Jo Ann Evans and Terry Babcock
Dian Darr
Our Robson Ranch Genealogy Club has had a busy March and April. Club President Terry Babcock and Treasurer Jo Ann Evans were among several members who represented our group at the Club Fair held on March 9. They visited with many potential genealogists as they answered questions and explained the enjoyment of tracing our ancestors and closing the gap between the past and the present.
On March 16 several members traveled to Waco for an intensive, all-day workshop on finding our ancestors’ military records. Speakers focused on techniques for discovering family members who took part in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.
Continuing our emphasis on military records, member Emily Richardson presented the March 19 meeting on Fold3, the site owned by Ancestry.com, which has military records, photos, and personal documents of our veterans. She shared techniques to help us all navigate the site, and she followed her presentation with a question-and-answer session.
On April 2 Patti Smith Williams gave an enjoyable talk entitled “Sentimental Journey: A Trip Down Memory Lane—Finding Your Ancestors’ War Records.” Her presentation focused on two young girls after their father left for World War II. They learned lessons of hope and healing by discovering their family story. And on April 16 we learned about death records during an informative talk by Patti Gillespie.
If you are interested in discovering your family heritage and tracing your ancestors, please join us for our upcoming programs. We meet the first and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the CATC, Room 104. On May 7 genealogist Bernard Meisner’s program will reveal “Gems in a Civil War Pension.” After the Civil War, almost one-third of the elderly population applied for a pension. We will learn more about finding a wealth of information in these documents. And on May 21 Emily Richardson will tell us more about collateral research and DNA. She will show us how collateral research, using family information, can offer insight into migration patterns, marriages, cemeteries, and naming patterns as the family expands across generations. Our Help Session for the month will be on Monday, May 13, at 2 p.m. in the CATC, Room 104. Club members experienced in genealogy will be available to answer questions and help members break down those brick walls they have encountered in their research.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the Robson Ranch Genealogy Club, please contact us at [email protected].