To help you get over that first horrible case of writer's block, here are some
places you might start:
What is the story of your birth? Remember how your mother used to tell you about the
seventy-two hours she spent in labor to bring you into the world? Or maybe your father once told
you what he thought the first time he saw you. These can turn into attention-grabbing
beginnings.
What is your earliest memory? Rather than starting with your birth, you might want to start
with the first face, house, toy, or song that you remember.
Why did you decide to write your personal history? Maybe you decided to start this project
after reading your grandmother's journal or after spending an exhausting decade trying to find
out exactly who your great-great grandfather was. That story could make an interesting
introduction.
What was the most important, happiest, or best day of your life? Think over your life and pick
one particular day that stands out to you.
Moultrie Creek on 29 Jul 09This collection consists of the surviving glass negatives of noted portrait photographer Alvan S. Harper. The collection includes about 200 portraits of Philadelphia people, some identified; about 100 views of Tallahassee buildings and street scenes, along with a few from Monticello, Quincy, St. Marks, and Panacea; and about 1,300 portraits of groups and individual men, women, and children, mostly unidentified. Especially noteworthy are Harper's portraits of middle class African-Americans.
