{"id":736,"date":"2026-10-14T14:14:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/?p=736"},"modified":"2026-10-14T14:14:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:14:07","slug":"connecting-with-the-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting with the past"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I vividly remember sitting in the National Archives in Dublin, sifting through boxes of files from the Department of Industry and Commerce, as well as of the Taoiseach (prime minister), and finding documents with signatures from famous politicians such as \u00c9amon De Valera and Se\u00e1n Lemass. I\u2019d spent the better part of four years reading about them. Holding those papers, seeing their signatures, was really something. It felt like a direct connection to the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Se\u00e1n Lemass. Photo courtesy of National Library of Ireland. Collection:\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/catalogue.nli.ie\/Collection\/vtls000510030\">Irish Political Figures Photographic Collection<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Date: 1966 April 6.\u00a0NLI Ref:\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/catalogue.nli.ie\/Record\/vtls000642727\">NPA POLF101<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/service-pnp-npcc-20500-20515v.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/service-pnp-npcc-20500-20515v.jpg 749w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/service-pnp-npcc-20500-20515v-219x300.jpg 219w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00c9amon De Valera. Photo courtesy of National Library of Ireland. Collection:\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/catalogue.nli.ie\/Collection\/vtls000510030\">Irish Political Figures Photographic Collection<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Date: 1966 April 6.\u00a0NLI Ref:\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/catalogue.nli.ie\/Record\/vtls000642727\">NPA POLF101<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m not an archaeologist, but in the past few years of working with Arthur I\u2019ve experienced a really striking connection that differs a bit from the archives. There\u2019s an intimacy with those who came before that comes from finding their domestic items in the ground. These aren\u2019t historical luminaries, but ordinary people. Like us. It\u2019s a very visceral thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that in mind, this was a great week for archaeology and for finding connections to those who once lived and worked on the University of New England campus on the banks of the Saco River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2742-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The group carefully measures distances between test pits as we search for the main farmhouse at Jordan&#8217;s Point. Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our day started with pouring over the photograph of Jordan\u2019s Point with its farm. Where was the farm house? Last week, we dug a pile of bricks thinking that it might be the chimney. It was near the \u201cdock\u201d and might certainly be the spot. The archaeology didn\u2019t support that idea, though. The bricks weren\u2019t burned. There wasn\u2019t a lot of domestic stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trying to triangulate the photograph with what Arthur and I had studied from Norwoods\u2019 Wharf, it felt like the building was closer to the Riverside Tent. Not under it, but rather two or three yards towards the river. Right\u2026 we had our plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Measuring carefully so as to stay the appropriate distance from the tent, we set up a line of test pits located a few yards apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The students, now well practiced in the art of setting up 50x50s, measured things out, strung up string, removed the sod, and started gentling moving downwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2712-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Digging a new 50&#215;50. Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We started with our fifth trench, 15 feet or so from the Riverside tent. It yielded two interesting finds. The first was a Winchester shotgun shell. The beauty of gun casings it that they are easily datable. This one was from the first decade of the twentieth century. Bang on (excuse the pun) when we <em>know<\/em> the house was in situ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2719-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Winchester shotgun shell, early 20th century. Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is worth remembering that last year when we dug at Norwoods\u2019 Wharf, one of our most common finds were .22 caliber bullet casings. We came to think that recreational shooting was a regular pastime. Perhaps this new shell is further indicative of local leisure pursuits at the end of the nineteenth century? Or, alternatively, perhaps it is more reflective of the practical business of putting food on the table?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second interesting find had nothing to do with our house: another lithic flake. This one was considerably larger than the bit of red stone we found last week. It is a large piece of quartz, worked by a member of the Wabanaki band who spent part of their year here sometime between 1500BCE and the arrival of Europeans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2727-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Lithic flake. Quartz, likely from the White Mountains. Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, the flake likely originated in the White Mountains and made its way down the Saco River to the village site at the river mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trench number 6 was three meters closer to the river along a straight line, roughly at the line between grass and trees. It quickly started to turn up bits of both a 19<sup>th<\/sup> century building and domestic life. Glass (both window and bottle), square nails, and pottery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"744\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-768x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-768x1024-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2714-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"743\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-768x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-768x1024-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2717-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\"><em>A square nail and 19th century window glass. Photos by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trench #7 was another three meters along the line, in the woods. It contained a few things, but nothing like the density of trench 6. It seems to be beyond the house site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We opened up two additional trenches. Trench #8 was three meters to the east of trench #6. Like #6, it quickly produced domestic material and a brick fragment with a few visible letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, the jewel was a butter knife. Immediately I found myself wondering if it was used at a shore dinner hall, or held in the hands of Joseph Coolbroth or perhaps Mary Coolbroth Huff?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-768x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-768x1024-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/IMG_2748-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>U.S. Navy butter knife, probably mid-20th century. Perhaps it dates to the destruction of the house? Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My mind was running away with me. Then I washed it off\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three letters are clearly visible on the handle: USN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps Coolbroth served in the Navy? Hmm\u2026 The problem with that is that the knife probably dates to the 1940s. Coolbroth was dead by then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So why is a 1940s knife in the same layer as 19<sup>th<\/sup> century domestic material? At the minute, we can only hypothesize that the house was pulled down in the 1940s, leaving behind a mixture of materials from the early- and mid-century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, trench 9 is also in the woods. We want to verify that we are, in fact, beyond the house and that the other woods trench isn\u2019t just an anomaly. At this point, that trench is still unresolved. We\u2019ll see how it pans out this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, it is difficult to conclude anything other than that we\u2019re right near the house and in contact with the earlier inhabitants of the site: ancient and modern. We seem to be on the verge of figuring out at least part of the site. It\u2019s a good place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/23_House1MysteriousTower-768x552-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-746\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.3913548094887618;width:768px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/23_House1MysteriousTower-768x552-1.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/23_House1MysteriousTower-768x552-1-300x216.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Could the mysterious dark object be all that remained of the farmhouse in 1955, a bit of chimney? Photo by Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014 Eric G. E. Zuelow<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I vividly remember sitting in the National Archives in Dublin, sifting through boxes of files from &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I vividly remember sitting in the National Archives in Dublin, sifting through boxes of files from &hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Journeys into the Past at UNE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ezuelow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ezuelow\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"ezuelow\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b123a1086548287b2b9a78234fb0e4c4\"},\"headline\":\"Connecting with the past\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1056,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/\",\"name\":\"Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":1280},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/14\\\/connecting-with-the-past\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Connecting with the past\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/\",\"name\":\"Journeys into the Past at UNE\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Journeys into the Past at UNE\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/BIddeford-1856-clearer.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/60\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/BIddeford-1856-clearer.jpg\",\"width\":1860,\"height\":1454,\"caption\":\"Journeys into the Past at UNE\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b123a1086548287b2b9a78234fb0e4c4\",\"name\":\"ezuelow\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"ezuelow\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/sites.une.edu\\\/unepast\\\/author\\\/unepast\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE","og_description":"I vividly remember sitting in the National Archives in Dublin, sifting through boxes of files from &hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/","og_site_name":"Journeys into the Past at UNE","article_published_time":"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":1280,"url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"ezuelow","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ezuelow","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/"},"author":{"name":"ezuelow","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#\/schema\/person\/b123a1086548287b2b9a78234fb0e4c4"},"headline":"Connecting with the past","datePublished":"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/"},"wordCount":1056,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/","url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/","name":"Connecting with the past - Journeys into the Past at UNE","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966-768x1024.jpg","datePublished":"2026-10-14T14:14:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T14:14:07+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2026\/10\/Sean_Lemass_1966.jpg","width":960,"height":1280},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/2026\/10\/14\/connecting-with-the-past\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Connecting with the past"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/","name":"Journeys into the Past at UNE","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#organization","name":"Journeys into the Past at UNE","url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"http:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2024\/09\/BIddeford-1856-clearer.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/60\/2024\/09\/BIddeford-1856-clearer.jpg","width":1860,"height":1454,"caption":"Journeys into the Past at UNE"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/#\/schema\/person\/b123a1086548287b2b9a78234fb0e4c4","name":"ezuelow","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/33abe4223c4a207246d74ca3a9cadf7faf5f8884588fa330f637c3be3af7e5bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"ezuelow"},"url":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/author\/unepast\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=736"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":756,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/736\/revisions\/756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=736"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/unepast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}