Links: History research at its best

When I was a kid, history class meant boring dates about which white man was elected or made a speech or started a war. I read historical novels that centered women and children and didn't realize that was history too.

In the NFO (National Folk Organization) newsletter a while back, there was an article about The Grace McMillan Project.

In early 2023, dance historian Erica Nielsen Okamura came across a rare 1912 Australian edition of Miss McMillan's Swedish Recreative Exercises. Fascinated by this discovery, Erica embarked on a challenging quest to piece together Miss McMillan's life story and to determine how the Nääs dances and games were used in Australia. The Australian edition seemed out of place. Other early 20th century folk dance resources from the UK and USA did not have Australian editions. Erica had to know: Who was Grace McMillan, and why did an Australian edition of her book exist?

Erica Okamura wrote a book about her research and discoveries, which is available as an ebook for free in full. Grace McMillan & Swedish Recreative Exercises by Erica Okamura.

Mary Anne's Story by Mary Anne McMillan is also available.

Mary Anne McMillan (later Donges), born in 1904, lived with her Aunt Grace McMillan from about 1917 until 1922. She wrote about this period of her life in 1989.

I'm fascinated by the persistence and curiosity required to piece together the details of someone's life, including tracking down documents as well as generous people who share their living memories of the person. If it weren't for Erica Okamura's interest, this story would be lost.