By Frankie Meyer
Globe Columnist
JOPLIN, Mo. —
Have you been researching your family history for several years? If so, you probably have numerous file cabinets (or boxes) of unique maps, land records, letters, marriage records, birth records, death records and similar items. You also have scores of marvelous old photographs of ancestors and relatives -- and the areas where they lived.
What will happen to the material after you are gone? This is a question that you need to think about and discuss with friends and family.
Do you know someone who would appreciate your collection? Does that person have room for the collection? Can you depend on that person and his or her family to take care of it and share it with others? Have you asked that person if he or she is interested?
If you don’t know someone who would cherish your collection, contact organizations in the regions that are included in your research. Check with museums, genealogical societies, historical societies, county libraries, city libraries, county record centers and state archives.
Do you have an extensive collection that pertains to the Civil War? One of the largest depositories of documents and books about the Civil War west of the Mississippi is the Hulston Library at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Park, located near Springfield.
If your collection pertains to families who lived along the border between Kansas and Missouri, check with the staff at Fort Scott National Historic Site at Fort Scott, Kan. If your materials pertain to families who lived in Arkansas during the war, check with the staff at Prairie Grove National Battlefield Park, Pea Ridge National Battlefield Park or a similar site in that state.
After you have narrowed your choices to two or three organizations, visit them if possible. Check to determine if the sites have adequate space for your collection.
Could all of your hard work end up in storage or be discarded? During your visit, talk with the staff and assess their sincerity and determination to preserve collections while still making them available for researchers to use.
Patricia Trolinger, historian for the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma, exhibited that high level of sincerity and determination. I was honored to meet and visit with the special lady at several genealogical and historical conferences. She died last week. Her hard work in preserving tribal history will continue to be appreciated by future generations.
Civil War program
Mark your calendar for Oct. 9. On that date, I will give a free program titled “How to Find Your Civil War Ancestor” at the Carthage Public Library. The first session is at 10 a.m.; the program will be repeated at 1 p.m.
To register, contact the Powers Museum at 417-237-0456. See you there.
Suggestions or queries? Send to Frankie Meyer, P.O. Box 731, Joplin, MO 64801, or contact: frankiemeyer@yahoo.com.
