My days are filled with murder. Murder for money, murder for love, and murder for, well, family issues.
I've read two books for class so far this semester, the first one titled Never Seen the Moon,The Trials of Edith Maxwell. Edith was a schoolteacher in western Virginia in 1935, when a late night altercation with her father landed her in the local jail, charged with murder. Edith's story is told by journalist Sharon Hatfield. Her book is a non-academic, but very professional, non-lurid true crime story that focuses on Edith's ordeal in relation to women's rights and the impact of yellow journalism. I enjoyed reading this book.
The second book is Murder on Rouse Hill by Alan Terry Wright, in which we learn the true story of how Jasper Francis was murdered by Charlie Blackburn over $1200 worth of cattle and his substantial bank account in the small town of Stoutland, Missouri in 1915. This book is written in creative nonfiction style, which quite frankly, is not my cup of tea. I skipped over many of the "creative" parts of the book, such as the scene where the horse, Sam Hill, is dreaming. Seriously? Despite my reservations about the books style, it is nonetheless an interesting and readable account of murder in the Ozarks.
In addition to these books I've managed to read one account of my murder, the Graham-Lee-Molloy case. George Graham had three women in his life (oops), two of which were his wives (double oops), and therefore one of them had to go. The account I read was produced in 1886 and reprinted by the local archives, where I just happen to volunteer. I also have a stack of about three hundred documents that I copied from the archives collection but have not yet had a change to read. In addition to these primary sources, I have numerous local history books that I want to read to get a feel for the Ozarks of 1885. Maybe if I wear period clothes, turn out the lights and lay on the bed, I will be transported back in time just like Christoper Reeve in Somewhere In Time. A girl can dream, right?
Monday, February 6, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Looking Forward
Before we look forward let's take a quick look back at last semester (since I've been so negligent in posting, sorry). The semester was long and tedious and I finished it with two A's, an A-, and a B. Fortunately, I've learned that a B is acceptable so I am a happy camper.
Looking forward, after a five week break from school my last semester begins tomorrow. I have one last class to take before I graduate on May 18. The subject of the class is Murder and Memory in the Ozarks. Each class member will write a research paper about, you guessed it...a murder that took place in the Ozarks. Much of the information for this paper will come from the county archives, where I just happen to be a volunteer.
I do have a few plans that will hopefully come to fruition sometime prior to my last day of school. I'm going to begin two new blogs at Wordpress...that is, if I can figure out how to use Wordpress. This blog will end by May 18 and I would like to have my new ones already up and running. One will be a family history blog and the other will be about the Ozarks and Ozarks history. My plan is to incorporate this semesters research paper into my Ozarks history blog.
Hopefully at least one of these new blog subjects will be of interest to someone besides myself though, quite frankly, I'm still a little amazed that I have followers on this school blog. I've been both surprised and pleased to have enjoyed an audience of friends and fellow non-traditional students like myself, who have been willing to listen to my rants about my school experiences and to have had the privilege of following them on their journey as well. These blogging friends have been a tremendous support group during my long journey through school. Though this oft-neglected blog is about to runs its course, I will still be following the blogs of those friends I've made here during the last few years. I appreciate each and every one of you.
I still can't comprehend that I'm finally almost finished; what will life be like without school; who will I be when I am no longer a student? I already feel lost and apprehensive and the end is still four months away.
Looking forward, after a five week break from school my last semester begins tomorrow. I have one last class to take before I graduate on May 18. The subject of the class is Murder and Memory in the Ozarks. Each class member will write a research paper about, you guessed it...a murder that took place in the Ozarks. Much of the information for this paper will come from the county archives, where I just happen to be a volunteer.
I do have a few plans that will hopefully come to fruition sometime prior to my last day of school. I'm going to begin two new blogs at Wordpress...that is, if I can figure out how to use Wordpress. This blog will end by May 18 and I would like to have my new ones already up and running. One will be a family history blog and the other will be about the Ozarks and Ozarks history. My plan is to incorporate this semesters research paper into my Ozarks history blog.
Hopefully at least one of these new blog subjects will be of interest to someone besides myself though, quite frankly, I'm still a little amazed that I have followers on this school blog. I've been both surprised and pleased to have enjoyed an audience of friends and fellow non-traditional students like myself, who have been willing to listen to my rants about my school experiences and to have had the privilege of following them on their journey as well. These blogging friends have been a tremendous support group during my long journey through school. Though this oft-neglected blog is about to runs its course, I will still be following the blogs of those friends I've made here during the last few years. I appreciate each and every one of you.
I still can't comprehend that I'm finally almost finished; what will life be like without school; who will I be when I am no longer a student? I already feel lost and apprehensive and the end is still four months away.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Liebster Blog Award
I am a little behind with this, but thank you so much Caz, for nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award! According the Caz, the Liebster Blog Award is given to blogs with fewer than 200 followers, containing good content and warranting more support. Well, we can certainly all use a little moral support, so right back at ya Caz.
The Liebster Award rules are as follows:
1. Acknowledge who gave you the Liebster Award by thanking them and linking back to them.
Thank you, Caz. You are always an encouragement and inspiration to me, as well as entertaining!
2. Reveal 5 of your top picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. So here are 5, in no particular order:
1. My Life as a Mature Age Student - for the reasons stated above.
2. Studying Parent - for admiration at her determination to fulfill her educational dreams.
3. Diaries of a Neurotic Non-Trad - for helping me survive my first "B".
4. The Non-Traditional Student Blog - for always being an encouragement to us non-trads and for her wealth of information for students.
5. Old Girl at Uni - for providing an interesting glimpse into her world as a non-trad.
3. Rule #3: Post the award on your blog.
4. Enjoy the love and support of some wonderful people on the www!!! Keep posting, keep commenting and keep being positive.
There are many more blogs that deserve mention; check the blogroll for many more lovely blogs!
Senior-itis
Please excuse me for not blogging lately, but I have been fed up with anything that resembles writing or reminds me of school. During what should have been my most focused and carefree semester (since I'm not working) has instead been quite difficult as I have come down with a bad case of senior-itis. This condition is characterized by an extreme lackadaisical attitude toward school, homework, and tests and almost a total lack of concern for grades. I couldn't understand the cause of my attitude until I heard other students complain of the same ailment. I was glad to discover that my experience is normal and that I haven't lost my mind, at least not anymore than the other students. All I can think about is that I want this to be over; I am ready to move on to the next thing, whatever it may be, and though my body continues to attend classes, my mind is done with it all.
So, yesterday I took my first final, in Literature of the Ozarks, and I think I did well enough to keep my "A". I know it may be difficult for anyone to believe that we have actual literature in the Ozarks, but, for better or worse, we have Harold Bell Wright, Donald Harington, and Daniel Woodrell. So there you are.
On Wednesday evening I was required to read my seventeen page senior seminar paper in front of the class. I'm not one for public speaking, but I survived well enough. My professor says I have a good paper and I had very little re-writing or correcting to do before I handed in the final draft. Based on my professors comments I am hoping for an "A" in this class also.
As for my Middle Eastern history class, my final is next Tuesday evening and I am hoping to scrape by with a "B", but will settle for a "C". I know, I know, there was a time when anything less than an "A" would have sent me straight to therapy; this just goes to show how extreme is my case of senior-itis.
On Monday morning I have a final in Fundamentals of Tourism and an "A" is possible, though not probable, in this class. I haven't particularly enjoyed this class but it is part of my Ozarks Studies minor and I had to take something, like it or not.
All things considered, I am so happy, happy, happy, that this semester is almost over. Next semester I will have only one class which is "Murder and Memory in the Ozarks", the final class I need for my minor. I'll be researching and writing about an historical murder in the Ozarks. Can't wait!
I'm also looking forward to being a volunteer and the County Archives. Historical documents everywhere and I can see them and touch them! I'm not sure yet how many hours I will work or how long I will be able to volunteer, but I feel as though I am finally doing something with my life that is relevant to me and I am looking forward to the future.
Well, that is what's been going on. Hopefully everyone hasn't forgotten me!
So, yesterday I took my first final, in Literature of the Ozarks, and I think I did well enough to keep my "A". I know it may be difficult for anyone to believe that we have actual literature in the Ozarks, but, for better or worse, we have Harold Bell Wright, Donald Harington, and Daniel Woodrell. So there you are.
On Wednesday evening I was required to read my seventeen page senior seminar paper in front of the class. I'm not one for public speaking, but I survived well enough. My professor says I have a good paper and I had very little re-writing or correcting to do before I handed in the final draft. Based on my professors comments I am hoping for an "A" in this class also.
As for my Middle Eastern history class, my final is next Tuesday evening and I am hoping to scrape by with a "B", but will settle for a "C". I know, I know, there was a time when anything less than an "A" would have sent me straight to therapy; this just goes to show how extreme is my case of senior-itis.
On Monday morning I have a final in Fundamentals of Tourism and an "A" is possible, though not probable, in this class. I haven't particularly enjoyed this class but it is part of my Ozarks Studies minor and I had to take something, like it or not.
All things considered, I am so happy, happy, happy, that this semester is almost over. Next semester I will have only one class which is "Murder and Memory in the Ozarks", the final class I need for my minor. I'll be researching and writing about an historical murder in the Ozarks. Can't wait!
I'm also looking forward to being a volunteer and the County Archives. Historical documents everywhere and I can see them and touch them! I'm not sure yet how many hours I will work or how long I will be able to volunteer, but I feel as though I am finally doing something with my life that is relevant to me and I am looking forward to the future.
Well, that is what's been going on. Hopefully everyone hasn't forgotten me!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Here is a link to the American Historical Association with about the history of Halloween. Includes several interesting links with videos. Enjoy the history of the holiday along with all of the candy!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Arsenic and Mrs. Wilkinson
In preparation for my seminar paper I'm spending the fall break weekend reading 1898 foreign relations documents and old newspapers. Unfortunately, I'm frequently distracted by tidbits more interesting than the Peace Commission for the Spanish-American War. Just felt like sharing this one from The New York Times:
ARSENIC SENT IN SUGAR: A Newark Woman Claims a Rejected Lover Attempted to Poison Her
Newark, N.J., Sept. 8, 1898
Mrs. Margaret Wilkinson who keeps a boarding house at 502 Warren Street, has reported to the police that an attempt was made to poison her, her three children, and her boarders two weeks ago last Saturday. On that day, she claims, a boy came to the house and left a package of granulated sugar,with which she noticed there was something the matter, and as she had had trouble with one of her boarders she took the sugar to the Board of Health, where it was examined, and enough arsenic was found in the two pounds of sugar to kill 500 persons.
The chemist of the board certifies that about 4 percent of the stuff sent to him for analysis was arsenic. Mrs. Wilkinson did not report the case to the police until she had received the report of the chemist. When seen to-day Mrs. Wilkinson said she suspected a former boarder of trying to kill her. This man, she said, wanted to marry her, but she had refused him. There-upon he became angry, she claimed, and said he would get even with her. The man mentioned by Mrs. Wilkinson denies her story. The police are investigating.
ARSENIC SENT IN SUGAR: A Newark Woman Claims a Rejected Lover Attempted to Poison Her
Newark, N.J., Sept. 8, 1898
Mrs. Margaret Wilkinson who keeps a boarding house at 502 Warren Street, has reported to the police that an attempt was made to poison her, her three children, and her boarders two weeks ago last Saturday. On that day, she claims, a boy came to the house and left a package of granulated sugar,with which she noticed there was something the matter, and as she had had trouble with one of her boarders she took the sugar to the Board of Health, where it was examined, and enough arsenic was found in the two pounds of sugar to kill 500 persons.
The chemist of the board certifies that about 4 percent of the stuff sent to him for analysis was arsenic. Mrs. Wilkinson did not report the case to the police until she had received the report of the chemist. When seen to-day Mrs. Wilkinson said she suspected a former boarder of trying to kill her. This man, she said, wanted to marry her, but she had refused him. There-upon he became angry, she claimed, and said he would get even with her. The man mentioned by Mrs. Wilkinson denies her story. The police are investigating.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
MidTerm
I'm not sure where the time is going but it is already the eighth week of the semester and I'm am dreadfully behind in my studies. So much reading and writing to do this semester and the more I think about it the more I panic and run from it and hide in some other nonsensical activity, which leads to less time to do my work and more panic and more hiding and, well, you get the idea. Tomorrow I have to report to my seminar professor...too bad I have nothing to report except for the work I have completed for other classes in addition to all the time I have wasted with my head in the sand.
As for the seminar paper, I had to give up on Nellie Bly because I could not find enough primary sources, particularly the newspapers she worked for, on-line. I still believe she is a fascinating character and would like to return to her someday, but for now I have moved on the the Spanish-American War. I've found 500 pages of foreign relations documents on-line and have been slowly (too slowly, unfortunately) wading through them for a few weeks now. I desperately need to get started writing, which I hope to do later this week during fall break. I'm running out of time to hide from my panic.
The last few days have been spent studying for a mid-term in Middle Eastern history. I've been trying to cram 600 years of caliphs, Abbasids and Umayyads, Sunnis and Shiites into my tired brain. Tonight is the test, so we will see how successful I have been.
As for the seminar paper, I had to give up on Nellie Bly because I could not find enough primary sources, particularly the newspapers she worked for, on-line. I still believe she is a fascinating character and would like to return to her someday, but for now I have moved on the the Spanish-American War. I've found 500 pages of foreign relations documents on-line and have been slowly (too slowly, unfortunately) wading through them for a few weeks now. I desperately need to get started writing, which I hope to do later this week during fall break. I'm running out of time to hide from my panic.
The last few days have been spent studying for a mid-term in Middle Eastern history. I've been trying to cram 600 years of caliphs, Abbasids and Umayyads, Sunnis and Shiites into my tired brain. Tonight is the test, so we will see how successful I have been.
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