Assistance Requested

It's hard to believe that it has only been three years!!

Overall, I am very pleased with how the site has developed. I'm particularly happy with the response that it has generated! Sure, there are areas where I would like to have progressed farther - Campaigns of the 24th springs to mind. In compensation, however, I find that working on the Featured Soldiers and Primary Documents Sections is more personally satisfying. Based on the feedback I have received, I think that most visitors appreciate "new" information, rather than a re-hash of information covered in other sources.

Although I feel very proud of how far I've come, I look ahead to all that remains to be done with some apprehension. Will I live long enough to finish this? Seriously though, I could use some help. This project started out as MY SITE. In the time that I have been working on it, however, I have come to realize that many people are taking ownership in it. Many like Kent Armstrong and Webb Wood have provided information that I would not otherwise have found. Bill and Jack Moore have been very able research partners. Diane Dismukes has transcribed and typed a large number of primary documents. A great many people have contributed information about their ancestors, a great deal of it never before seen by the general public. Others have helped with typing or proof-reading,. Still others have help just by being interested; just by sending a few kind word to keep up my enthusiasm.

Well, I'll admit it. I need help. Listed below are some of the areas where I perceive a need. All volunteers are accepted.

Education Resources

I suppose that I have built a site for 24th aficionados. There isn't much general or introductory material. I pretty much presume that the viewer has some knowledge of the Civil War in general, and is at least familiar with its major actions. I have been making the unconscious assumption that visitors have about the same level of Civil War knowledge and interest in the 24th Michigan that I do.

I'd really like to change this, however. The birth of my niece in May 1997 caused me to think about how I would eventually teach her about the 24th. It suddenly dawned on me that this material could be a excellent teaching resource. Now comes the hard part, however-- How do I make it more useful for the average history teacher/student. I have some half-baked ideas about using Willy Young to teach 12 year-olds about the Civil War. I'm not sure I have the skills or ability to implement these ideas, however. I really have no idea how to go about developing relevant lesson plans for children. How does one make it easy to understand without being condescending yet still keep the material interesting enough to maintain a child's interest? I do a lot of adult training, but so far, I haven't had much experience with children.

I know that at least some of the visitors to this site are teachers or former teachers. I'd certainly welcome a volunteer to help create a sub-section devoted to teaching young children about the Civil War and Michigan's involvement in it.

Research Materials

I am ALWAYS looking for new primary material related to the 24th Michigan. If you have some old letters in the attic, an old photo in the family album, run across something at the local library, or even just see a reunion badge at a gun show, Let me know, I'm interested. One of my goals for this site is for it to be a central clearing house for information about the 24th Michigan. Even if it seems trivial to you and me, undoubtedly someone out there either now or in the future will be interested!

I am currently looking for these specific documents. I don't need originals, I am not a book collector. Photocopies are fine! I'd be happy to reimburse any copying expenses. If you have access to these materials, or even if you just know of an institution with holdings, please pass along this information

None Currently

Reader's Contributions

So far, I have received several contributions from visitors to the site, primarily biographies for featured soldiers. I am certainly open to any contributions of any 24th Michigan related articles. If you'll write it, and it is in English and is historically factual, I'll find a place for it. I find that my own ambitions for the site frequently exceed my capacity to carry the idea through to fruition. I'd even consider a co-author/editor, should anyone have about 15 hours a week to spare.

Descendant's Organization

So far, the response to this idea has been very good. I've been contacted by about 100 families descended from the 24th. I know of about 20 others who are not on the internet. It's safe to say that there is enough interest to proceed with the idea. I plan to start out small, however. Maybe a quarterly newsletter and/or mailing list with an event every few years. I certainly need help, though. I can't see as how I could run both the descendant's organization and the web site. After all O. B. Curtis, the regimental historian, did not as far as I know also serve as the president of the 24th Michigan Association. Any volunteers to help get the ball rolling? I know that there is a lot of interest out there. What I need most, though is for someone to volunteer to help with the newsletter. Somehow I never find time to work on both a newsletter and the web site.

Publicity

I'm finally beginning to think that the site is ready for a larger audience. Starting in Fall, I am going to begin to promote the site. Maybe I'll try to get an article in the Free Press, a review in CWTI, something along those lines. In the meantime, however, please help me publicize this site. Tell your neighbors, tell your friends. Let your local Round Table and Historical Society know about the 24th Michigan Regimental Website.

I've already submitted to the major search engines and Civil War Indexes, but feel free to add a link on any other appropriate site. I have been told that this site is pretty hard to find. I am open to any suggestions.

Mystery Photographs

Recently, I was contacted by Dale Niessen huzzah@provide.net, with an interesting request. An associate of his a recently purchased 2 unidentified Michigan CDV's. For the reasons described below, Dale believes that these two officers are members of the 24th Michigan. For those of you who do not know him, Dale is an authority on Michigan Civil War photographs and a true "Friend of the 24th".

In addition, there are several other "possible" 24th Michigan photographs. Any help identifying these is appreciated.

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