradford, Of Plimouth Plantation, 1630.
::: posted by tom at 9:36 AM
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 :::
No Wonder Your Head Hurts
At work I get to read and photocopy a lot of Confederate Pension Applications. They were forms the veterans of the Confederate Army had to fill out to get disability money. This was all taken care of by the states because the Federal Government certainly wasn't going to pay for the injuries the boys in grey got while trying to preserve slavery defend hearth and home secede from the Union.
I enjoy reading these things, looking for interesting anecdotes and seeing how people got wounded. I found a doozy today. The application is date July 4, 1910, so this poor guy had been walking around like this since 1863. This quote is from the part where the doctor had to describe "nature and extent of injuries":
"right eye shot out, Missile passing through temporal bone and orbit left eye near foramen and cutting the nose into just between the eyes. The subject suffers from a very malignant head trouble caused from this wound which is incurable."
Like I said, no wonder the guy had a headache.
Reading:
Take the Cannoli: Tales From the New World, by Sarah Vowell. (thanks Ann!)
Four Past Midnight, by Stephen King.
Quote of the Day:
A memorial was received, signed by many clergymen, desiring the Legislature to enact laws against prevailing iniquities. Among such laws, passed this session, were two against Adultery and Polygamy. Those guilty of the first crime, were to sit an hour on the gallows, with ropes about their necks, --- be severly whipt not above 40 stripes; and forever after wear a capital A, two inches long, cut out of cloth coloured differently from their clothes, and sewed on the arms, or back parts of their garments so as always to be seen when they were about. The other crime, stated with suitable exceptions, was punishable by death.
---- May 5th, 1694. The Annals of Salem, by Joseph B. Felt. Salem, 1827. Page 317.
::: posted by tom at 1:46 PM
Monday, November 24, 2003 :::
R.I.P. Doggy
A freind of mine's english bulldog died yesterday. It choked on one of those rawhide bones. My friend said, "I can think of a lot of people I would rather have choke on a rawhide bone than my dog, hell, I can think of some people I would've shoved it down their throat."
My feelings exactly.
Conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum...
THE SACRIFICE OF A MEDIUM. A man, whose name is Samuel Cole, residing in Washington county, Ohio, who was made insane from the workings of the spirit-rappings delusion, became possessed of the idea that he must offer, like Abraham of old, a sacrifice to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. He accordingly proceeded to carry his object into execution, by taking off one of his feet, which he succeeded in doing some days since, in a very scientific manner, and with a heroic determination that would compare with the self-sacrificing deeds done in the earlier ages. His family, fearing that some other of his limbs might be demanded in a like cause, had him conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum, at Columbus.
--- The North Carolina Standard, Raleigh, March 5, 1853.
Quote of the Day:
It was not long before M.L. daughter of the said F. confess'd that She rode with her Mother to the said Witch-meeting, and confirm'd the Substance of her Mother's Confession. At another time M.L. junior, the Grand-daughter, aged about 17 Years, confesses the Substance of what her Grand-mother and Mother had related, and declares that when they, with E.C. rode on a Stick or Pole in the Air, she the said Grand-daughter, with R.C. rode upon another (and the said R.C. acknowledged the same) and they set their Hands to the Devil's Book.
--- Cotton Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana (The Great Works of Christ in America), 1702
::: posted by tom at 11:58 AM
Saturday, November 22, 2003 :::
Big Ass Quote of the Day
The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them --- words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. Thats the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.
--- Stephen King, The Body, 1974.
::: posted by tom at 10:52 PM
Friday, November 21, 2003 :::
A Famous History Nerd
I actually got to see a famous history nerd last night. Being a fledgling history nerd myself, it was nice to see someone get some recognition.
Ann and James came into town to attend the Sarah Vowell lecture at NCSU's Stewart Theatre.
We had dinner at the Dalat Oriental Restaurant where we met some folks, including a few of James' blog buddies: Pinkie, Jackie, Tracy, and some people who don't have blogs. I'm sure I had read their blogs before, having surfed through James' links a couple times. Now I'll try to visit once in awhile and recall how I met that person briefly across the table at a Vietmanese restaurant.
I haven't read that much Sarah Vowell, but she read one of my favorite essays where she talks about the absurdity and surreality of the town of Salem marketing the witchcraft trials. Her rant against the term "enslaved africans" was worth the price of admission.
One thing she said that grated on my soul like fingers on a chalkboard: Sarah was talking about the PBS series History Detectives and mentioned how it might be boring seeing historians in an archive leafing through papers. Thats fine and true, then she said "Something exciting will happen like a librarian will walk in with a roll of microfilm." Sorry, ma'am, that would be an archivist.
Another good visit from Ann, with James thrown in as a bonus. Lots of good conversation and some iced lattes at Cup A Joe.
See Pinky's blog for a version of the evening's events. We did not stick around for the meet and greet, or get offered a roll of braided bread.
::: posted by tom at 10:40 AM
Thursday, November 20, 2003 :::
The Best Freakin' Movie in the World
A couple of days ago I received a free DVD player. My parents got it from accumulating points on their credit card. I plugged it in, and the blue DVD screen came up, so I assumed it worked. I didn't have any DVDs except for a couple CDR bootleg off the internet ones. The player is supposed to play them, but I was afraid to try, because if it didn't work, I'd sit and worry if it was the player or the CD. I'm happy to say it works.
I held out for two whole days before I went and bought a DVD. I had just spent a bunch of money on this, so had to wrestle for a couple days about spending some more entertainment dollars. Then I got a check from some health insurance I cancelled a while back, and it was off to the store.
Anyone who knows me well, could probably guess the first DVD I bought was The Great Escape. It is my favorite movie in the world, and I think one of the best. I've been watching it tonight, and I'm constantly struck by how economical the film is with its storytelling. Although its long (almost three hours), everything in the movie belongs and serves a purpose. It either advances the story, explains how the POWs are doing all this crap, or helps delineate a character. Sometimes all three at once. I could give some examples but don't want to go on that long. Too many movies today have so much obligatory crap in them, and most of them could end about 20 minutes sooner.
The other movie I bought is another great guy movie: The Wild Bunch. Its been about two years since I've seen it. If I remember correctly, the structure of the movie is like this: 1. Get in a shootout. 2. Escape. 3. Have a drink with the boys and have some fun at someone's expense. 4. Repeat until everybody is dead.
I also considered buying The Searchers, but could not determine if it was the widescreen format edition or not so I passed. I also had in my handsGoodfellas and the Errol Flynn Adventures of Robin Hood, but the two I ended up getting were bargain priced. I'll get those last two with my brother's Borders' employee discount.
::: posted by tom at 12:41 PM
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 :::
Fun At Work
This morning my supervisor and I stood at two photocopiers for about 2 hours, copied old wills and estates records, and blabbed about the Civil War the whole time. And I'm actually getting paid to do this?
In Fact, I'm Getting Paid More to Do This...
Last week I got a promotion at work. That's pretty good if I do say so myself, after only four weeks on the job. I had applied for a "better" job at the same institution before I got the present job. After thinking about it, I didn't want the "better" job, it had a better title, but only a little more money and a lot more public service. What they ended up doing was giving me the better job, a big fat raise, and a working less Saturdays schedule. However, they switched the job descriptions, so I'm doing the same thing I was doing last week, only getting paid more and now I'm a real Archivist and not a Processing Assistant.
Last spring I was almost in tears, sending out resumes and not hearing a peep. Its nice when things fall into place like this. There was no political maneuvering or backstabbing involved. I was oblivious. I just showed up and did a good job.
Random Drexel University Student Blog of the Day:
Let's Talk Humanities
::: posted by tom at 12:59 PM
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 :::
Freak Show Story of the Day
SUDDEN DEATH OF A MAMMOTH BOY. The giant infant eighteen years of age, of foreign birth, weighing over 400 pounds, who for some weeks past has been on exhibition in New York at the Bowery, died suddenly on Friday evening.
It appears that it has been almost impossible to satiate his thirst, he having drank several gallons of water per day. Medical aid was obtained; soon after which death followed, and, as many suppose, from maltreatment.
--- North Carolina Standard, January 8, 1851.
Found Runaway Slave Ad of the Day
COMMITTED TO JAIL. Was committed to the Jail of Wake County, on the 20th instant, a negro girl named Mima, She says she belongs to William Smith, of Johnston County. The owner is hereby notified to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take her away; otherwise she will be dealt with as the law directs.
William H. High, Sheriff.
--- North Carolina Standard, November 27, 1850.
::: posted by tom at 11:56 AM
Monday, November 17, 2003 :::
Lunch With the Presidents
When the weather's nice, I've taken to eating my lunch on a bench next to the statue of the three U.S. Presidents born in North Carolina. I'd rather eat next to the Confederate Memorial but there are no benches there.
There are often large packs of schoolkids downtown with flustered chaperones leading them around to the different attractions in the City of Oaks. The first time I sat on the bench I saw a pack of kids coming my way and thought "J.F., I hope they don't come over here." They didn't come that day, but they did the next. I've since begun to enjoy the groups of kids and their reactions to the statue.
I don't know what age these kids are, I'd guess about fourth or fifth grade. The first day, I tried to pick out who I thought were the cool kids or the in crowd. I realized the kids were at this great age where they all seem equally geeky, although I'm sure they have their little cabals and pecking order.
The statue is on big-ass plinth with a sign that clearly says "No Climbing on the Statue." The kids gather around to have their pictures taken and I can see the suppressed energy, as they kind of bob and claw at the statue, just itching to climb into James K. Polk's lap. Teachers and parents have the kids say things like "cheese doodles," "spaghetti," and "pickled peas" instead of the old standby "cheese" when they take the picture. One day two little girls, the little blond seemed to be the leader, crouched down in front of a little cannon so someone could take their picture. They had their arms around each other and just beamed, I could tell they thought they would be friends forever. I remember when I dreamed their kind of dreams until my innocence was shattered forever at the Alibi Bar in Big Rapids, Michigan.
There's usually one little boy off to the side by himself, thinking. Thats the kid I relate to.
With the weather getting colder, I won't be eating outside much, and the kids won't dally around the statue, but their be a whole new crew next year.
::: posted by tom at 10:24 AM
Friday, November 14, 2003 :::
Early Evening Just For the Hell of It Quote of the Day:
"You may have noticed that Web classification has the feel of a universe sorted by bulldozers and the Shopping Channel. "
--- Arthur Plotnik, "Who Loves You Like the Library?" in The Writer, November 2003.
Link courtesy of librarian.net.
::: posted by tom at 6:16 PM
Thursday, November 13, 2003 :::
The Death Penalty Sucks
I've recently been realizing how unfair the death penalty is applied in this country. It seems pretty obvious to me the rich folks with pricey lawyers don't get executed.
The local weekly has been making a big stink lately about the fact North Carolina has executed five people since last August with number six scheduled to go this Friday morning. I guess having a governor who is a former attorney general doesn't make the chances of executive clemency look too likely.
This article pissed me off enough to mention it in my blog.
Did You Know Department:
In 2002, 81 percent of all executions took place in China, Iran, and the United States. Aren't we in great company?
Seven countries since 1990 are known to have executed prisoners who were under 18 years old at the time of the crime - Congo (Democratic Republic), Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,Yemen, and the United States. The country which carried out the greatest number of known executions of child offenders was the United States (17 since 1990).
Links:
Amnesty International and the death penalty.
Human Rights Watch World Report 2003.
that's it, a rare, socially and politically semi-conscious blog post from Chavez. Hopefully tomorrow a nice little essay on kids climbing on a statue in front of the capital building.
Speaking of a Death Penalty...
Today its been all Civil War, all the time, which is just fine with me. I'm looking through the troop roster books and the pension application files for folks doing genealogy research or looking to join the U.D.C. or the S.C.V.
I said yesterday, its fun finding records of folks who were loyalists during the American Revolution. When doing Civil War stuff, its almost as fun to find a record for someone that says "Listed as a deserter and dropped from the rolls of the Company," or its really great when I find one that indicates the guy deserted and joined the Yankee army.
::: posted by tom at 11:33 AM
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 :::
Its Always Fun When...
Its always fun when you are researching someone's Revolutionary War era ancestor so they can gain membership in the D.A.R. and you find a record of them alright, a record of them being arrested and incarcerated on a prison ship for being a loyalist (as in loyal to King George III).
Johnny Cash
The local, free, weekly paper recently had a nice tribute section to Johnny Cash with peices written by local musicians. You can look at it here.
::: posted by tom at 2:55 PM
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 :::
On the Road
I haven't updated for a few days because my good friend Ann came to Raleigh for a few days and we went to the beach. I hope you had a chance to read her husband's guest blog while we were gone.
We went to Atlantic Beach, and visited Morehead City and the town of Beaufort.
It was a fine weekend, good companionship, antique shops, good seafood, lots of iced lattes, and moseying through eastern North Carolina.
I even got another smoking donkey for only five bucks!
::: posted by tom at 1:24 PM
Saturday, November 08, 2003 :::
Silly Science Facts: (From the wrappers of Snickers Fun! Size Candy Bars)
Your foot and your forearm (from the wrist to the inside of your elbow) are the same length.
A sneeze can reach speeds of 200 miles an hour.
85% of the population can curl their tongue into a "U".
It is anatomically impossible for humans to lick their elbow.
The lungfish can live out of water for as long as 4 years!
::: posted by tom at 8:24 PM
Friday, November 07, 2003 :::
Odds and Sods, Stealing Ideas....
3 Things On My Bulletin Board:
1. A Dead Milkmen sticker.
2. A postcard of a young Bob Dylan, holding his guitar and zipping up his pants after taking a leak. I believe James got that for me.
3. The cover of the book Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs, with cover artwork by Roy Krenkel.
3 Books I Have and Probably Will Never Read:
1. The Book of the American Spirit, illustrated by Howard Pyle.
2. Fables de la Fontaine, illustrated by Gustav Dore.
3. Red Randall in Burma, by R. Sidney Bowen.
3 U.S. States That I Have Ashtrays Shaped Like:
1. Arkansas
2. Illinois
3. Alabama
Link-O-Rama
The Universe People. If you can figure this one out, be my guest. I think I'll send them all my money.
The Bible in Pig Latin.
Calvacade of Bad Bridal Fashion. One for the ladies. I particularly like the Shut Up About Your Fucking Wedding items they have for sale.
::: posted by tom at 12:47 PM
Wednesday, November 05, 2003 :::
The End
No, its not the end of this blog. But God knows, if I don't think some shit up pretty soon, it will be.
In the meantime, here's a shitload of last lines from some great books and stories:
It was the devious-cruising Rachel, that in her retracing search after her missing children, only found another orphan.
--- Herman Melville, Moby Dick, 1851.
He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.
--- Mary W. Shelley, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, 1818.
But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before.
--- Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884.
Go, my book, and help destroy the world as it is.
--- Russell Banks, Continental Drift, 1985.
"It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.
--- Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery", 1948.
I cannot tell you what happened after this, except that knights and ladies, yes, and noble squires, too, were seen weeping there for the deaths of dear friends.
--- The Nibelungenlied, ca. 1200.
Sort of like in those old Hitler movies.
--- Ira Levin, The Boys From Brazil, 1976.
"Tis done," Rush wrote. "We have become a nation."
--- Catherine Drinker Bowen, Miracle at Philadelphia, 1966.
Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring me back again to that accursed island; and the worst dreams that ever I have are when I hear the surf booming about its coasts, or start upright in bed, with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: Pieces of eight! pieces of eight!"
--- Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, 1883.
Working men of all countries, unite!
--- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto, 1848.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
--- Declaration of Independence, 1776.
But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.
--- Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1900.
::: posted by tom at 12:23 PM
Tuesday, November 04, 2003 :::
Two funny names I found while looking up Marriage Bonds at work:
Theophelus Strange
George Washington Lovingood
::: posted by tom at 3:31 PM
Monday, November 03, 2003 :::
Now Here's Some Damn Stumpage Reports....
Finally, the Forestry Foundation papers I worked on for over a year are online. The main page for the Forestry History site is here.
You can see the finding aid, complete with links to the digital images, for the collection I arranged here.
Stumpage Records can be seen here.
If you want to see what the Barbadian laborers in the forest were eating, take a look at this.
They had German P.O.Ws working in the forest too, note the work report for May 8, 1945. There is a penciled notation at the bottom that says "V.E. Day" and the prisoners only had to work half a day.
If you're suffering from insomnia, Timber Inventories will put your ass to sleep.
My favorite photo from the collection is here.
I'm really happy this thing made it online, I put in a lot of work on it. It helped pay the rent my second year in grad school and I got a lot of valuable experience. If you need to know anything about forestry in North Carolina, I'm your man.
::: posted by tom at 9:57 PM
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