What calls us to find the ancestors? It goes beyond a simple curiosity. We are taken over, compelled, as if possessed by something bigger than us, begging to be revealed. There is one of us in almost every family called to be the scribe. I am but one of many in our clan’s long line of storytellers. Like others, I’m called to gather and assemble the ancestors; to breathe life into them again as far back as we can reach. We take what we find and chronicle the facts of their existence, remembering their names, who they were, and what they did. They are the sum of who we are. Without them, we would not exist. We greet those who came before us, restoring their place in line. We scribe their stories and their histories. We search for them in public libraries, county records, and weed-filled or well-kept cemeteries. We comb through yellowed newspapers, family archives, lovely old letters and photo albums. We find them! And in finding them, we find ourselves. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau, Sep 2009 (Inspired by “We Are the Chosen” written by Della M. Cumming, ca 1943)
Catherine & Gordon, Sanders, Montana 2006
Taking a sidebar from finishing a family memoir, I spent five years working on family genealogy with my brother—our research and records spanning from our ancestors’ sailings to America to our parents’ generation. We’ve done a commendable job of exploring our roots, bringing our ancestors together onto the same pages, compiling what would be a library shelf on the family lines. Gordon has been researching for years, I of late. But more important than what we’ve done, has been our time together doing it. As he is fourteen years older, I never really knew him growing up, so I’m grateful for this relationship we’ve created. We’ve visited Minnesota: our father’s roots—and covered Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado: our mother’s history. We drove to Sonora where I was born, to Colusa where our parents met, to Brea where our mother is buried. We dug up information on our main ancestral lines, then put it all to rest—assembling and reuniting those no longer with us. I think it stems from my “keeping the family together” thing, and then some.
In the early morning and late at night I continue to research and add information to our lines. I make phone calls and send emails to unknown cousins. I search cemeteries. I track down pictures. Genealogy can be addictive, and being just a tad obsessive-compulsive, it keeps my fire fueled. I’ve created or contributed to over 6,000 (it’s now over 7,000) pages of ancestors and related kin on Find A Grave, a kind of Facebook for the Dead, and have compiled five volumes on our Clemens, Chatfield, Hoy, and Chamberlin lines. Who’d have guessed that dead people would be my thing?
© 2014. Catherine Sevenau.
All rights reserved.
Find A Grave: Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau
Chatfield Heritage
Avis (Chatfield) Shinn says
Catherine, thank you and Gordon for your diligence and research to bringing insight and knowledge of our ancestors to the Chatfield clan. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Catherine Sevenau says
You are most welcome. Your contributions of pictures and family lore helped!
Barbara Jacobsen says
Awwwww! Thanks so much, that warms my heart. Sometimes I forget that my images are working their magic or adding beauty to people’s lives. Soul food!
Barbara Jacobsen says
Your “thing” is super inspiring, dear Cath. If I weren’t already swamped with my things* I might give it a try. Maybe next lifetime! *Aud and I are celebrating our 25th anniversary of collage class in June. We’ll send you a flyer!
Catherine Sevenau says
I was a worker-bee who becaame a writer. I believe you were born an artist; I’ve a half dozen of your gorgeous collages throughout my house, so I think of you every time I see them. I appreciate and acknowledge the beauty you add to our lives.