CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Family, History, Welch (Uncle Jim)

0503 -
0503 -    ..
0504 - Summary/Objective
0505 -
050501 - Follow up ref SDS 6 0000.
050502 -
050503 - Received via ref DRT 1, from Uncle Jim, a manuscript he prepared on
050504 - the Welch family.
050506 -  ..
050507 - He sent it to Kathleen for a trip she took to Montana.
050508 -
050509 -    [On 940910 sent note to Uncle Jim. ref SDS 7 0001]
050510 -
050511 -    [On 991207 asked for another copy. ref SDS 8 0001]
050513 -  ..
0506 -
0507 -
0508 - Analysis
0509 -
050901 - This will take some careful reading.  Unfortunately, the PG&E
050902 - assignment limits the time available for review.
050904 -  ..
050905 - The introduction and the first few pages present a beautifully written
050906 - review of lineage on the Welch side.
050907 -
050908 -     He mentions discussions with Pat, and I recall Pat telling Millie
050909 -     and me about his interest in and contribution to Uncle Jim's
050910 -     project.  I think the two of them did some research together.  He
050911 -     wrote his son, Mike, a moving letter on this in 1991. ref SDS 1
050912 -     0899
050914 -  ..
050915 - Uncle Jim offers a Michner like narrative of both personal and
050916 - geographical detail, based on his research, memory and discussions
050917 - with a wide range of family and the people with whom they came in
050918 - contact "Going West," as Pat used to say.
050920 -  ..
050921 - The tale provides the kind of adventure and excitement of "Centenial";
050922 - you want to keep reading to see how each person turns out.  He offers
050923 - "look aheads" that temporarily interrupt the chronology to lend
050924 - interest in particular characters.  Makes you want to keep reading to
050925 - find out how things turned out the way they did.
050927 -  ..
050928 - I fudged after reading about 40 pages, and looked at the ending.  He
050929 - summarizes a brilliant career, setting out his assignments, I think
050930 - not in the vein of saying look what I did, but to contrast with where
050931 - he started in life.  Biographies of Eisenhower, McArthur and others
050932 - make this same point: it shows the potential of being an American,
050933 - what the American dream has ment, and what has been accomplished, as
050934 - we near the end of the 20th century.  Sets a high standard for us who
050935 - follow.
050937 -  ..
050938 - Unfortunately, for me it all seems to stop about the time of the war.
050940 -  ..
050941 - Perhaps he expects his children will pick up the story.
050943 -  ..
050944 - Actually that is a good idea.  Perhaps the nieces and nephews could
050945 - add some chapters; we could call it the "Welch Chronicles," or "An
050946 - American Family."  Just keep it going.
050947 -
050948 -
050949 -
0510 -