Lou’s View – April 7, 2016
How to Speak History
by Lou Bernard
“Can you help me?” the woman asks. It’s a conversation I have at least daily. “I’m looking for the history on my house.”
“Oh, sure,” I say cheerfully, pulling out some documents. “Here’s what you do—It’s really easy. Just go down to the courthouse and —– the —-, —-the —– office, and —-in the —–.”
At least, that’s probably about the way people hear it. Every job has its own little language, things that you get used to saying if it’s your job, but nobody else understands. I get it that I talk funny sometimes—To me, it all makes sense. To everyone else, I wind up sounding like a Charlie Brown teacher.
So, history fans—Clip and save this column for future reference. I’m going to present you with a dictionary of some of the terms I use, so that you can understand when I start talking. Some of these terms are official phrases from historic research, and some of them are my personal slang, but hopefully, they all help you with any study of history you choose to undertake.
Archival (n.): Created without the use of acid. Most papers and inks have a certain amount of acid in them, which gives them a limited lifespan before they deteriorate. Most museums and libraries use items that are archival, which means they’re made without acid and therefore ideal for preservation. They’ll still be around in a hundred years. Also known as museum quality or acid-free.
Being Clause (n.): Important clause to look for during property research. This clause begins with the word “being” and gives you the details on how to find the next deed. It will say something like “Being the same property sold on April 8, 1516, and recorded in Book 23, Page 42.” Also look for the Improvements Clause, which lists buildings on a property.
The Click (n.): The moment when I find myself fascinated enough by a job to continue following it up, no matter what. I’ve seen it happen to my interns and trainees, too. One moment, we’re just pulling documents from the archives, but suddenly—Click!—I’m intrigued enough so I have to have all the answers, no matter how long it takes. I’m still working on research jobs I started in 2008. Click.
Cow Deed (n.): Everyone who has done extensive property research has come across one of these. In the past, they were not always so good about putting an actual address on a deed, or even anything recognizable. Some of the old ones read like,”Beginning at a point where the cow stands in the afternoon, and then proceeding north to where the old oak tree used to be….” If it contains no discernable information about the location, it’s a Cow Deed.
Daughtered Out (v.): When a last name is eliminated due to marriage. When a genealogy line has been around for a long time, but then someone only has daughters, and they all marry, the last name no longer exists. This is said to have daughtered out.
List Of Doom (n.): A listing of unmarked cemetery occupants. Needless to say, this one is all mine—No reputable historian has ever come up with terms like List Of Doom. Many cemeteries have list of people who are known to be in that cemetery, but have no markers. This means nobody is sure where they are. I call this the Doom List, and it’s one of my hobbies to hunt these dead people down and find them.
Smoke and Soak (v., I think): Making a brand-new document look old by a clever process. Sometimes, for display or event purposes, it helps to have an old-looking document, such as a map or deed. But if you think it’s a good idea for the general public to handle an actual century-old document, you’re nuts, so you need one that is new and valueless, but looks old. Taking an average photocopy, burning the edges with a cigar, and soaking it in coffee overnight makes the thing look ancient. This is called a Smoke and Soak.
I hope this guideline has helped with your study of local history. I’m glad I could provide you with some definitions for these terms. After all, without understanding what I’m saying, my columns would make no sense. And Lord knows, we wouldn’t want that.
