If you have ever worked in a memorable or historical place, have you recorded things about where you work and the kind of work you did? Have you had an ancestor that has worked in someplace special? What kind of work did they do? Even ordinary workplaces can have interesting stories that could be recorded as part of your life history or your family member's history.
I had the privilege of working in the museum in our small town. When I was first hired, I was asked to clean all of the items in the museum and their display cases. I was asked to label each item and record identifying information about each item and enter it into a database. I would paint a small patch of an item with white-out liquid and then after it was dry write a number on it. Then I would measure each item and record the measurements, what was written on the item, what it was used for, and what we knew of its history such as the name of the donor. Then I would use clear nail polish to seal the number so that it would hopefully remain on the item for years. If the item was made of cloth or other materials that couldn't be painted on, I would sew on a small fabric label and write the number on it. This was to make it easier in the future to find information about the artifacts in the museum.
I learned a lot about the surrounding area working at the museum. I did not grow up in that area so I didn't know that much of its history. I did find it fascinating.
I have wondered about what my ancestors felt about moving to a new area that they knew nothing about. I think it would have been interesting if they would have recorded more about the area they lived in.
When you write your own story, include information about where you worked and what kind of work you did. Write about the community you lived in and what it was like. All of this very much affects your life story and the way you look at life. Record what kind of work your ancestors did as well and what the communities they lived in were like.
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