Writer. History Geek. Joyful Soul.
Recently I have noticed a rise in discussions on whether or not a woman should keep her maiden name when she gets married. When I was in college in the early 1980's I had a particularly broad-minded professor who had taken on his wife’s name by hyphenating both together. With gay couples now able to... Continue Reading →
What does one do when they’ve been given a family name, a weighty name—a name bestowed through multiple generations—that doesn’t feel quite comfortable to bear? Such is the case for my husband. He was named George Diller Herr, III. This was never a name he thought much of or has been particularly attached to. He... Continue Reading →
In my very first blog post, Peace from the Pieces, I mentioned the project I have been working on—ghostwriting a book about someone else’s ancestor—and how that work fueled my curiosity about my own family legacy. Last month, the book William Lewis, Esquire: Enlightened Statesman, Profound Lawyer, and Useful Citizen was officially published. At the... Continue Reading →
Caveat (added 1-3-2014): Dear Reader- please note that I have received new information concerning some of what I have reported in this particular blog- specifically as it pertains to Henry Zartman's homestead and the Zartman cemetery. I hope to clarify this information and go back to Dornsife to visit another cemetery where I am... Continue Reading →
Today is Father’s Day. It’s been more than six years since my father, Dick Otte, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69, on Sunday, April 30, 2006. I can’t say I dislike Father’s Day, but it’s still not easy. What complicates things further is that yesterday would have been my father’s birthday. As a young... Continue Reading →
Mickey Herr 