Family History comes to life

Today our family took an incredible field trip to the San Francisco Metreon, to view the Titanic exhibition. For me, this was a trip undertaken with great anticipation and just a little forboding. The events surrounding Titanic were more than just a "night to remember" or a horrible tragedy of the Gilded Age; Titanic and the White Star Line hold a place of prominence in our family.

My great-grandfather, Charles Frederick Woods, was a long-time employee of White Star Lines. In his capacity as ships printer, he was responsible for the communication of information while passengers were aboard ship. He would print the menus, see that the daily news bulletins were presented to the passengers, and act as liason between the ship's crew and passengers - ensuring that the message was delivered correctly and professionally.

He had his share of adventures, too. My grandfather used to tell of the time his father returned from one particularly exotic trip with a unique gift: a monkey. What child doesn't at one time or another wish for a monkey on which to blame all his own messiness? I grew up thinking that the Man in the Yellow Hat was my grandfather; and that Curious George was a story about his own pet simian.

Although White Star Line was an admirable and profitable employer, Great-grandfather had another dream that White Star could not fulfill: emigration. Eventually, the pull overcame the profit of employment, and Charles Woods gave notice of his resignation. Not wanting to lose such a valuable employee (their words, not mine; but who am I to argue?), the company made an attractive offer: stay for only 6 more months, and the company will pay you to work one leg of a voyage (Great Britian to USA) - and the family will be able to travel with you. To make the offer even sweeter, Charles was promised that his final voyage under the employ of WSL would take place on "the new ship."

What would you do? Charles' decision was already made. His house had been sold, his passage already booked. He could not stay any longer than originally intended. He and his wife Hannah and their family (including Charles Francis Woods - my grandfather, though only 6 at the time) took their passage to New York in 1911. The new ship, Titanic, began her voyage in April 1912; and you know her fate.

The exhibit I walked through today helped me connect the facts I knew from history books, and the stories I had heard from family in a way that I never imagined possible. The staff at RMS Titanic have done a superb job of presenting not only the story of Titanic; but recreating the era in which she moved. The subtle presences of creaking dock planks, the thrum of the engine room, the chill of the icy April Atlantic all helped bring events from 94 years ago into stark detail for me today.

The final artifact displayed is a 30,000 pound section of the outer bulkhead from Titanic's side - a section found scattered in the debris field. How amazing it was to see windows still in their portholes and brass that did not show the aging effects of time and water corrosion. And then, just before passing out the exit, was a smaller piece of the bulkhead - a piece designed to be touched by visitors. And touch it I did. I realize that what I was touching had no direct connection to my great-grandfather; but it was from the same era, and it was from the same company and profession as he. And in that moment, family history became just that much more of a reality for me.