From Small Beginnings

Despite enduring dry history courses in school, I still find the subject fascinating. Done right, the subject can captivate an individual’s interest and provide contextual understanding of the modern world. But what constitutes doing it right?

Professional historians spent significant time reading numerous books on their particular subject prior to tackling research on their own. There are times, however, where an individual stumbles into a historic project. I recently read an article-video from the Detroit News about Tom Kozura whose passing interest in a British aircraft from World War One evolved into a major project. He is now in the finishing stages of completing an exact replica of the famous fighter.

Similarly, my interest in the Great War was casual. Most of what I read or understood about the conflict as a youth involved a stalemated battle between Great Britain and their ally France against the Germans along the western front. America’s brief involvement in the latter stages sealed the fate of Germany and led to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This understanding, however, changed while attending a family reunion in 2006 where ancestral photo taken in 1919 was on display. I was aware one of my great uncles served in the Great War but did not know one of his brothers did too. Curiosity led me to the Minnesota Historical Society where I reviewed their Military Service Records. The information they provided on the surveys was scant but it helped clear up some family lore.  It also sparked further interest in the general subject.

Having recently completed research on another veteran of that war, this time a former resident of Anoka, I received excellent help from both the Minnesota Historical Society and Anoka’s Historical Society resulting in acceptance for publication in 2016. But more questions about other aspects of the war led to more research. Consequently, the next step involves expanding archival research which hopefully will result in highlighting the efforts and legacy of several Minnesotans long since forgotten. So far, I’ve discovered America‘s involvement was greater than previously known. Several Minnesotans willingly volunteered for foreign service before and after the United States formally declared war against Germany. Additionally, women’s involvement in supporting the war was significant. Contrary to popular understanding, true progress for women occurred in the First, not the Second World War. This and many other aspects await further exploration proving that even the simplest item such as an aircraft part, or in this case a photograph, can lead to something larger.