Changes to the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge!

I've made a few changes with the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge. Previously, we've concentrated on finding the story behind a piece of ephemera, researching everything and everyone even remotely related to any clue on the piece.

And that's not going to change.

However, because it was a public forum and indexed by Google, the Ephemera Whisperers refrained from discussing any research done on living individuals related to the pieces of ephemera. The idea was that it's indexed on Google so if descendants are searching on Google, they might find the ephemera and contact me if they wanted it back. And that's happened several times now which is a very awesome experience to be able to do for a family.

And I'd like to be able to do more of it. 

Reunite researched pieces of ephemera with the family it once {and in mind still} belongs to, that is.

So, I've made the 48 Hour Ephemera forum private. I think this will help us out in 2 ways. While actively searching for the story or stories behind the ephemera piece we also will be searching for living descendants. At that point, I will contact the family and let them know about our Ephemera Rescue in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge, and see if they'd like the piece back. And then send it to them.

I also think it will help those Ephemera Whisperers who are a bit self-conscious about researching or searching in front of the whole wide world, so to speak, to be more comfortable in joining in on the challenge.

Now, can you still lurk in the forum and just watch? 
Yes. You just have to join as a member for free and after I approve your request, you may be an Ephemera Whisperer with us or just watch to get ideas on online research and search methodologies. {No 2 researchers tackle the same research problem in the same exact way.} You just have to promise to not reveal any information on living individuals, or contact them. {I'll do that.} If you do, rest assured, that'll be the fastest way to be kicked out of the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge. {Don't make me do that, please.}

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How did Frank Smith know J.D. Henson in 1907 Alabama?

What's this week's 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge?
This weekend's challenge involves a Frank Smith. I know. {groan} A SMITH! But? While in Athens, Georgia, he sent a postcard to a Mr. J.D. Henson in East Lake, Alabama in 1907.

Which begs the question, "How did Frank know J.D.?"

And that's part of the challenge this weekend in the forum. Along with trying to figure out how they knew each other, we'll try to figure out who else they knew, who they were related to, what they did for a living, where else they had lived in their lifetimes, what their passions were, what flavor of ice cream they preferred, etc. 

Gotcha. {Not really because if you can figure that out? Bonus points for you! Hey, some of those newspapers covered lots of little details in their articles.} Basically, we're going to try and uncover as much info as we can online in 48 hours.

And another part of the challenge will be to find living descendants of the previous owners of the postcard so that it can be returned. And then every Monday, I'll have a blog post for y'all with a summary of what we found out in the forum for those who don't want to join us in the forum. Also, that way Google will index the information and living descendants who are looking can contact me through my blog.

So. Can the Ephemera Whisperers put Frank Smith and J.D. Henson from 1907 Alabama back into history where they belong? Can we find their family stories? Can you help and be an Ephemera Whisperer and coax the story from this postcard? 

In 48 Hours?

You've just been challenged! Good luck!

Join us in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum this weekend!

~Caroline

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