Nearby History Participant to Receive Nursing Honor

Mary Bartholet is to be inducted into the 2010 Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame on the evening of March 18, at Salty's restaurant in Alki Point.. Mary is a past participant of the Nearby History writing program, held at Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). The WSNA Hall of Fame award, which began in 1996, honors nurses in Washington State who have made significant contributions to nursing, and to the community.

Each inductee into the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame has demonstrated excellence in the areas of patient care, leadership, education, public service, nurse advocacy, heroism, patient advocacy, or clinical practice, and for achievements that have ending value to nursing beyond the inductee's lifetime. In addition, each has demonstrated excellence that affected the health and/or social history of Washington state through sustained, lifelong contributions.

Nearby Norwegian member, Barbara Holz Sullivan, a retired nurse and co-participant in Nearby History seminars, nominated Mary Bartholet for the WSNA award after conducting research on her personal and professional achievements.

You can read about the 2010 Hall of Fame induction event at the Washington State Nurses Association website. More information concerning Mary's specific contributions will be added after the award ceremony.


The Nearby Norwegians heartily congratulate Mary, our friend and collaborator in historical and genealogical research, on her induction into the 2010 Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame.

PNW Historians Guild Conference in March

On Saturday, March 6, 2010, Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) will host the 24th annual conference of the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild. This year's topic is "The Northwest Borderlands":

The Pacific Northwest is a diverse region geographically, politically and culturally. Its history is therefore equally diverse. What does the Northwest's past mean to the various and varied populations living with the region? At this annual full day conference, history lovers can experience new work by academic historians and independent scholars as well as by community historians, journalists, filmmakers, genealogists, oral historians, students and folklorists.

Nearby Norwegian member, Luci Baker Johnson, will speak at this year's conference on "The Reindeer Expedition: the missionaries, teachers, reindeer herders, government officials, and indigenous peoples of Alaska, 1890-1900." Luci's research on this topic involves the Sami from northern Norway, the Esquimaux (Yupick and Inuit) from Siberia and Alaska, and Caucasions from Washington D.C., Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Seattle, Washington. "Between 1890 and 1900, there were two inter-continental expeditions of people and reindeer that journeyed from northern Norway to New York; New York to Seattle by train; Seattle to San Francisco (by boat), with the final destination as the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Both expeditions were initiated by the U.S. Governement through the Department of Interior and expenses covered by the Department of Eduation." See image.

This year's PNW Historians Guild Conference marks yet another participation by Nearby Norwegians. During last year's conference, dealing with Seattle's Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition of 1909, Luci Baker Johnson and Barbara Holz Sullivan offered a presentation on "Scandinavians at the AYP," including Norway Day at the Fair, and Cathy Lykes presented her in-depth research on "Health and Medicine and the AYP."

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Chery Kinnick

Nearby Norwegians Play Peek-a-Boo

Maybe the Nearby Norwegians have been busy playing peek-a-boo lately by not updating this blog regularly. But, we assure you that we are still kicking! To start off the new year, here are some photos of Young Nearby Norwegians: Barbara, Carolyn, Cathy, Chery, and Luci. I'm sure our loving parents had no idea what we would get up to as we grew: rooting around in family documents, asking pesky questions, and being nosy, budding genealogists, in general. Can you match the little faces with the names? If you look closely, you'll spy at least one hint!

Tuning into the AYPE with Lorraine McConaghy

Last night, my husband and I were sitting with the television tuned to a popular Seattle KING-5 program, Evening Magazine, when I heard a familiar but unexpected voice suddenly coming into my family room. It was Nearby Norwegians' friend and mentor, Dr. Lorraine McConaghy, lead historian of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI). Evening Magazine arranged to interview Lorraine about the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition of 1909. This year marks the centennial of the "AYPE"--an event of critical importance in the history of Seattle. The television video includes many archival photographs of the AYPE, and even a motion picture excerpt from "Norway Day." You can view the video and watch as 1909 Vikings disembark at the fair grounds: Seattle's first world's fair. In any case, it's always a pleasure for us to hear Lorraine again--a lady of many talents who is passionate about history, and has enabled that passion in so many others.

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Chery Kinnick

Norwegian Cultural & Heritage Day

This coming Saturday, March 28, there is a very special happening at the Leif Erikson Lodge 2-001, Sons of Norway, at 2245 NW 57th Street in the Ballard district of Seattle. The lodge is hosting its annual Norwegian Cultural and Heritage Day from 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m. Admission is free and events are open to the public. There will be demonstrations of traditional Norwegian handicrafts, music, dance, song, food preparation, and presentations throughout the day.

Events include tours of the Nordic Spirit boat at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.!

See the colorful event flyer

Velkommen og vaer saa god!

Welcome to our home and table!

Genealogy: Contagions and Collaborations

We'd be the first to admit that the pursuit of genealogy and family history is downright catchy. As Nearby Norwegians, we are usually on the lookout for materials and bits of information that may be helpful to others who are also history-minded (afflicted?).... and that is why our mission statement includes "giving back."

Genealogy does not involve a contest to see who can "bag" the longest list of names or the greatest number of dates. Oh, and it certainly is not meant to be like the seventh grade history class that nearly turned you OFF to any further consideration of history--family-related, or not. Instead, the pursuit of genealogy and family history is an enjoyable detective game where everyone stands to benefit by satisfying collaborations. "You watch mine and I'll watch yours" is the order of the day, since the collection and interpretation of historical facts and artifacts is not easily done alone.

Genealogy is contagious, but seldom fatal

Recently, in the spirit of collaboration, our very own Cathy Lykes was able to help out a dear friend of the Nearby Norwegians, the illustrious and ever-stylish footnoteMaven. "Maven," who is often referred to simply as "fM" because of the fondness she inspires, gave special thanks to Cathy for her sharing spirit... and more, in a recent blog entry.

Cathy is an extremely talented photographer, a great writer, and a wonderful friend. She can be found hanging out with a few of my other real life, geneablogger, Nearby History friends at Nearby Norwegians, a great must read blog.

What did Cathy do that was so appreciated by footnoteMaven?

Who IS footnoteMaven, anyway?

Read her blog entry: Tea With Me, But Who Am I? It will give you a look-see at the reasons behind what genealogists and family historians just do for one another as second nature.


...And thanks for the vote of confidence in the Nearby Norwegians, fM!

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Chery Kinnick

A "Nod and a Wink" to Our Irish Ancestry

As Nearby Norwegians, we tend to focus on Nordic culture and traditions. But, we find we cannot ignore the siren call of the shamrock on St. Patty's Day each March 17th. That should not be terribly surprising, because even St. Patrick himself was not Irish, but a Roman-Briton born Christian missionary who became a patron saint of Ireland. Truth be told, more than one of our group members claim some Irish ancestry in addition to their Norwegian heritage. [1]

Perhaps there is additional motivation to celebrate St. Patrick's Day for people like me who were born with an uncertain mix of Scandinavian and Celtic DNA: a sense of duty even, or... is it a sense of appeasement? After all, those Viking seafarers were mighty attracted to the comely lasses along the Irish coast. Recent DNA research has shown that a large portion of Icelanders are in large part Irish, resulting from all the "Maggie Reds" who were courted, convinced, or outright abducted, and then found themselves serving up grog and cod to their Viking mates on a foreign shore. Then, oh dear, there is the incident concerning some modern-day "Vikings" who sailed into Dublin Harbor during the summer of 2007, boldly intent on apologizing to the Irish for their bad behavior of over ten centuries ago. Better late than never, I suppose. [2] [3]

I went for a walk along the quays, along the quays, along the quays
Diggers and shovels and J.C.B.'s were digging up the Vikings

Chorus:
Digging it up and pulling it down
Pulling it down, pulling it down
Digging it up and pulling it down, poor old Dublin town

A Viking came to Dublin town, Dublin town, Dublin town
Took one look and he turned around and sailed back home again

Chorus:
They were ripping it up and tearing down
Tearing down, tearing down
They were ripping it up and tearing down [4]

Luci's papa claims to be a "Heinz 57" variety, but will say he is Irish when pushed. She has documented her father's roots back to Ireland, where his fifth great-grandfather came from Stweartwtwon in Tryoe County. After the age of five, Luci grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the Irish are known to have played an itegral part in the city's founding and growth. St. Paul held Minnesota's first St. Patrick's Day parade in 1851--an impromptu event with participants partaking in flag-raising, speeches, and a fired salute. The Irish were every bit as attached to their homeland as the Norwegians, it seems, but a bit more demonstrative about it. [5]

My mother, who was born in Minnesota, but whose family is full-blooded Norwegian on both her mother's and father's side, celebrates her birthday on St. Patrick's Day. For as long as I can remember, her birthday cards and gift wrapping have not reflected her Scandinavian background, but were more likely to have been studded with clover leaves, leprechauns, and green, green, and more green. As for me, my non-Norwegian side leans more toward Scotland, as far as I can tell, but since I am not really certain what my ancestors have been up to, I always play it safe and participate in the "wearing of the green" each March 17th.




To quote an Irish toast:

If you’re enough lucky to be Irish...
You’re lucky enough!

[1] The story of St. Patrick
[2] Largest to Date Genetic Snapshot of Iceland 1,000 Years Ago Completed
[3] Viking Apology 1,000 Years in the Making
[4] Lyrics excerpt: Lynch, Bob. From the Land of the Carolan, CBS, 84268, LP (1980)
[5] Wikipedia: The History of the Irish in St. Paul

Image sources: Vintage Holiday Crafts and Karen's Whimsy

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Chery Kinnick