13 Comments
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Paul Chiddicks's avatar

I love this series, Lori! Annie’s Century Safe isn’t just about the objects inside, it’s about foresight, care, and hope for the future. Your storytelling makes her, Emma, and Thomas come alive, and that line,“There is no safe big enough to contain the hopes, the energies, the abilities of our people”, fantastic writing! Brilliant work.

Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, Paul! Annie and her story have really captured my imagination, and the Substack series is but a small piece of her amazing story. I’m not done yet!

Paul Chiddicks's avatar

I absolutely know there’s more to come!

Kyla Bayang's avatar

Fantastic research and storytelling, Lori. I was holding my breath and hoping it ended well! I am so very glad for her sake and all of ours! Eagerly awaiting the next update!

Jennifer Jones's avatar

Thank you for telling this story Lori. It’s been an amazing series to follow

Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, @Jennifer. It really has been an extraordinary story to tell.

Jill Swenson's avatar

Great storytelling! I have no recollection of President Ford opening the Century Safe, but found the entire series about Annie's life fascinating. Kudos!

Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, Jill! I feel like the 1976 “ceremony” was pretty low key compared to a lot of the other Bicentennial events. In the records it appears that no one really knew much about Annie or her safe, and didn’t really know what to do with it.

Jill Swenson's avatar

Ford certainly had a good speechwriter that day!

Lori Olson White's avatar

I’m fairly sure it was George Denison 🤩

Steve Minniear's avatar

Thank you for writing this.

Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, Steve. This story hit harder than most, and it has been my honor to retell it. Stay tuned for an exciting update next week and thanks for reading! 😉

Barbara at Projectkin's avatar

Beautifully told, @Lori Olson White! It's as if the story, like the safe, has been waiting for you.

Now... as we clean up notes shared with Relatives at Rootstech, I'm left wondering if MY people signed her books. 🤔

It's not unlike the question of whether they'd been in the audience as Lafayette made his grand tour of 24 states around the new country at the semi-centennial—this time, there are signatures. It's such an incredible story. As you say, just waiting to be found.