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Longtime friends will
recall Mary Jane Smith, one of the founding members of our Immigrant
Genealogical Society in Burbank, California. They received word recently
that she passed away on May 12, 2002.
Interested in Donauschwabian books?
A visitor to the IGS Library, Edie Farris, was well informed about the
Donauschwabians and interested in our Ortssippenbooks for that area. She
later sent a list of 4 books about that area which she had purchased. If
your are interested, inquire of the Danube Swabian Association, 1277
Southhampton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116.
Donauschwabians were Germans, mostly from the Schwabian tribes, who went
down the Danube (Donau in German) River to settle in southeastern Europe.
They were offered free land and houses by the Austro-Hungarian Emperor in
exchange for stopping Turkish intrusions into the Empire.
Thanks to The Immigrant Society Genealogical Newsletter, PO Box 7369,
Burbank, CA 91510-7369.
The Barbour Collection completed by Genealogy Warehouse
Genealogy Warehouse announced that the transcription of the last two
volumes (#54, 55) of the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital
Records are now available. These two final volumes cover Windham and
Windsor. You may examine the entire collection at
http://www.genealogical.com/. Ask for a search for "Barbour
Collection."
Thanks to The Immigrant Genealogical Newsletter, PO Box 7369, Burbank, CA
91510-7369.
Interested in Norwegian emigration?
In a talk to Conejo Valley Genealogical Society, Gerry Olsen and Mary
Rydberg, grandchildren of Nils and Ellen Olsen, Conejo Valley pioneers,
gave some interesting statistics. Between 1825 and 1930 nearly half of
Norway's population emigrated to America. About 808,000 persons were
involved. The driving forces for emigration were inheritance laws,
population increased, lack of farm land, crop failures, and the desire for
a more comfortable climate.
Thanks to The Immigrant Genealogical Newsletter, PO Box 7369, Burbank, CA
91510-7369.
Did you know?
Women were not on the first or second voyage of Columbus. The first women
colonists appeared in 1498 when Columbus was allowed to recruit one woman
for every ten emigrants on the third voyage.
Columbus introduced horses to the New World on his second voyage.
Seventeen ships and over twelve hundred men mad up "The Grand Fleet" of
the second voyage in 1493.
Thanks to Los Banos Genealogical Society's The Tree Shakers, September
2002, Volume 11, #9.
Leslie Trust needs your help!
The main purpose of the Trust is to record, collect and safeguard Scottish
heirlooms, particularly those relating to the Leslies, and to conserve and
maintain them in the best possible condition. Many articles, particularly
the older ones, need careful secure storage under controlled environmental
conditions.
A recent donation made possible professional restoration of the original
handwritten Royal Charter creating the 7th Earl the Duke of Rothes. Your
contribution could fund maintenance or restoration of other priceless
treasures. Donations of artifacts are also welcome.
For more information visit The Trust website at
www.clanleslietrust.org.
Thanks to Grip Fast, Clan Leslie Society International, PO Box 845,
Jackson, NJ 08527.
Clan Mackenzie AGM draws members from eight states!
The Clan Mackenzie Society in the Americas held its 2002 Annual General
Meeting at the Williamsburg, Virginia Scottish Festival and Celtic
Celebration on September 28, 2002. The officers present were President
Stephen McKenzie, National Vice-President Blair MacKenzie, Eastern
Regional Vice-President William Lawler, Secretary Beth MacKenzie, and
Treasurer Gene McKenzie. Members came from California, Alabama, Georgia,
North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
A letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
Reading the article, "Celts...or is it Kelts?" by Dr. Hunter in the
Oct/Nov. issue of The Family Tree recalled an enlightening incident during
World War Two.
I was a young merchant seaman serving on a ship lying at anchor in Loch
Ewe, the secret marshaling base for North Atlantic convoys located in the
North West Scotland. It was a still night, and pitch black; the mountains
surrounding the loch were indistinguishable from the black sky above. I
was standing by the rails on the after-deck with a couple of crew members.
The rhythmic chug of a small fishing vessel entering the loch grew louder
as it approached. The voices of it's crew carried clearly across to us as
they came abeam. Next to me, Bill Sutherland, a Gaelic-speaking A.B. from
Stornoway called out to the fisherman as their small craft passed. They
conversed in the brief time we were within earshot of each other. We
chided Bill afterwards good-naturedly about his conversation with his "chuechter"
friends and were disbelieving when he replied that they were not Scots,
but Breton fishermen! As I learned later, Brittany folks don't speak
French, and, though they do not speak gaelic as we know it there is
sufficient similarity in certain words of their dialect that Bill
Sutherland was prompted to engage them in conversation. ....a similarity
much as we see between Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.
Yours Aye,
Mathew R. Edgar,
Columbus, New Jersey
The Family of Bruce Society announces new Board of Officers
The Family of Bruce Society in America announces a new Board of Officers
due to the resignation of its President, John W. Bruce, Sr., because of a
serious health problem. A ballot was sent out to all members in July
asking for approval on an interim administration to act until regular
elections can be held in 2003. The pro tem officers are: Oley Firth of
Bristol, New Hampshire as President and his wife, Ernestine B. Firth,
assisting in the new office of Vice President for Administration; with G.
Frank Scammon of Methuen, Massachusetts returning to his previous position
as Membership Chairman and Steven E. Bruce of Gainesville, Georgia
retaining his office as Treasurer. Mrs. Betty Benert of Summerville, South
Carolina is continuing as Secretary and Mrs. Virginia Oliver of
Fredericksburg, Virginia as Genealogist. Mrs. Emily McClaine of Hanford,
California is returning as the editor of the Society newsletter, the
Bannockburn. Mrs. Judy Sjostrom of Syracuse, New York is succeeding the
late Irving Meredith as Chancellor and Mrs. Alberta Utz of Lakeland,
Florida is the Archivist. The members have been overwhelmingly supportive
of the pro tem administration and all are pleased that their Family of
Bruce Society in America is in good hands and health.
2003 Central New York Scottish Games set for August
The 2003 Central New York Scottish Games and Celtic Festival will be held
on August 9, 2003, at Long Branch Park in Liverpool (near Syracuse).
Competitive events begin at 9 am and the Festival concludes with closing
ceremonies at 5 PM. A ceilidh (party) follows from 6-9 PM at Long Branch
Park. Included in the day's events are solo bagpiping, dancing, and
drumming competitions; massed bagpipe bands and band competitions; Irish
dancing demonstrations; clan tents and genealogy; Scottish and Irish
vendors; music groups; heavy and master class athletics; Scottish and
American foods; children's events; sheep dog demonstrations; "A Harmony of
Harps;" the Morris Dancers; cultural and military Scottish history;
Highland cattle and a Clydesdale horse on display.
The Arthur MacNeil Memorial Scholarship booth, dedicated to providing
information and limited financial assistance to aspiring bagpipers,
drummers, dancers, and drum majors, will be open all day.
For information and directions, write CNYSG, PO Box 6405, Syracuse, NY
13217; or call Nancy Bloss at 315-463-8876, Betsy Buchanan at
315-252-5876, or John MacNeill, 607-749-6624. Visit our website at
http://www.cnyscots.com.
Chapman Family
Association sets annual meeting for Richmond
Celebrating Chapman's' over 390 years in America and Virginia, the Chapman
Family Association (CFA) will hold its 2003 family convention (annual
meeting and national Chapman family reunion), at the Wyndham Hotel in
Richmond, Virginia, May 13-19, 2003. Official sessions are May 16-18, 2003
with the remaining time for local group tours and individual research. The
nonprofit Texas Corporation is for all branches of the family, and has
members living in most states and overseas.
Members will come from all over the nation to the meeting that will begin
officially on Friday morning with a genealogy workshop. In the evening
there will be a reception for those present to meet new cousins and to
renew old friendships. Saturday is to be filled with matters pertaining to
the CFA today, and the Chapman Family forum (tailored specifically for
those who register in advance), followed by a banquet with awards and
special recognition of distinguished members.
A special Chapman family history workshop, with extensive Chapman research
material, will be held on Sunday morning for those who wish to
participate. The meeting promises a high concentration of "Chapman's" and
Chapman information than has ever been assembled.
The earliest know Chapman in America was Francis Chapman who arrived in
Virginia on the Star in 1608. He was later listed as an "Ancient Planter."
Chapman's have prevailed in Virginia ever since. Almost 100 CFA member
families trace their Chapman ancestry back to one of about 50 different
Chapman's of the 17th century and later.
One need not be a member of the association to attend the festivities but
registrations required and advance registration is highly recommended.
Those who cannot attend may get free help with their Chapman ancestry, or
join the association by writing to CFA, 770 South Post Oak Lane, #435,
Houston, TX 77056-1913 or sending email to
cfa@chapmanfamilies.org. For
more information go to
http://www.chapmanfamilies.org.
Angelina College plans Genealogy conference for July 2003
The 7th Annual Angelina College Genealogy, featuring an academic
interdisciplinary approach to genealogy, local history, historical
preservation, and related computer technology, will be held July 24-26,
2003.
It will be held in the Angelina College Community Services Conference
Center, Highway 59 South (3500 South First), Lufkin, Texas. Speaker and
topic will be announced in the conference brochure, which will be
available in April 2003. Registrations will accepted after June 1, 2003.
For additional information and/or to be placed on the mailing list for a
conference brochure contact: Angelina College Community Services, phone at
936-633-5206, fax at 936-633-5478, or email to
fkanke@angelina.edu. You can also
check out their website at
http://www.angelina.edu.
Clan Chisholm Society extends their sincere sympathy to the
Reverend Dr. Francis Peter Chisholm of Hamilton, Ontario on the loss of
his loving wife, Connie. The Rev. Chisholm has been a stalwart of the Clan
Chisholm Society, and at this sad time he will be in the thoughts and
prayers of Clan Chisholm Society members everywhere.
Glasgow, Scotland has been named Europe's fastest growing destination
According to the international meetings statistics released by the highly
respected Union of International Association (UIA) in Brussels, Glasgow is
now Europe's fastest growing conference destination. The report, which
includes details of the geographic distribution of international meetings
over the last four years, reveals that Glasgow has doubled its European
market share from 0.4 percent to 0.8 percent in 2001.
This remarkable achievement has been further reinforced by the news that
in July/August 2002, the business tourism division of Greater Glasgow &
Clyde Valley Tourist Board, working in conjunction with conference
organizers, meetings venues, accommodation providers and members of its
Conference Ambassadors Program, has been successful in its bid to secure
five major conferences for the destination.
They are the 2000-delegate NHS Confederation Annual conference "Connection
2003" in June 2003, the 750-delegate Giant Screen Theatre Conference (GSTA)
at the Glasgow Science Center in September 2003, Interaction, the
5,000-delegate World Congress of Science Fiction (Worldcon) in 2005 in
conjunction with Conference Ambassador Vincent Docherty, originally from
Glasgow and now based in The Hague.
Also scheduled are the 2,500-delegate International Congress of
Parasitology (ICOPA XI) in 2006 through the assistance of Conference
Ambassador Professor Paul Hagan of the Infection and Immunity department
at the University of Glasgow and a fifth confirmed, but as of yet
confidential meeting will attract a further 3,000 delegates to the
destination in 2003.
The combined value of these recent conferences will generate 13.8 million
pounds in local economic benefit and a staggering 77,000 room nights for
the destination.
The ongoing 18 million pound redevelopment and expansion project at
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) in rapidly progressing
with phase one of the projects already completed.
In May, a new range of facilities adjacent to the Centre's existing main
hall was successfully completed on schedule. The accommodations include
several breakout rooms of varying sizes, new catering and kitchen
facilities, plus additional customer restroom facilities.
Construction is progressing at a rapid pace and the entire expansion
project id due for final completion by early 2003. The steelwork for the
new multipurpose Crombie and Gordon suites have been completed and the
erection of brickwork is now well underway. Once finished, the suites will
have theatre-style capacities of 700 and 685 respectively and 500 each for
banqueting purposes.
The "new" AECC will also boast a spectacular new frontage and atrium,
which will replace the Centre's former glass fronted dome known as the
Trade Centre. The Trade Centre was demolished in February this year and
steel structures are currently being put in place for the new landmark
frontage.
Once all the components of the expansion project are completed, AECC will
house a substantial range of new accommodations, in addition to its
existing 7300 of purpose-built exhibition space and 4,000 free car parking
spaces.
The Centre will offer plenary capacity of up to 2,000 delegates, an
increase in the capacity of its existing auditorium from 300 to 500, plus
a total of 23 new breakout rooms. Additionally, new audiovisual, IT and
catering facilities will ensure that the Centre can offer top quality
support services to complement its new accommodations.
For additional information in the United State contact: Trica Jean-Baptiste
at 212-941-3988 or email at
trica@tricapr.com.
Clan Keith celebrates 1000 years of Clan history in Scotland
The Earl and Countess of Kintore hosted over two hundred members of Clan
Keith Worldwide from the 31st of July to August 4th, 2002. Keiths from the
USA, Canada, New Zealand and Germany as well as the Keith Highland Pipe
Band of Bellevue, Washington attended.
Different sites in the Aberdeen area, significant during the 1000 years of
history of the clan, were visited each day. Over the five-day period, Lord
Kintore and the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band accompanied the celebrants at
each stop from Peterhead to Park Bridge at Drumoak. At Peterhead, founded
by George Keith, the fifth Earl Marischal of Scotland, in 1593, the role
of Keiths in the town's founding and the 2002 visit was marked with the
presentation of "Scroll of Association" to Lord Kintore by Local Authority
Convener, Raymond Bissit.
On a bridge spanning the river Dee near Keith's Muir, Clans Keith and
Irvine ended a 600 year-old feud with the signing of a declaration of
peace by Lord Kintore and The Irvine of Drum. Keith's Muir, was a site
fatal to Keiths during and early raid on Irvine lands.
The dedication of a "Memorial Cairn" established the theme of the
Gathering. The cairn bears the following inscription: "This cairn
celebrates 1000 years of Keith Clan history. Erected by the 13th Earl of
Kintore through subscription from clan members world wide at the Gathering
in 2002 the year of the Queens Golden Jubilee."
The Clan Keith Society USA, Inc., Academic and Celtic Arts Awards were
presented to Adam K. Marshall of Oklahoma and Molly E. Calico of Ohio
respectively at a dinner held in Inverurie Town Hall.
Lord and Lady Kintore hosted a retreat and barbecue at Keith Hall, the
historic seat of the Earls of Kintore. Keiths visited the ruins of
Inveruie Castle, the birthplace of the Last Earl Marischal and Field
Marischal James Keith and were given a guided tour of Marischal College,
also founded by the 5th Earl Marischal in 1593.
No Keith visit to Scotland is complete without a stop at Dunnottar Castle
and Kinneff Church. A retreat was held in the courtyard of Dunnottar with
the Keith Highlanders and Dancers performing.
At Kinneff Church, Lady Diana Holman treated all with an account of how
the "Honors of Scotland" were saved from Cromwell's forces. For his role
in this, "the best known episode in Scottish History" Lady Diana's
ancestor, Sir John Keith, was created Earl of Kintore.
A Scottish weather Saturday greeted us at the Aboyne Games. The climax and
ending of the Gathering came after morning worship at St. Mary's Scottish
Episcopal Church, Inverurie with the conclusion of peace with Clan Irvine
on Park Bridge over the river Dee and the signing of the treaty by all at
the Sunday evening Ceilidh.
Clan members are deeply appreciative of the work and planning of Lord and
Lady Kintore, which made this a "homecoming," that will long be
remembered.
The Pinellas Genealogy Society plans January seminar
On January 25, 2003 in Largo, Florida the Pinellas Genealogy Society will
have it's annual seminar. The featured speaker will be John T. Humphrey.
For more information email
betdac1who@aol.com.
Dallas Genealogical Society to host Humphrey in February
On February 1, 2003 John T. Humphrey will be the featured speaker at the
Dallas Genealogical Society with the subject of "Developing Genealogical
Skills" which is the next lecture in the series.
Go to
http://www.dallasgenealogy.org for details.
The West Valley Genealogical Society plans computer help in February
"Meandering through Colonial North America with your computer," will be
the topic for the West Valley Genealogical Society's annual seminar in Sun
City, Arizona. This event will take place on February 8, 2003.
Write to WVGS, PO Box 1148, Sun City, AZ 85372-1448 for more information.
Diane Van Skiver Gagel to speak in Largo, Florida
On February 13-14, 2003 Diane Van Skiver Gagel will be the keynote speaker
for the Florida Chapter of the Ohio Genealogist in Largo, Florida.
For details contact detdac1who@aol.com.
Ten Southwest family history societies plan England meeting
"Westward Ho! Movement and Migration" will be in Exeter, Devon, England on
April 3-6, 2003. This event is sponsored by 10 Southwest family history
societies. The Federation of Family History Societies will hold their
Annual General Meeting at this event.
For more information about this conference contact: John Hurley,
conference Organiser, 21 Elizabeth Drive, Devizes, Wiltshire, England SN10
3SB, check out the website at
http://www.cornwallfhs.com/who/, or email
hurley@tinyunline.co.uk.
The Georgia Genealogical Society sets March as their 2003 seminar month
On March 1, 2003 a seminar on the British Isles will be given by the
Georgia Genealogical Society in Atlanta, Georgia. This seminar will
feature Sherry Irvine.
Check out the societies website for more information
www.gagensociety.org/calendar_ggs.htm.
Dallas Genealogical Society presents Barbara Vines Little
On April 5, 2003 next lecture in the series "Developing Genealogical
Skills"will take place at the Dallas Genealogial Society. The featured
speaker will be Barbara Vines Little.
Go to
http://www.dallasgenealogy.org for details.
The St. Louis Genealogical Society features Elizabeth Shown Mills
On April 5, 2003 the St. Louis Genealogical Society will feature Elizabeth
Shown Mills in an all day conference with local speakers.
For details go to their website at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mostlogs/STINDEX.htm or email at
stlgsmail@primary.net.
The 29th Annual Quad Cities Genealogical Conference set for April 2003
On April 29, 2003 the 29th Annual Quad Cities Genealogical Conference will
be held in Moline, Illinois. This event is hosted by The Scott County, IA
Genealogical Society and will feature speaker Mark Lowe.
For details contact gemayhew@mchis.com. |
