Genealogical Conference

I also attended the David McCullough address that Marianne wrote about. I thought I'd post a new blog rather than comment on hers because who knows how long this could end up being. McCullough is a great historian because he writes in such an approachable style while not sacrificing accuracy. That is a rare gift. He made some great points in his address at the Conference Center that evening and I thought I might include a few things from my notes.

McCullough said that he never knew much about any of the subjects upon which he'd embarked. "Curiosity," he said, "is what distinguishes us from the cabbages." When he started to research the Johnstown Flood, he had only known it from his childhood as what they (the children) called it when they let the gravy flood over the mashed potatoes into the peas.

He emphasized how important journals are in learning about people in the past. In fact, at one point, he noted that diaries could bring people back to life. He said that he knew these people better than he knows people in real life because "I don't get to read other people's mail."

McCullough also talked about how important teachers are for society and the vital role that history plays in shaping us as people. "How can we profess to love our country and not know the history? History is vibrant. It is about human beings and life and time...What matters most is the attitude of the teacher." "Attitudes aren't taught. They're caught."

He also underscored the importance of the foundations that great men like John Adams laid. He talked about how significant he found it that Adams would say that he studied politics and war so that his sons could study language and literature. His sons would study those pursuits so that their children could study art. He saw the progression of culture and society as being based in an appreciation of the beautiful aspects of life as well as necessary applications of political groundwork and wealth-building. McCullough added that Thomas Jefferson exhibited similar values with his epitaph where he mentioned being author of the Declaration of Independence, writing Virginia's statute of religious freedom, and founding the University of Virginia, but excluding that he served as president of the United States.

McCullough concluded by saying that history is an art form like music, literature, painting, and the discovery of science. When we neglect history, we take away the joy of discovery. Why limit our knowledge to right now? It's all open to us. He shared how moved he was in a trip to Normandy with some friends, one of whom was a Holocaust survivor. His friend's act of putting pebbles on a grave marker signified that someone had been there and that they were staying in touch. History helps us stay in touch. It reveals who we are and why we are the way we are. It transcends time, generations, and geography. Obviously, it was a good evening.