Sunday, November 16, 2014

Documenting research

The overall discussion is what is necessary to show lineage (this post has a link to the prior post). There are two examples provided: verbose and very terse (is not the strong, silent type an American icon?).

We are close to proposing a reasonable approach, based upon the ahnentafel format and a hyper-linked set (ah, hypercard, where art thou?) of supporting material. Granted, there will be some missing information such as one would like to know (sensitive stuff about individuals), however there are many ways to go about this (G+, FB, etc.) such that duplication of effort is not necessary.

Too, we take the security/privacy issues to heart, strongly (as would Thomas, I would be). So, that larger picture will continue to be in focus.

Aside: popular media abounds with stories of hacking, et al. Where was the media interest over the time frame of the internet's expansion/evolution(?) from the wild west frontier to its current state of disarray?

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Earlier, I used Dr. Frank's line: grandmother and aunt. I have just completed the ahnentafel for his grandfather, Benjamin Brown Gardner which will be published soon. In his 1907 book, Dr. Frank has a summary of ancestors, and early arrivers, for each of the spouses who married into the Gardner family. Except for one, Rebecca Knapp's (spouse of Simon Stacy Gardner) heritage is strangely missing.

We have filled that in and have found it to be interesting (for one, Nathaniel Eaton - who needs to have his story retold and appreciated).

Mind you, when I say ahnentafel, I mean a fully sourced lineage. Too, thankfully for Dr. Frank, the vast majority of the material is on-line (which is to be expected as we (and society) progress).

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Dr. Frank did seminal work. It is very much appropriate that we use him as the focal point to describe, analyze, discuss, and, hopefully (as in not be like Congress) resolve these matters.

Remarks: Modified: 02/27/2015

11/16/2014 - For the two ahnentafel charts mentioned above, we intend to have a hyperlinked version on-line. Some of the source material is freely available; others of it are not (we will provide the URL anyway as a point in time marker). Persistence is the name of the game; fluidity seems to be the major vogue; ...; structure ought not be held as inimical (not categorically) by web heads (old guy talking here) or anyone else.

11/18/2014 -- Inspired by Nantucket work.

11/25/2014 -- Will be doing a special study of Nathaniel Eaton who was a graduate of Padua University and ancestor of Dr. Frank A. Gardner and many more. One thing we will present are Harvard Crimson articles (over the years, the tone differences are interesting). ... This story needs to be told from a neutral viewpoint that presents all of the sides. Take the "rod and child" view so prevalent in Christianity and so much in the news (NFL and more). Or, the right of naval captains to flog. Not to mention that both Winthrop and Endicott and more did not abstain from the practice (Quakers and more). We have a long list to consider. Then, take Rev. Nathaniel Ward's (uncle in the long chain of lineage) son who was flogged. For theft. Note, that Nathaniel Eaton is quoted in this article about his belief in his "absolute right" to punish, ... By the way, heard anyone talking of an elected official adopting an emperor's stance, of late? ... Dr. Frank did not elevate awareness of his ancestor due to his times (and, he was of Harvard). ... Yes, the Gardner story is central to all themes, of the U.S. story and beyond. ... Related view (America, Thanksgiving, ...).

02/27/2015 -- Discussion continues.

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