I had a call the other day from someone who said she can’t come to our our special heritage event From Hudson’s Bay to Downton Abbey on August 16. But she wanted to let me know that she was writing a check to the DuPont Historical Museum anyway because she believes our small museums are so important. You don’t even have to do that, just plan to be with us next Saturday, August 16, (with lots of surprises, prizes, and a free lunch) all for the benefit of the Dupont Historical Museum.
Dee Haviland Fournier, our presenter, reminds us to think of ourselves as Genealogy Detectives, because you never know when you’ll find a fact that changes the way you look at your whole family.
A couple of more tips from Dee: Don’t get locked into the mega sites online (like Ancestry.com). There are many resources that may yield a new look.
Recheck family traditions. What stories do you know about your family’s arrival in this country. Did they come in at Ellis Island? Or were they residents before the boats began to arrive? I knew that my Mother’s family lived in the teeny town of Warland, MT which only existed because of the Great Northern Railroad. Hard to believe a sophisticated girl like me could come from such small town, isn’t it?
Check newspaper obituaries. It’s a legend in our family that my Cousin Lou, a master railroad man, replaced the railroad tracks that Lawrence of Arabia blew up. How do you prove that? A newspaper search quickly yielded Cousin Lou’s obituary, and, at least, a confirmation that at the time he died, it was widely accepted that he had accomplished that feat.
At our workshop, From Hudson’s Bay to Downton Abbey, participants will receive complete handouts with websites and other sources to find the information you need. There will also be a follow up, trouble shooting workshop, a month after the initial workshop.
Join Dee and me, Nancy Covert and Reenactor Synthia Santos, for an exciting and interesting day – and a free lunch. Remember there are also TWO free concerts, and a free ice cream social, and a chance to tour a historic company home.
Pre-register by phone (and pay at the door) at 253-582-4565 or online Dorothy@itsnevertoolate.com or send a check for $10 to the DuPont Historical Museum Send check for Ten Dollars to DuPont Historical Museum, 207 Barksdale Avenue DuPont, WA 98327. All proceeds go to benefit the museum.
