Frankie Meyer: Great TV series misleads about ease of family discoveries

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March 12, 2010

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Fri Mar 12, 2010, 06:29 PM CST

An exceptional new series is being aired on NBC each Friday night at 7 p.m.

“Who Do You Think You Are” is sure to increase an interest in family history research. It was created by Lisa Kudrow after she saw a similar program in Ireland. In each program a film crew follows a celebrity as he or she travels about the country and learns about ancestors and their lives.

The first person on the program was Sarah Jessica Parker. Last Friday’s program was about Emmitt Smith and his ancestors. Some of the other celebrities who will be in the series are Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Spike Lee and Lisa Kudrow.

During the programs, famous people share their excitement in learning about ancestors and their interactions in our nation’s history.

I love the series. As I watch it, I remember the awe that I have felt each time I have experienced similar events.

When Parker discovered that she had an ancestor who was accused of witchcraft, I vividly recalled my reaction when I discovered that my ancestor Leonard Keyser was burned at the stake in 1527 for following the teachings of Menno Simons, the founder of the Mennonite faith. I have no doubt that family history researchers across the world are having similar reactions to the program.

Although the program is extraordinary, one aspect of it can be misleading. Within an hour’s time, viewers watch the celebrities travel thousands of miles to visit with researchers who show them key documents, books, court records, photographs and similar materials which link them to their ancestors and the historic events which were part of their lives.

Because the program does not address the amount of work and time that the researchers need to hone in on those key resources, viewers may be misled into thinking that such fantastic finds can be done quickly and easily. All it takes is the money to travel to the area where the ancestor lived.

In spite of that caution, I highly recommend the series and look forward to future programs.

On April 13, a community-wide effort is being made to restore the old Ritchey Cemetery, which has not been tended for more than 60 years. The cemetery is one of the oldest in Southwest Missouri. It is located on a hill east of the home where Matthew Ritchey, the town’s founder, lived.

Many of the tombstones are broken and some stones are missing. Lewis Marion, of Ritchey, is coordinating the clean-up of the cemetery and the fund raising effort to build a fence around it.

Gather your rake, chain saw, loppers and clippers for this needed day of work. The work day will start at 10 a.m. at the cemetery.

Individuals interested in helping with the cleanup, donating funds or sharing information can contact Lewis at 417-472-3515. His address is 305 Spring Street, Granby, Mo., 64844-8177.

Suggestions or queries? Send to Frankie Meyer, P.O. Box 731, Joplin, Mo. 64802, or e-mail frankiemeyer@yahoo.com.

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Frankie Meyer: Great TV series misleads about ease of family discoveries

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

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