"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Seldom do we hear lectures on American Indian research from a real card carrying American Indian with a degree in social anthropology that specializes in the Five Civilized Tribes. I learned more from talking to Lisa Morgan in 15 minutes than I had learned in a week of intense study. Lisa can help you find and understand the problems encountered in searching this subject. If you are at all interested in this research, this is a lecture you will want to hear.
Lisa Morgan will speak at the Genealogy Friends Saturday Morning Seminar this Saturday at the Gladys Harrington Library, 9:30 until noon. The lecture is free. The doors open at 9:10. Come have a cup of coffee, network, and learn about the techniques for overcoming the pitfalls in researching the American Indian. If you have questions, contact Friends at GenFriends@aol.com or visit the website at www.geocities.com/genfriendsghl.
IN MEMORY
An enigma in his own right, acclaimed writer and genealogist P. William Filby died on November 2, 2002, in his home in Savage, Maryland. Bill, as his friends know him, was born 91 years ago in Cambridge, England. Before coming to America, he was a rare book librarian at Cambridge University Library and Director of the Cambridge University Science Library. Few people knew that he was involved in World War II as a cryptographer at Bletchley where he was a part of the world of counter intelligence. After his marriage to his beloved wife, Vera Ruth Weakliem, the couple came to America in 1957.
After his retirement as Director of the Maryland Historical Society, Bill continued with his writing career publishing over 100 titles that are considered core reference tools in the genealogy field. He was a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists, London; the Manuscript Society; and the National Genealogical Society. In 2000 he received the American Society of Genealogists Certificate of Appreciation for his contributions to the genealogical community.
P. William Filby, a giant in the field, will be greatly missed. He will leave a void in the genealogical publishing field.
GENEALOGY CONFERENCE
The seventh Annual Angelina College Genealogy Conference in Lufkin is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, July 24-26, 2003. For information call 936-633-5206 or email fkanke@angelina.edu. The web page is www.angelina.edu. From there click on Programs and then Community Services.
FAMILYSEARCH
Since the FamilySearch website introduced the 1880 US census national index and the 1881 Canadian census index, the site is registering a peak of three million hits per hour since October 23rd. That is up nearly 500 percent and it continues about 10 times above normal. They estimate the number of hits per day as averaging around 7,500,000. To read more of these phenomenal statistics, take a look at the web site at www.familysearch.org.
GENEALOGICAL CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE
If you have ever wanted a minor degree in genealogy, the Heritage Genealogical College, Salt Lake Community College offers this online; however, the catch is that you must take some courses from a home college and these are located only in the state of Utah. If you are lucky enough to spend a few months in that state, you could apply for the One-Year Certificate in Genealogical Research. Soon, an Associate Degree will be offered. Distant plans include a Bachelor s Degree in Genealogical Research with a minor in History. The cost is surprisingly low. If you are interested in finding out more about the courses offered on the Internet, please visit the web site at www.genealogy.edu.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
