Various census records indicate if your ancestor can read or write. Have you thought about tracking the literacy of various members of your family? There might be some interesting trends and patterns there.
This is an excellent point. I have attempted to do just that and have been surprised by what I have found. Through the mid 19th to early 20th centuries it was the females among my ancestors who tended to be educated - even though more value was placed on education for males. These women, in turn, made sure their children were educated, even when, ironically, they themselves had married illiterate men.
These are some of the subtle and surprising aspects of "putting flesh on the bones."
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent point. I have attempted to do just that and have been surprised by what I have found. Through the mid 19th to early 20th centuries it was the females among my ancestors who tended to be educated - even though more value was placed on education for males. These women, in turn, made sure their children were educated, even when, ironically, they themselves had married illiterate men.
These are some of the subtle and surprising aspects of "putting flesh on the bones."
Regards,
Kate Foote