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Dr. Pat McQueeney _____________________
Greetings from Mary Pat McQueeney! As the Ursulines prepare to leave Paola, I am requesting your help with a bit of storytelling and social networking that will benefit the Miami County Historical Society’s Ursuline in Paola project. Miami County Historical Society (MCHS) seeks to fill a gap in the Ursuline history—the interaction between the citizens of Miami County and Ursuline (both as place and people). They wish to collect narratives for a popular/cultural history that will perhaps lead to a book. We’re fortunate that Sr. Charles wrote an institutional history of Ursuline, and, while she includes the details of the initial commitment by Paolans, noticeably missing from that account is the story of the day-to-day and person-to-person impact of Ursuline on Paola and of Paola on Ursuline. Because I value the history of both Paola and Ursuline, I volunteered to assist with this project. And now I need your help. Will you tell your story? And will you pass copies of this letter and publication release on to three or more of your acquaintances who have their own story to share from the Paola perspective? This initial mailing is going to over 20 people, so, even with duplicates and non-responses, we could have 50 or more substantial stories fairly quickly. And that is important because the project coordinators at the MCHS are beginning to realize just how complex the Paola-Ursuline interaction has been. I would like a strong response soon (say, by May 1) to demonstrate that there are numerous stories out there just waiting to be told. Paolan Roger Shipman volunteers to recover photos for their projects and they have numerous yearbooks to work with, so we can look forward to a nicely developed archive. If you're like me, the problem isn't WHAT story, but WHICH story to tell. For some of us, Ursuline is a place; to others it is people or a spirit or values or memories. Perhaps you can narrow to "your story" if you imagine a historian coming to Paola, say, in 25 years to capture the history of the place or the people or the spirit that was Ursuline. This researcher can consult the Ursuline archives that will no doubt be lodged with some Kentucky historical society by that time. And he or she can read Sr. Charles's book. But what does Paola have to share? Where is the voice of those who lived in Paola while Ursuline was thriving? Newspaper archives will provide some perspective, but what about the people's stories? Of the Master Garden project, the little stores, the tunnel, the bell, the "U," the walkers on campus, the food pantry, PACA, piano and art lessons, cultural opportunities, buildings, the senior center, Lakemary's founding, the capital campaign, UA and PHS relations, Camp Ursuline, the costume room, the plays? What of the students who became teachers as a result of the junior college Normal School program? And who will know the narrative of being a day student, escorting Latins to proms, being a neighbor to a convent, serving on organizations with the Sisters, doing business with the Sisters? And who will know the stories of grade school teachers who set so many on such strong paths with so little funding and even less training? And, no doubt, that historian will wonder about that cultural center standing there by itself, and Angela Drive, and Lakemary and adjacent property, and that strange little Miller Street. I’m sure you can think of many more aspects of this relationship that would be worth capturing. We'll create the richest history if we each choose some aspect of the Paola-Ursuline story that we know well, and tell it as we remember it with some depth. We each have a piece of this puzzle that together would give a vibrant mosaic of Ursuline in Paola--from the Paola/Miami County viewpoint. FAQs How long should my story be? We welcome sentences and book chapters and anything in between. What details should I include? Identify your relation(s) to Ursuline (former student, neighbor, etc.) and the approximately years of that relationship along with your narrative. How should it be sent? Return your narrative, typed or hand written. Or--better--if you have email access, you'll speed up the process if you will send your document electronically. What do I do if I have a story to tell but don’t want to write it? If you live in Miami County, you could make arrangements to give an oral history at MCHS. The phone is 913-294-4940. When is the deadline? We don't have a firm one yet, but I'm asking for this part of the project to be completed by May 1, if possible. It will serve to jumpstart the rest of the project. What is the release form? This is permission for the Miami County Historical Society to make your story available to researchers and to use your story if it publishes a book. To whom should these materials be sent?
Mail:
my address below How do I share this mailing with others? I started this mailing from my Christmas card list. You might do the same. You might find it easiest to photocopy this letter with the release and mail it to friends who have a Miami County connection with Ursuline. I've also started a Paola-Ursuline page at my web site: http://staff.jccc.edu/pmcqueen (just click on the Paola-Ursuline tab on the front screen). If you have an email address, you could just point people to that site. I thank you in advance for your participation in this project, and my apologies for not sending personalized letters. Sincerely,
Mary Pat
McQueeney
Miami County-Ursuline Narrative Release I, _________________________________________[please print], give to Miami County Historical Society (MCHS) my interview, narrative, or oral history regarding Ursuline and Miami County. In doing this, I understand that my interview, narrative, or oral history will be made available to researchers and may be quoted from, published or broadcast in any medium that the MCHS shall deem appropriate. _____________________________ _____________________________
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