This first contact marks a turning point in the MyCousins project. Unlike earlier solo efforts, the collaboration with Beth Gamache transformed genealogy from an individual pursuit into a shared, sustained research partnership.
At a Glance
- First Contact: 2020
- Primary Surnames: Gamache; Purinton (birth)
- Medium: Email, Facebook, Ancestry.com collaboration
- Role in Project: Co-researcher; outreach lead; documentation specialist
Context
Prior attempts to build a shared family history had struggled due to limited participation and uneven engagement. When ancestry research resumed in 2020, Beth Gamache brought not only prior experience in genealogy but also a willingness to actively involve others. This combination changed the trajectory of the project.
The Elcik family tree, which had been the least developed, became a focal point for collaboration. Beth’s approach emphasized verification, outreach, and respectful persistence—qualities essential to sustained genealogical work.
The Collaboration Begins
From the outset, Beth and John shared a common philosophy: genealogy should be both accurate and accessible. Beth’s experience working with family members and historical institutions complemented John’s technical interests and documentation efforts.
Rather than working in isolation, Beth actively contacted relatives, encouraged participation, and helped surface photographs, documents, and stories that might otherwise have remained private or been lost.
Impact on the Project
The partnership expanded the scope and credibility of the research. New contributors joined. Conversations multiplied. The family tree grew not only in size but in reliability.
Equally important, Beth helped reframe the project’s purpose. The work was no longer just about solving genealogical puzzles, but about preserving memory, honoring lived experience, and creating a record that future generations could trust.
Why This Contact Mattered
This first contact represents the moment MyCousins shifted from a solitary archive to a collaborative endeavor. Beth Gamache’s involvement made long-term continuity possible. The project did not simply restart—it matured.
Many of the discoveries, connections, and reconciliations documented elsewhere on the site trace back, directly or indirectly, to this partnership.
When I married into the Brakke family in 1968, my mother in law (who could tell from my many questions about the family history) shared her only copy….a carbon copy….of the typed information you share on this page. I am thrilled to find it shared just as the sisters wrote it all those years ago! At some point, I would love to add to this cousins’ page. My husband, Robert (Bob) is the great grandson of Tosten Brakke. son of Anund and Grethe.
Nancy, thank you so much for your wonderful comment — and my apologies for the very delayed reply. 😊
What a special story. I love that your mother-in-law recognized your curiosity and entrusted you with her carbon copy of the family history. Those kinds of family documents are treasures, especially when they’ve been preserved and passed down through generations.
I’m thrilled to hear that finding the sisters’ original writing here brought back those memories for you. That was exactly my hope in sharing it — preserving not only the information itself, but also the voices and efforts of the family members who recorded it.
And yes — I would absolutely welcome additions to the cousins’ page whenever you are ready. It would be wonderful to include more information about Robert (Bob), the descendants of Tosten Brakke, and the broader family connections. Every branch helps enrich the story for future generations.
Thank you again for reaching out and for helping keep the Brakke family history alive.
Warm regards,
John Elcik