This blog is a transcription of the diaries of my grandfather, Folkert Peter Vander Meulen (1893-1978). If you wish to contact me, please do so at leslieatkhs65dotcom. We love finding new cousins!
About this Vander Meulen family blog
My grandfather died in 1978, leaving me his diaries and genealogy notebooks. I have spent over 2 years reading & in many cases re-reading the diaries through, although I have read parts in the past, and trying to decide how to share them. The blog format emerged as the best way to share. I hope family members are enjoying seeing the lives of my grandparents through grandpa's eyes as well as seeing how they fit into the world around them. If you think you may be related to us PLEASE email, I am willing to share information and love to correspond. PLEASE feel free to add comments - use the comment utility at the end of each post for asking questions, requesting information, or just saying hello! Before you get started, please go to the LABELS on the right side-bar and to the General Information posts to understand how this transcription of the diaries is going to be formatted. 1/1/2011 - my first typing of 2011 - the diary transcription has taken on a new dimension since I began in December, '09. I've discovered many things in my possession which I can use to illustrate the diaries, to say nothing of the magic of the Internet to add details and photos of the people, places and events that filled grandma & grandpa's lives. As I've said often, I now have to live to be 100, and be healthy, so I can finish! World War II years are almost finished, then it's back to grandpa's chronological jottings. There will be something for everyone, so I hope you are all enjoying reading as much as I am enjoying posting. Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar 
Monday, December 7, 2009
Spelling our Name
My grandfather spelled his name Vander Meulen as did his father, my father and several other family members. My brother and others spell it VanderMeulen; our cousin of Rutgers University spelled it van der Meulen; in reality having a surname that is only one word IS easier in the world of computerization and homogenization! Some say Vandermeulen, Van Der Meulen, and many more. These are all correct - our name is Dutch and means "of the mill" or "son of the miller". One can Google around and find various descriptions of this name; it is a relatively common Dutch name. Please do NOT confuse it with the German Mueller, Von Mueller, and about a million other variations. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen, and still see, it spelled Muelen I could go to Rio for Carnival! As time goes on, I'll get more into our genealogy but for now, the diaries come first!
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