Family Migration Object- Letters from Nana

The object I chose for my family migration object is a collection of correspondence and essays from my Nana, my great-grandmother from my father’s side.  Since I only know 1/4th of my biological family’s history, (my mother was adopted and my father’s biological father is not a part of our lives) most of my knowledge of my roots stemmed from Nana.  Nana was a strong woman who had an amazing memory all the way until her death last year at the age of 97.  Because of her incredible ability to recall many past experiences, and the fact that she was the oldest living member of our family, I wrote her letters asking about our family’s past and various questions about things she experienced during her long and remarkable life.  I brought what she responded with.

Nana’s parents were born here in America, but Nana didn’t know much about her mothers’ family (her mother became an orphan at age 3) but knew they were from Germany.  Nana’s father’s parents were from Ireland, and her husband’s parents were from Sweden.  Like other emigrants, these people emigrated for hopes of a better life.