{"id":18699,"date":"2017-01-04T12:27:50","date_gmt":"2017-01-04T17:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=18699"},"modified":"2017-01-26T13:26:03","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T18:26:03","slug":"new-years-resolutions-to-ponder-from-100-years-ago-or-so","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/new-years-resolutions-to-ponder-from-100-years-ago-or-so.html","title":{"rendered":"New Year\u2019s Resolutions to Ponder from 100 Years Ago or So"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak searches old newspapers to find New Year\u2019s resolutions that our ancestors made. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet made your annual New Year\u2019s resolutions, don\u2019t despair \u2013 there\u2019s still time to select something appropriate for 2017, all the way to 2018.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Credit: Mary Harrell-Sesniak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe one of your ancestors published their New Year\u2019s resolutions in the newspaper \u2013 but if not, perhaps one of these historical resolutions will inspire you!<\/p>\n

Name a Drink as Your Resolution (1899)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1899, a friend said to Col. Stillwell:<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose\u2026 that you will make a New Year\u2019s resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n

To which the good colonel replied:<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir\u2026 My friends seemed to expect it of me, and in order not to disappoint them I have given that name to a very appetizing beverage which I invented myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts), 5 January 1899, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you have a favorite beverage or snack that sustains you during your family history research? How about naming it after GenealogyBank? The GeBa Libation?<\/p>\n

Teach Morality in Schools (1899)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The mayor of Chicago, Illinois, in 1899 (Carter Harrison, Jr.) chose something more important than cleaning the streets, fixing bridges, or closing the saloons and gambling houses. He told an interviewer that children\u2019s characters are molded almost entirely in the classroom, and announced this resolution:<\/p>\n

\u201cResolved, That morality be taught in the public schools of the city of Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Michigan), 30 December 1899, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Both Stay In & Go Out More (1900)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Columbus, Georgia, woman had a novel approach to resolutions. She resolved to stay in more and also to go out more. To explain this seeming contradiction, she said that she:<\/p>\n

\u201cintended to stay at home every morning and go out always in the afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Columbus Daily Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia), 6 January 1901, section 2, page 16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you think about it, we can apply this \u201cdo less and also do more\u201d approach to genealogy:<\/p>\n

\u201cI resolve to only do genealogy when I am not sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quit Smoking, or Shave Yourself for the First Time (1914)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among the resolutions of 1914 in Fort Worth, Texas, was to give up smoking for a year \u2013 but some never made any resolutions, and others made wishes rather than resolutions. John W. Covey, on the other hand, had never tried to shave himself \u2013 so he resolved to try it.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), 31 December 1914, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Swimming in Alaska (1917)<\/strong><\/p>\n

One hundred years ago, the Arctic Brotherhood of Juneau, Alaska, needed funds to maintain a gymnasium, along with a swimming \u201ctank\u201d that had long been in need of repairs. The society was in debt, so one well-meaning supporter made a resolution to contribute funds.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Daily Alaska Dispatch (Juneau, Alaska), 30 December 1916, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Use Butter Only at the Table (1918)<\/strong><\/p>\n

As noted in this 1918 newspaper article from Michigan, World War I brought New Year\u2019s resolutions back into fashion. Women were to purchase Liberty bonds, knit more, and provide for the comfort of the soldiers. Above all, they were to watch over the food supply. This meant not wasting food items, having a day each week without wheat flour, and serving poultry and fowl more than meat. Butter was to be used only at the table, and they were not to waste fat of any kind. The women were told:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo make and KEEP these resolutions for the New Year will help to win the war.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Michigan), 3 January 1918, page 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Resolution (2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to leave you with a little resolution that could turn out to be an important one:<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep it real, keep it light, and above all keep it fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with finding New Year\u2019s resolutions from the past, GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> have lots of hilarious newspaper columns about our ancestors, only waiting to be found. Remember, as one humorist wrote in 1913:<\/p>\n

\u201cOur forefathers didn\u2019t know beans. They didn\u2019t have to: they had beef.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 19 January 1913, section 6, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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