One of the more difficult things we struggle with in genealogy is attempting to determine who exactly is Aunt Tute. After spending hours, even days going over the various census lists there is no Tute listed anywhere. Who is this woman in the picture labeled Aunt Tute?
In this case, I knew as soon as I saw it, because I remember Aunt Tute. Also, it was labeled with her given name, too. Alice Mary "Tute". I'm sure there is a story as to how she acquired her nickname. Probably had nothing to do with the obvious things that creep into our minds. What I've learned in this search is our ancestors weren't as crude as we tend to be today. So, I'm guessing it was something very innocent that gave her that nickname, and not a flatulence problem. After all, her sister Violo Victoria was referred to as Aunt Dot. No clue where the Dot came from. And her other sister was referred to as Aunt Nan. That's the only one that makes sense since her name was Nancy.
With Aunt Dot, Aunt Tute and Aunt Nan it's easy for me to know whom is who. I grew up with those three names. Two of them had passed before I was born, but I remember hearing about them.
I can only imagine what someone who have never lived around this area, who didn't grow up hearing about those names go through when they see information pertaining to Tute or Dot. I'm sure they're scratching their heads going who on earth is Dot. I didn't find any Dorothy.
We can help these people. When I list Aunt Dot I list her as Viola Victoria "Dot" Surname. Aunt Tute is listed as Alice Mary "Tute" Surname. Aunt Dot stayed in this area. Aunt Tute spent a lot of her life in Kansas, but went to Louisiana toward the end. Their direct descendants will know all this. Who won't know it? There were eight children in that family. One died without marrying or leaving descendants. Their sister migrated to Colorado. I don't know if her descendants are aware of their nicknames. One of their brothers migrated to Washington state. I'm positive they would not associate Aunt Tute with Alice Mary or Aunt Dot with Viola Victoria. Another brother migrated to California. Since the Kansas part of the family has lost touch with the California part of the family, I'm sure that his descendants would not make the connection. Yet they could very well have pictures of Dot and Tute since the siblings kept in touch with each other.
Why is this important? I have a picture of Aunt Millie. Each time I "think" I know who Aunt Millie might be, I come up with reasons why it probably isn't her. Recently I have contacted others who share the same family line. They are direct descendants of one of my great, great grandmother's sister. Even if they can't pin point who Aunt Millie is, they can help if they can say, no that isn't my direct ancestor. At least that's one of Great, Great Grandma's sisters that I can say isn't the woman in the picture.
Genealogy is not something we do in a vacuum. It's all of us working together, sharing and combining our information so we can get the most accurate information pertaining to our ancestors.
Embrace your long lost cousins. Share the thrill of learning more about your common ancestors with them. It makes genealogy a lot more fun.
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