The progress of my Thesis

As of last night I finished 9 more pages...Also.

Have I mentioned how much I love my job!!! Just found the register for American POWs from WWII and I am now creating a list of the POW's whom returned home from camp Berga. As of now there is not definitive list which is considered reliable. Yeah, something to file away to add to my book when it is published. So excited!

Update on Mitchell Bard Interview/New Sources

After running late almost a half an hour in traffic, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Dr. Bard. It lasted about an hour and he was more than happy to answer any of my questions. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with him and as most of the other authors have done, he gave me some avenues of getting more information on sources to use in my Thesis. I have an email address of an expert on Berga whom did most of Charles Guggenheim’s research for his movie on Berga, "Soldiers of a Another War." I have contacted him and now awaiting his response. Exciting...



Also last week I was told that National Geographic has decided to do a documentary on Berga. They have asked several of the living survivors to go to Germany where they are filming now on site of what remains of the labor camp. Several of these men I have met and can only imagine the emotions they are feeling. They are in my thoughts and prayers.


I was contacted by a representative of National Geographic and spoke to them about my research on Berga. They were very open to the idea of me assisting in any way possible on the information they need on Berga here at the National Archives. I am looking forward to the representative contacting me once they return from Germany.

Today, I also found the legislative paperwork on the House of Respresentative, Joe Baca's plea to the House for Berga survivors to be able to speak regarding their experiences held in capitivity. Also I have contacted another survivors wife whom I plan to travel to NJ and conduct an interview with in July.

Update: Mitchell Bard Interview/Scheduled Traveling

Due to me getting a winter cold and Dr. Bard traveling the interview was postponed. I am glad to report though that tomorrrow in Bethesda, MD we are meeting for lunch and discussing the book. I am very excited to finally get this opportunity. I will post some pictures as well as notes from the Interview.

I have decided to go back and visit Boston, MA. where the Vogels reside in their lovely home. I met them for the first time in September. I am looking extremely forward to visiting with them as well as taking a peak at the oldest public library in the country, the Boston Public Library.

I have also decided to go to NJ and spend some time visiting with Norman and Bunny Fellman. Norm has an extensive memory of Berga and I would like to pick his brain alittle.

Employment-National Archives

The first week at the new job was great... It is so blissful working in the place that I first researched Berga. Looking back I cannot believe the opportunities God has given me this past year. It is hard to believe that I was just at the Archives in March of 2010 never realizing that I would work there the following year.

This week, I had the opportunity to view files which have been in storage since WWII, not available to the public.   It was so exciting to get dusty and prepare these files for future researchers. It was so rewarding/exciting to get my hands on sources that haven't been unearthed until I opened the box. My passion for this tasks is what drives me to become an Archivist. I absolutely love my job. It is purposeful and brings me great happiness that I could be influential in sparking an interest in another researcher.


I am looking forward to the months ahead.

Invitation by Mitchell Bard

Today, I received an invite to Mitchell Bards home in Maryland. I have just finished reading his book, Forgotten Victims: The Abandonment of Americans in Hitler's Camps. This book is an awesome collection of American POW's stories, some Berga survivors, whom fought for our liberty during World War II. I am  looking forward to  interviewing him for my thesis and asking him some questions regarding his fabulous book. 

Personal Tour of the Archives in College Park

Today, I met with the head of our department at the Archives. After filling out my new employment paperwork, he gave me the guided hour and a half tour of the Archives in which only the employees see. It was very exciting to be on the other side of the coin as an employee not as a researcher. 

For those of you that have never been to the Archives,  when you arrive to research, the staff requests  in order to pull a file, a researcher card must be filled out with the appropriate number of where the file is located in the vaults.The employees use this to locate the file in the specific vault and bring it out to you as well as to place the file back in the vault. The entire process was explained to me in a guided tour through several vaults. It was incredible tour and it rekindled my desire to work in this wonderfully historic place.

The future days ahead I have a feeling will not feel like work but like an awesome adventure.