A good reminder indeed. A couple weeks ago I spent a couple days with my 100-year-old great aunt, who is still as sharp as ever. Just think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime!
Lori, this story is mesmerising. Azubah Freeman Ryder isn’t just a witness to history, she embodies it. The way you thread together her personal life, family experiences, and the broader story of the early American republic is wonderful. I was struck by how intimately you bring us into her world. The details, from her handwoven wedding garments to the sheer span of her memory make her longevity not just remarkable but profoundly meaningful. You capture something rare: the life lived at the “centre of continuity”.
Thanks, @Paul. She felt like the perfect first choice to kick off my Finding America series.
I’ve spent time before thinking about how much “progress”
And change more modern folks have experienced - I think about a great aunt who lived to be 99 and all she saw. But I’ve never really contemplated these older Americans who were there at the beginning, who were witness to those early years and remarkable profound changes and growing pains.
It was a joy bringing Azubah’s story back to the forefront.
A front row seat, indeed. Her lifespan makes this biographical profile a compelling one to see the longer arc of history at work. I've only recently discovered a new book called American Grammar (by Givens) about education in early American history and thought of it when I read the opening section to this piece. Your writing always sparkles.
Thanks for “getting” my intent for these Finding America posts. I’m still kind of finding my feet on it, but the idea is to do just that, highlight the longer arc of history thru the lived experience of one America. Azubah seemed like the poster child for that 😉
One life across multiple generations helps readers see how circumstances change and how a life is changed by circumstances. That's always a powerful mix.
I just read both parts of this story and enjoyed it so much! What a marvel to think about a life that experienced so much! Thank you for bringing Azubah to life for us!
That’s exactly why I really enjoy researching and retelling these lost and found stories. History is so much more than just the facts, right? It’s connections and tangents and so many wonderful reminders that real live people experienced the past.
A wicked good overview of our nation's first century from one woman's perspective. Bravo!
Thanks, @Kristin Rapinac. It’s astonishing the “history” Azubah lived thru…tho she probably just called it “life,” right? 😉
A good reminder to us all to think in similar terms.
A good reminder indeed. A couple weeks ago I spent a couple days with my 100-year-old great aunt, who is still as sharp as ever. Just think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime!
That’s awesome! My aunt is 95 and it is always amazing the things she can talk about from personal experience. What treasures and how lucky are we!
Lori, this story is mesmerising. Azubah Freeman Ryder isn’t just a witness to history, she embodies it. The way you thread together her personal life, family experiences, and the broader story of the early American republic is wonderful. I was struck by how intimately you bring us into her world. The details, from her handwoven wedding garments to the sheer span of her memory make her longevity not just remarkable but profoundly meaningful. You capture something rare: the life lived at the “centre of continuity”.
Thanks, @Paul. She felt like the perfect first choice to kick off my Finding America series.
I’ve spent time before thinking about how much “progress”
And change more modern folks have experienced - I think about a great aunt who lived to be 99 and all she saw. But I’ve never really contemplated these older Americans who were there at the beginning, who were witness to those early years and remarkable profound changes and growing pains.
It was a joy bringing Azubah’s story back to the forefront.
She was certainly a pioneer and a witness to tremendous change, it’s a strong story with its heart really in the birth of America.
A front row seat, indeed. Her lifespan makes this biographical profile a compelling one to see the longer arc of history at work. I've only recently discovered a new book called American Grammar (by Givens) about education in early American history and thought of it when I read the opening section to this piece. Your writing always sparkles.
Oh I’ll have to look that one up!
Thanks for “getting” my intent for these Finding America posts. I’m still kind of finding my feet on it, but the idea is to do just that, highlight the longer arc of history thru the lived experience of one America. Azubah seemed like the poster child for that 😉
One life across multiple generations helps readers see how circumstances change and how a life is changed by circumstances. That's always a powerful mix.
I just read both parts of this story and enjoyed it so much! What a marvel to think about a life that experienced so much! Thank you for bringing Azubah to life for us!
A great story. Thanks for sharing.
That’s exactly why I really enjoy researching and retelling these lost and found stories. History is so much more than just the facts, right? It’s connections and tangents and so many wonderful reminders that real live people experienced the past.
Also, does this mean we’re friends 😂