How heavy-handed should you be when editing family memoirs?

Recently, I was asked to offer comments on a typed copy of a memoir written by one of my grandfather’s first cousins.

As I read the observations and comments of a long-dead relative (1906-96), I cringed at what she had to say about some people. Much of the information came from her parents and is clearly skewed to earlier times. It is one thing to correct spelling and grammar, since the author never edited it. Footnotes or clarifications in brackets can be added to provide additional dates or research. But it’s more difficult to figure out how to handle some of what she had to say. She makes judgments on the mental health of some people, and talks about people she or her parents thought were alcoholics. I have suggested that a disclaimer be added at the beginning, making clear that these are that relative’s words and that times were different. Many writers of memoirs, letters or certainly diaries never expected others to read them, let alone that their words would appear in print. In this case, no one from her generation is alive to clarify or dispute what she wrote. While this will be shared only with close kin, it likely will be their only information about the people she talks about. So how much should be replaced or put in brackets with some kinder language that we might use today?

Coffee County newspapers

Elizabeth Evans Kilbourne of Savannah has continued the work her father, Tad Evans, started, with more newspaper abstracts. She has completed “Coffee County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings,” Volume VII (1911), VIII (1912) and IX (1914). She received a publication grant from the R.J. Taylor Jr. Foundation. The volumes are valuable sources for those with roots in the area. Her work and other volumes from all over Georgia are available from georgiagenealogy.net.

Other census schedules

Don’t forget to take a look at census schedules that give facts about your family, including the Agricultural, Manufacturing, Mortality and Social Statistics Schedules.