Hi Bill,
Just returned from Illinois and found this message. I look forward to
reading Harry Kemp's letter in the coming weeks. Thanks, Bill, for giving
the list this opportunity to view our family history.
Betty Davis Phillips.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Thompson" <capane(a)verizon.net>
To: "Campbell Mail List" <CAMPBELL-PA-NELSON-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:40 PM
Subject: [Ca-Pa-Ne] Harry Kemp's Letter to the Editor on Family History
There is an interesting letter to the editor that Cousin Harry
Curtis
Kemp (1868 - 1960) wrote for the 100th Anniversary issue of the
Wellsboro Agitator, in 1954. In it he recounts his recollection of our
family history. To me, it represents a good illustration of the
strengths and weaknesses of oral tradition. There's always some truth
on which the stories are based. But some stories get "improved" over
the years as they pass thru generations of tellers. Or become confused
and merge bits and pieces of different stories together. And most of us
know the distortions that are introduced during the parlor game
"telephone". (Can we still have parlor games, now that parlors are long
gone?)
Harry's letter to the editor, containing his memories of stories his
mother told him as a small boy was written when Harry was 86. It
appears to me to contain a number of errors in our history and
genealogy. Perhaps young Harry's understanding of the stories was
incomplete or faulty -- I'm sure mine was when I was small. Or perhaps
elderly Harry remembered some of the stories incorrectly. We'll never
know, and I doubt it matters.
I was going to include the text of the letter in this message, but
became concerned about copyright infringement. Instead, I will discuss
it piecemeal, over a number of messages, including parts that seem the
most interesting or the most controversial. Sometimes I found myself
puzzling "why would he say that, he must have know differently?" But of
course "must have know" can look very different in 2006 vs 1954. And
when I am 86, I hope people will be tolerant of mistakes I may make
then, (as well as of the ones I have already made).
Regardless of possible errors, I think it's a valuable addition to other
materials we have on our family's history.
Harry is a good story teller. And I think we are richer for hearing the
stories that have been passed down, even tho they may not be 100%
"gospel." Some of them have appeared elsewhere, but in slightly
different form. The differences among various versions of passed down
oral stories fascinate me. If Harry did make errors, I hope we can all
be forgiving, and be grateful for his efforts to keep traditions and
memories alive. And ditto for cases where's he's right and I'm wrong.
If anyone want to see the full letter, please contact me directly.
Otherwise, you will see bits and pieces discussed in future messages,
perhaps over the next several weeks, as time permits.
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