- Joined
- Nov 24, 2010
- Messages
- 306
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- 12
- Location
- On the road to perdition it seems
- Website
- helsinkilives.wordpress.com
Am researching this, and while there's a lot of great material out there, I also want to talk to people as much as I can. Other than a shout out to all you kind Southerners who'd be willing to answer some questions (e.g. what did your grandparents drum into you as to what constitutes good manners, what kinds of food did you eat, what how were the holidays celebrated in your home, what family scandals / unconfirmed rumors did you hear of in your neighborhood, etc.), I have a few concerns.
1. When emailing former plantations functioning as museums, are they generally open to questions concerning the families that used to run them, or is it best not to mention that and focus on the general info they put up on their websites? My questions would run along the lines of how the weddings were held, who was invited, how the slaves would prepare the food, things like that. Of course, if there's some juicy gossip they're willing to part with (e.g. about duels), I wouldn't say no, but I'm not pressing it.
2. Anything that should never be asked under any circumstances?
3. If you were the love child of an unfortunate union between someone of color and a white person, what was your fate likely to be (death, sold to a plantation, thrown down the river, sold to the Baratarians . . .)?
These might sound weird, but what might be acceptable in some cultures, is anathema in others , so just wanted to make sure. The purpose of this research is to get a very good idea of life in those days, which is also why I'd love to hear from as many people as I possibly can get. Plus, I'm currently in Europe, so travel is a bit restricted.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. PM is fine, too.
1. When emailing former plantations functioning as museums, are they generally open to questions concerning the families that used to run them, or is it best not to mention that and focus on the general info they put up on their websites? My questions would run along the lines of how the weddings were held, who was invited, how the slaves would prepare the food, things like that. Of course, if there's some juicy gossip they're willing to part with (e.g. about duels), I wouldn't say no, but I'm not pressing it.
2. Anything that should never be asked under any circumstances?
3. If you were the love child of an unfortunate union between someone of color and a white person, what was your fate likely to be (death, sold to a plantation, thrown down the river, sold to the Baratarians . . .)?
These might sound weird, but what might be acceptable in some cultures, is anathema in others , so just wanted to make sure. The purpose of this research is to get a very good idea of life in those days, which is also why I'd love to hear from as many people as I possibly can get. Plus, I'm currently in Europe, so travel is a bit restricted.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. PM is fine, too.
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