San Francisco 100 Years Later

A little over two years ago, I wrote about discovering my great-grandfather's service with the Motor Transport Corps during World War I.

See Finding WWI Military Service Despite National Archives Fire.

At that time, I received my first batch of original photographs of Sam Kirk (great-grandpa) during his service at the Presidio in San Francisco, California.

One of the photos depicted Sam with an officer with a very distinctive building in the background. I soon learned it was the Palace of Fine Arts, which was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition - a world's fair that was held in San Francisco.

Samuel Kirk, pictured at right, with unknown serviceman
in front of  the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

Fast-forward a couple years and I find myself in San Francisco for work. Making swift use of my limited time, I hoofed it to the Fine Arts building. Although there is now a busy highway where I speculate Sam stood for this photo, I was able to give it my best shot and recreate the scene 100 years later.

The author in San Francisco, retracing his great-grandfather Sam Kirk's footsteps.

The Palace of Fine Arts is a beautiful building in a very lovely neighborhood. Across the highway I could see buildings from the Presidio - presumably where Sam was stationed during his military service.

Curious what the Palace looks like?

Et voilà!

Palace of Fine Arts, photo by author.

Genealogy Goals in 2019

Each January I settle on goals to guide my genealogy in the year ahead.

When it comes to goal-setting for a new year, my general philosophy is that less is more. I want to be open to the unforeseen directions my research takes me; indulge in the natural twists and turns inherent in family history.

Carrying 2018 Into 2019

In 2018, my primary goal was to write a genealogical survey of my fifth great-grandfather Thomas Kirk.

While I made great progress on the research necessary to drive that narrative forward, the writing itself didn't progress as much as I had hoped (I had hoped to finish!). But I am nearly there. More is written than is not. The graphic design elements are even coming together.

The cover for the book depicts Thomas Kirk's first Ohio farm.

SO, in the year ahead, I'm back to wrapping up research and writing. I'm beginning to accept that there will always be more to uncover, but it's time to bring it to a close and write it up.

The clock starts now! Let's check in again in twelve months and see where we're at. Until then, happy family sleuthing!