One of my many interests is in the letters written by our ancestors. Those words from the past resonate with me, even if the person who wrote them is not related to me. Some of my readers may not know that I have a website that features letters - letters from the Civil War, letters from the later 19th century, even some from early 19th century. Allow me to introduce my website Past Voices.
Past Voices gives our
ancestors a voice - and these
voices from the past come alive in their letters. Letter writing has
long been an important mode of interpersonal and official communication.
As long ago as 3500 BC, Sumerians sent "letters" written on cuneiform
tablets in clay "envelopes". Letter writing flourished in the
seventeenth century in Europe and it was an extremely important form of
communication. As public postal services were established letter-writing increased even more dramatically.
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WW1 Letter
Many letters on Past Voices are from soldiers far from home. Nothing
tells the true reality of war more than the simple writings of the common
soldier. These poignant letters from lonely men to their mothers, wives or
sweethearts will touch your heart. Some letters will leave you bewildered by
their unemotional telling of horrors almost beyond our comprehension.
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| 1798 Letter to "Honored Mother" |
Past Voices also contains
letters and memoirs from
ordinary individuals going about their everyday lives. These letters provide us
with a sense of
history, of being there and experiencing life with the people
who write about the times they live in.
On
Past Voices you can find your roots and hear your ancestors' words across the
generations. Add branches to your family tree as you find your
genealogy.
You can also learn how to find and preserve
old documents, family treasures and heirlooms.
I hope you find an ancestor,
but if you do not, please take time to listen to these
past voices
"A letter written in 1894 and found between the linoleum and floor boards
of a house being demolished to make way for Hobart's State Library will
finally be returned to the author's family." ABC News
