Monday, December 5, 2011

Amanuensis Monday: Goldie Cruvant - in Denver Colorado - 1914

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

I continue my project to transcribe family letters, journals, newspaper articles, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin - some I never met - others I see a time in their life before I knew them.

I began this project back in February of 2009, and since then, many others have joined in on the meme.  Why do we transcribe? I provide my three reasons in the linked post. You may find others. If you participate, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments.
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This week I transcribe a short excerpt from an issue of The Typographical Journal, which appears to mention Goldie (White) Cruvant, the first wife to Benjamin Cruvant, the brother of my great grandmother, Bertha (Cruvant) Newmark. (Found on Google Books)



The Typographical Journal
J.W. Hays, Editor and Publisher, Indianapolis, Indiana
Entered at the Post Office, Indianapolis, Indiana, as Second Class Matter
Issued on the Fifth of Each Month

Volume XLV  November 1914  Number Five

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP (from Page 714)

[Objections to the admission of any of the following applicants should be made to the union to which application is made within thirty days.]

...

49. DENVER, Colo -- Mrs. G. L. Cruvant, age 30 years; learned trade in Chicago; has also worked at Milwaukee, Wis., and Peoria, Ill; never a member.


Notes:

1) I've mentioned Goldie Lillian Cruvant before. She was the first wife to Benjamin Cruvant, my great grandmother's brother.  They met and married in Chicago, and had two children.  When the family returned to East St. Louis, Benjamin's parents weren't happy with the interfaith marriage, and were likely the reason behind Goldie returning to Chicago with their two children.  The presence or absence of a divorce is unknown, but Benjamin remarried and had a second family.  It's a mystery what happened to Goldie and their two children.

2) While only the initials are provided, this is almost definitely Goldie Lilian.  Cruvant is an unusual surname.  If it's not Goldie, the surname is more likely a typographical error.  She is listed in the 1910 Chicago census as a bookbinder in a printing shop, so it's not a surprise seeing her apply for union membership.

3) Fold3 (formerly Footnote) has the Denver Colorado City Directories through 1923, but so far I haven't found a reference to Goldie in them.  I don't know whether she didn't stay in Denver long - or perhaps she applied to the Denver Local, but lived near, but outside of Denver, explaining her absence from the directories.

4) The International Typographical Union was dissolved in 1986.  I believe some of the Denver Local union records might be stored at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  If I had the ability to travel there and do some research, I would, but I don't.  So this mystery will sit for now until I come up with another avenue to pursue.

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