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Great genealogy gifts By JUDY FOWLER KILGORE Since it’s the end of the year, renewal notices for the various genealogy societies to which I belong have been coming in since November. As I was writing checks, it dawned on me what a great gift membership in these groups would make — either for yourself or for a special genealogy friend. Membership is not that expensive ($10-$30) and most societies publish a quarterly newsletter with much area-specific information. Although you may not be able to participate as an active member, your dues help keep the societies going and the newsletters are extremely helpful in your research. You will find information in these newsletters you may not find anywhere else, except in a book, loose file, or on microfilm in that particular society’s library. But, if you live in Georgia and the society is in South Carolina, it makes it a bit difficult to run down the street to the library and look things up. Newsletters bridge the gap. Even if you live on the southside of Atlanta and the society is in extreme north or south Georgia, research at the originating facility is not always easy. And so ... we have genealogy societies to help us out. I’m going to give you just a few here which have been helpful to me in my research. To find others, you might check out the specific county on the Georgia GenWeb online, to see if there is a genealogical or historical society in your area of research. The granddaddy of all genealogy societies in Georgia is, of course, the Georgia Genealogical Society (GGS) which has its home base at the Georgia Archives (used to be downtown, now in Morrow). Among its members you will find the names of some of the “big guys” in genealogy — those whose names appear as authors of many genealogy books. Its quarterly newsletter is awesome and is edited by none other than Fayetteville’s own Nathan Mathews. The most recent quarterly contains a real treat for Fayette folks, as Nathan transcribed the minutes of the Fayetteville Baptist Church (1851-1866) and John and Susan Sloan contributed the Bible records of Benjamin Harper who is buried at Bethany Methodist Church in north Fayette. The GGS sponsors seminars and lectures throughout the year. Membership is $30 per year for individuals or $35 for couples and is well worth it. For information or to join, send dues to The Georgia Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 54575, Atlanta, GA, 30308-0575. Fayette County has a historical society and members maintain a research library in Fayetteville with an awesome Civil War research section. They also have many of the original Fayette court record books. They do not publish a newsletter but meet the third Sunday of each month. Dues are $10 per individual. For information or to join, send dues to the Fayette County Historical Society, P.O. Box 421, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Coweta also has a great genealogical society and a terrific newsletter. Members also maintain an absolutely awesome research facility in Grantville. This facility is so chock full of information and resources it defies description. If you haven’t been there — go! Membership is $18 per individual or $21 per family. For information or to join, send dues to the Coweta County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1014, Newnan, GA 30264-1014. Old Campbell County sports a historical society, museum and research facility in Fairburn. The research facility has recently been revamped and is now open each Tuesday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Members publish a quarterly newsletter with Campbell-specific information and meet monthly on the third Sunday. Meetings include various historical topics and are most enjoyable. Membership is $15 for individuals and $25 for member and spouse. Send dues to OCCHS, P.O. Box 432, Fairburn, GA 30213. Carroll County has another great genealogical society and publishes an unbelievable newsletter. It contains so many varied topics it’s hard to describe. Many newspaper reports are included each month. Members also maintain a research room and special collections within the Neva Lomason public library in Carrollton. They, too, are unbelievable. Membership is $20 for individual or family. Write to Carroll County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 576, Carrollton, GA 30112. Others to which I belong are the Gwinnett County Historical Society and the East Georgia Genealogical Society. Gwinnett publishes an excellent newsletter and has many publications available for sale. Dues are $25 per individual and $35 per family. Send to Gwinnett County Historical Society, P.O. Box 261, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The East Georgia Genealogical Society covers research in the counties of Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Franklin, Glascock, Greene, Gwinnett, Hancock, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Rockdale, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren and Wilkes. Their newsletter is superb. Dues are $18 per individual or $23 per family. Send to East Georgia Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 117, Winder, GA 30680-0117. I also belong to a couple of surname-specific groups and intend to join more societies. I love getting those newsletters. Why not include membership in some of these groups on your Christmas gift list? Your genealogy friends will love you for it and the societies will be grateful for your support. Your letters about genealogy and info on your Atlanta metro families are always welcome. Send letters to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. Until next week, happy hunting! (Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others.)
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