On 10 December 2002, Davis Stewart Holbrook, the grandson of Dr. Jim Gordon (former convener for Virginia) passed away from leukemia. In lieu of flowers the family had asked that contributions be made to the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Our condolences to Dr. Jim and his family on their loss.

The donations raised in Davis' memory were combined with other Museum donations and the House of Gordon was proud to present a $1,000 check to Sir Peter Graham on behalf of the US Gordons. Deborah Spellum and her son Jedidiah made the presentation at the Museum on 1 March 2003. Deborah is described by the California convener as a fitting person to make the dedication, as she has been the most dedicated worker on behalf of the Museum on the entire US West Coast.

Stanley E. Shaw, of Keene, New Hampshire died very suddenly on October 29th, 2002. He held membership number 184, having been with us since July 18, 1986. He was an interested and active member who was proud of his Shaw heritage and who participated in a number of our activities.

Oliver A. Shaw, of Warren, Michigan died on February 7, 2003. He was member number 302, having joined us on October 27, 1987. He had a major stroke in 1995, which necessitated his retirement from his employment as a mathematician with the United States Army. He greatly enjoyed his membership in the society.

Russell R. Shaw, of Charleston, South Carolina died on November 6, 2002. A memorial service was held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Charleston. Russell and Renata held membership number 732, joining us on April 30, 1993. They have been active and interested members of the society. Russell served with the United States Navy in World War II, and subsequently with the Central Intelligence Agency and other government organizations.

Use that "Printscreen Key"
Have you found the "PrintScreen" key has been virtually useless since the advent of any Windows OS? Actually, it's worked all along - but in a non-obvious way. On its own, the PrintScreen key (PrintScr or PrtScr or PrintScreen or whatever it is called on your system) triggers a little routine that captures the current screen - your desktop - to the clipboard. But here's the weird part. It does so invisibly, with no indication that anything actually happened. However, you can then paste the stored image into any graphics-capable program and print it from there, or print direct from the clipboard if you have a clipboard utility running.

Try it: Hit your PrintScr key now, then open a tool like Paint - or even Word, or any graphics-capable editing tool - and then click Paste. An image of your current screen will be pasted into the open application. It's that simple - and that non-obvious!
From the Bureau County Genealogical Society, Princeton, Illinois. Thank you about computers.

Nesbitt Presidential Cookbook
Did you know that Henrietta Nesbitt, was the Whitehouse Housekeepe?
In March 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the thirty-second President of the United States. He brought with him to the White House a quiet-mannered neighbor from Hyde Park, New York, who would become the "First Housekeeper."

Henrietta Nesbitt was then well into her fifties. She had never "worked", but as wife, mother, and grandmother, she had been keeping house all her life. Apparently unruffled, she took over the tremendous task of seeing that sixty historic rooms were kept spotless and over one hundred windows shining; floors, stairs, and furniture waxed; linens, draperies, and silver cleaned; and on and on and on the list went. Her most important duty was the planning of menus for thousands of meals prepared for the First Family and their distinguished guests.

For the next thirteen years, Henrietta's life was lived for and with presidents-twelve with Roosevelt and one with Truman. They were some of the most exciting and perhaps perilous years to that point in America's history with the White House becoming the most important and busiest household in the world. Henrietta moved through those years with calm and foresight, her eyes always on the next meal.
Cooking had always been Henrietta's special delight. She had learned it first from her German-American mother on the Minnesota frontier. In Hyde Park her pies and cakes made her locally famous, and when her neighbor, Mr. Roosevelt, ran for governor of New York, Mrs. Roosevelt asked her to help out with the gubernatorial baking. Henrietta baked FDR's favorite apple pies and shipped them to Albany.

The following is additional information, and was received from her grandson Robert who is a member of the American Society after the full article was produced in the American newsletter last year.

Henrietta was born in Britinbaum, Hungry-Austria, and came to America at age 18, marrying Henry Nesbitt, a son of William Humphrys Nesbitt.

William was the youngest son in his family and, expecting little or no inheritance, at age 18 sailed from Ireland to San Francisco in 1849 to join the gold rush. He and his partner found enough gold to make two rings (Robert has one) before they decided they were never going to get rich mining gold.

They went back to San Frnacisco, set up a bakery and became quite well off selling bread. William then went back to Ireland, married Louise Garven, and they had a family of eight children, one being Henry. William's cousin, John Nesbitt Dowling, married Louisa's sister, Rebecca.

William and Louise, along with Henry and two of his sisters, came back to America when Henry was eighteen. They settled in Duluth, Minnesota, where Henry met and Married Victoria Henrietta Kugler, called "Dodo" by family and friends.

They utlimately moved to Hyde Park and lived down the street from the Roosevelt's. Henry moved to the White House with his wife, serving as the housekeeping accountant.

This is FDR's favorite-always served on his birthday.

Mary Nesbitt's White Fruitcake
1 pound butter
1 pound granulated sugar
1 pound candied fruit peel
1 pound sultana raisins
9 eggs
1 1/4 pounds flour
1/4 pound crystallized cherries
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
A little grated lemon rind
Cream butter and sugar together. Beat whole eggs light, then add some of the creamed butter and beat very light; sift flour twice and add about 1/3; repeat until all are mixed. Pour into brick form pans. Set in water and bake in 375 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours. Yield two 3 pound cakes.
Nesbitt/Nesbit Society thank you for this information about FDR's famous cook.

Veteran's History Project wants YOU!
Military Memories
America's war veterans have fascinating and historically relevant stories to tell. The Veterans History Project had made collecting those valuable stories a priority. The Library of Congress'  http://www.loc.gov American Folklife Center will gather oral histories, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, home movies and other materials from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf war veterans. Their wartime memories, along with the reminiscences of civilian volunteers, war industry workers and others, will help to creat a picture of America's military past.

You can contribute to the Veterans History Project by interviewing one of the men or women who experienced the war up close. Find out more about how to participate in the project at http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/about.html 

Irish Famine Immigrants database online now
The US National Archives has put the Irish Famine Immigrants database online and it is free to search. This covers Irish immigrants to the port of New York from 1846-1851. It can be a bit tricky to search, so start here... http://aad.archives.gov/aad/title_list.jsp

In the pull-down "subject" menu, click on "Irish," then click submit. On the next page click on "Famine Irish Data Files, 1977 ? - 1989 ?". The Coverage Dates are 1/12/1846 - 12/31/1851. They are dates of passenger arrivals.

Then on the next page click on the "search" link on the right side (under "options"). On the search page you put the name of the person you are looking for in the boxes under "enter values."
A thank you from Paradise Genealogical Society, Inc., Paradise, California for information on the Irish Famine.

Story Circle Network wants your life story, ladies!
http://wwww.storycircle.org/ is the address to use for The Story Circle Network is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to helping women everywhere share the stories of their lives. They offer publications and programs which empower women to create their own stories, discover their identities through their life stories, and choose to be the authors of their lives.

Their activities include instructional programs, such as Reading Circles, Writing Circles, classes in personal writing, workshops, and retreats, a website, an Internet Chapter, support of local chapters, print publications (including the Network's quarterly journal), and a national conference.

Did you know about the "fastest lady aviator?"
The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, Jacqueline Cochran, piloted an F-86 Sabrejet over California at an average speed of 652d.337 miles-per-hour on May 13, 1953?

How to Order a Check in Euros
There are occasions when it is useful to send funds to a foreign country without using a check drawn on an American bank, as banks in foreign countries often require excessive fees for exchange services.

Now that the euro has become the monetary standard in many European countries (such as Germany), we can send checks in euros through the service that is most economical for the purpose (a $5.00 service fee for most transactions).

Here is how to obtain a check in euros to be cashed in a euro country.

*Call International Currency Express (ICE) toll-free at 888-278-5528.
*Tell the representative that you wish to purchase a bank draft in euros.
*The representative will ask you:
The amount in euros you wish to order.
The name of the recipeint, as well as any references you wish to have added to the check. Your name, address, and telephone number. The method of payment you chose (personal check or credit card.)
The agent will give you this information: the current exchange rate, the amount in U.S. dollars you must remit to ICE, including the $5.00 service fee, and the confirmation number of your transaction.
*If you charge the amount to your credit card, the check will be mailed to you almost immediately.
*If you chose to send payment by personal check, do so immediately, including the confirmation number on the memo line to:
International Currency Express, Inc., 427 N. Cammden Dr, Ste F, Beverly Hills, Ca 90210.
The check in euros will be mailed as soon as you personal check has cleared your bank.
Mail the euro check to your creditor in the euro country.

Nicolas Martiau Tribute
The Nicolas Martiau Descendant Association (NMDA) will assemble at the Williamsburg (VA) Hospitality House Hotel on Thursday, September 18, 2003 for the 4th Martiau Tribute weekend. Nicolas Martiau (1591-1657), "Father of Yorktown", was a Captain of Militia, Yorke Shire Justice, Burgess, Military Engineer and Planter. He is the earliest Colonial Ancestor of George Washington and Thomas Nelson. The present Queen of England and Robert E. Lee are also descendants. Tribute activities include: Business Meeting, Tours of Martiau related historical sites, Cruise, Wreath laying at Martiau's Grace Church memorial, and historical lectures. Prospective members (lineal & auxiliary) and history buffs are invited to attend. For further information contact: Page Warden, P O Box 1175, Williamsburg, VA 23187; marmoose@cox.net. There is a NMDA discount on hotel arrangements if made before August 18th. For membership information contact: Carol Shrader: wi4k@yahoo.com.