The Hopkins County Genealogical Society’s Research Library, located inside the Sulphur Springs Public Library at 611 North Davis Street, operates with a vibrant group of volunteers eager to help the public with their research needs. Due to flooring renovations going on in December along with the holiday closure schedule, the doors to the HCGS Research Library will not be open during the final weeks of December. However, a bright new year awaits those who plan to utilize the Research Library and the knowledge and expertise of Society members. Good News! The Research Library will re-open on Monday January 3, 2022. In a press release from the HCGS, the good news is announced and membership application provided. Also, you can reach out to hcgstx.org for details.

We are happy to announce that the installation of the new carpet in our library is complete.  Numerous volunteers donated their time to return the library to its original functioning state.  We will wait until Monday, January 3. 2022, as originally planned, to resume our normal hours of operation.

In the meantime, we have attached the 2022 Membership Renewal form to this email, so that you can take care of that before the first of the year.  Remember, the password for the “Members Only” section of our website will expire on January 31st and you will need to have renewed your membership for 2022 to be given the new password.  We don’t want you to miss out on any announcements, events or new data added to the website.

It is our sincere hope everyone has a safe and blessed Christmas! We look forward to seeing everyone after the New Year!

A free, charity-funded genealogy search service is launching a new probate service and is looking for financial support for the venture. 

Free UK Genealogy is a registered charity dedicated to making historic UK family history records freely accessible online. The current websites, which include FreeBMD, FreeCEN, and FreeREG, provide access to historical records to help people discover their heritage and deepen their connection to the past.

Now the charity is aiming to launch FreePRO; a new searchable database of UK probate records providing the only free-to-access probate index of its kind, searchable by deceased and executor names, date, address, occupation, and more. The charity says it has the potential to unlock a ‘treasure trove of insights for genealogists, academics, solicitors, and heir hunters alike.’

“FreePRO brings together everything our charity stands for: innovation, public access, and the power of community,”

said Denise Colbert, Chief Operating Officer of Free UK Genealogy.

“By backing FreePRO, you’re not just supporting your business’s research potential and visibility; you’re helping thousands of people uncover their stories, connect with their roots, and preserve our shared heritage.”

The websites and content have to date been built by a passionate community of global volunteers, and our commitment to open data ensures that access to this information remains free for all. FreePRO is aiming to raise £40,000 to complete the launch. To access £20,000 in match funding, it must raise £10,000 in pledges by 30 August.

At this stage no money will be taken by the charity… pledges won’t be collected until December, only if Free UK Genealogy hit their full fundraising target.

In return for financial support, Free UK Genealogy can offer:

• High visibility to a niche audience – Over 100 users per minute use the family history platforms. These are people actively researching their past — many of them looking for probate information.
• Strong brand alignment – Reach solicitors, probate professionals, genealogists, and researchers in a trusted, relevant context.
• Support a sector-leading project Be visibly associated with a flagship open data initiative — helping improve public access to information and powering thousands of personal stories.
• Be part of something first – FreePRO will be the most detailed and searchable probate index in the UK.

Visibility Packages for Business Pledgers

Pledge Amount	Your Visibility
£300	Name + link featured on campaign pages, emails and newsletters
£500	Above, plus rotating logo placement on FreeBMD during the campaign
£1,000	Featured partner status — includes long-term visibility on the FreePRO website, spotlight on our socials, and press opportunities
Over £1,000	Contact Free UK Genealogy to discuss further options (ASAP to meet pledge deadline)

The deadline for pledges is the 29th August. More information on pledging can be found on The Big Give page.

The Ozarks Genealogical Society Library in Springfield announced it is closing its building and moving its collection to the Emerson Local History & Genealogy Center in St. Louis.

Reasons for the move, the library explained in an email to its members, is in part due to “an obvious trend that in-person use of our brick and mortar library has diminished as people access genealogy information online.”

OGS, however, will continue to provide free genealogy help through its programs and classes and member opportunities.

Micki Dischinger sat at the small desk in the Ozarks Genealogical Society Library on Aug. 1 watching fellow OGS members pack up books from the shelves into boxes. It was the desk she has sat at every Wednesday and Saturday for more than a decade.

She will no longer be at the library, which will be sold soon. The books and periodicals that lined the shelves are being sent to the Emerson Local History & Genealogy Center in St. Louis.

While the move makes Dischinger sad, she understands the reasons for the change. When she started volunteering at the library she would see three or four people each day. “Now we are lucky to have one person in a week,” she admitted. “There was a time when we would have a whole line of tables here and they would be full.”

One of the main reasons for those changes is the way people access genealogical information today with many increasingly turning to various online sources.

“Before the internet, genealogists were entirely reliant on either in-person visits to the locales where their ancestors lived or the published books that contained abstracted information from important records. Now that we have access to genealogical resources on the internet, our research has shifted,” explained Patti Hobbs, OGS president, in an email explaining the move to members.

While in-person visits to local courthouses and archives are still essential and published books that provide information are not always available online, having the new Ozarks Genealogical Society Collection available through inter-library loan will serve those needs, Hobbs added. Among those resources are probate records, land records, court records, tax records and military records, she explained. “The information abstracted into the books provide a shortcut to the research, particularly when traveling to the location is difficult.”

When OGS opened its library in a former church building on West Catalpa in 1985, it provided those important resources, including abstracts of those records. The building also served as a location for classes and conferences.When it is sold, the proceeds will go toward education and helping people with their genealogy and possibly providing additional database access, things OGS has been unable to do because its funds were devoted to supporting the aging building, Hobbs said.

Joe Fry knows firsthand about the needs and cost of maintaining the library building. An OGS member for 20 years, Fry has done much of that work. As an electrician, he installed the lighting. But he also did basic maintenance for years. He also did a lot of work on research for others. In fact, he is what is known as a “DNA Angel,” helping adoptees find their birth families through DNA and genealogical searches.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the (U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration:

60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act August 6, 2025, marked 60 years since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.  The Voting Rights Act is now on display through August 27, 2025, at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. In addition, visit the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum online to view photos from the signing of this historic piece of legislation. The Voting Rights Act of August 6, 1965. NAID: 299909 President Hoover’s Birthday Born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa, Herbert Hoover would later found the Commission for Relief in Belgium during World War I, serve as Secretary of Commerce, and go on to become the 31st President of the United States. Visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum online to learn more. Herbert Hoover, President of U.S., ca. 1929. NAID: 523744202 Progressing Toward Fully Electronic Records Federal agencies have made important strides in digital records management. About 71 percent of federal agencies reported meeting the deadline for managing their permanent records in an electronic format, according to William Fischer, Acting Chief Records Officer at the National Archives. NARA recently issued a new guide for managing federal records that better accounts for electronic recordkeeping. A researcher views an electronic record in the National Archives Catalog, September 21, 2018. NAID: 493463432

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has officially donated 152 boxes of historical records to Western University, preserving 150 years of local healthcare history in a public archive.

The materials, which date back to the late 1800s, include handwritten letters, photographs, documents, and artifacts from the region's earliest hospitals, such as South Street Hospital, the Beck Sanatorium, and the War Memorial Children's Hospital. They also contain records from Victoria and University Hospitals, and one of the earliest nursing training schools.

"This is a great acquisition for Western," Western archivist Anne Quirk said. "It tells the story of early healthcare in London through training notebooks, photos, correspondence, and even land purchase agreements for the tuberculosis sanatorium."

The donation marks a significant milestone for the hospital network, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

"It's a legacy of healthcare, not just locally, but across our region," said Deborah Wiseman, Vice President of Clinical Services at LHSC. "We were pioneers back in the 1800s, and we're still pioneers today."

The archives include records that were stored at Victoria Hospital and Children's Hospital for decades, often scattered across departments. According to LHSC, clinical librarian Darren Hamilton spearheaded the effort to gather and preserve the material before transferring them to Western's archives and research collection centre.

"There's a lot more to be discovered once we go into the boxes in more detail," said Quirk.

Archivists will now begin the painstaking process of organizing the collection, placing items in acid-free folders, and creating a searchable finding aid. Eventually, elements may be digitized for broader public access. Until then, the collection is available for in-person viewing in Western's reading room.

Items of note include training certificates from the Victoria Hospital School of Nursing dating back to 1883, photographs from tuberculosis sanatoriums, and vintage newsletters such as Vic Life, which in 1958 highlighted updates to the pharmacy department.

The records complement Western's existing holdings on medical history, including documents from the London Psychiatric Hospital and the London Regional Cancer Centre.

For Londoners curious to see some of the history now, a curated exhibit of LHSC's 150th anniversary is on display at the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame at 100 Kellogg Lane.

Part of the AmericanaFest lineup, this Lunch and Learn panel delves into the fascinating world of acquiring, preserving, and showcasing music related artifacts at museums, exhibits, and libraries. The discussion offers valuable insights into the multifaceted roles of collectors, curators, and archivists along with providing insights into building your own personal collection. Each panelist will share their perspectives and experiences so that anyone can learn how to create a new collection and donate to an existing institution. For scholars, educators, or individuals that have collections of their own, they'll get a chance to hear ways to utilize their collections for creative exhibits and future collaborations. Panelists include Dom Flemons, Vania Kinard, Holling Smith-Borne, Dr. Bryan Pierce and Tranae Chatman.

RSVP on Eventbrite

This Lunch and Learn event is in-person in the Museum's Digital Learning Center at 12:00 p.m. No RSVPs are required to attend this free event. It will also be livestreamed on the Museum's website at TNMuseum.org/Videos. If you have any questions, please email Public.Programs@tn.gov. Boxed lunches made by Apple Spice Nashville are available for purchase for $12.24 to enjoy during the event. The lunches will include a sandwich, chips, and a cookie. Lunch orders must be placed by noon on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Please order your boxed lunch on the ticket registration page.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who hasn’t tested yet to discover the power of DNA. MyHeritage offers a unique combination of global reach and powerful tools: A detailed ethnicity breakdown across 79 ethnicities and 2,114 geographic regions A growing international DNA database with over 9 million users Advanced DNA tools that can help you understand how your matches are related to you Ancient Origins, a unique feature that allows you to trace your origins back 10,000 years and discover the ancient civilizations you descend from *Note that access to the advanced DNA tools and Ancient Origins is available as part of a Complete or Omni subscription or free trial.

The following is a press release written by the folks at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies:

FORT WAYNE, IN (August 6, 2025) – Visit Fort Wayne is excited to welcome the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) to Fort Wayne for their 2025 Annual Conference, August 10 – 14 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Most recently held in Philadelphia in 2024 and London, England in 2023, the group comes to Fort Wayne with an expected 1,000 attendees.  Registration is still open and IAJGS invites anyone interested in Jewish genealogy to sign up for the educational conference “to learn, to research, and most importantly, to share.” The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library is world-renowned for its physical collection of genealogical items as well as its professional Genealogists on staff, led by Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections and former president of both the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Genealogical Society (NGS), and the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society. This asset in the Fort Wayne Community was the linchpin to hosting this highly acclaimed conference here in our city. “IAJGS is no stranger to the Genealogy Center at ACPL with its global status and reputation, so presenting the complete package with the award-winning hosting capabilities at the Grand Wayne Convention Center made a strong case for bringing their 2025 event to Fort Wayne,” said Josie O’Donnell, Senior Sales Manager at Visit Fort Wayne, who started talks with the organization in 2021 to secure this year’s conference.  Special thanks to the local Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogist Society (NEIJGS) Chapter with representative Irv Adler, who was instrumental in bringing this event to Fort Wayne. Adler says, "Embark on a transformative journey at the 45th IAJGS International Jewish Genealogy Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the past comes alive. Delve into the rich tapestry of your ancestry, gain exclusive insights from world-renowned experts, and connect with a dynamic community dedicated to preserving the legacy of Jewish heritage. This is your chance to turn curiosity into discovery and stories into treasured memories."  Keynote Speaker CeCe Moore - Sunday, August 10: 7:00PM - 9:00PM The 2025 keynote speaker will be CeCe Moore, a prominent American genetic genealogist, most recently known for her work on Finding Your Roots. Moore is also recognized for assisting law enforcement agencies in over 300 cold cases of high-profile human identification cases using DNA and genetic genealogy — even helping to solve the local April Tinsley case in 2018, 30 years after the homicide. The public is welcome to attend and can find tickets here. Advanced ticket sales are required. Ticket sales will end at 9:00PM on August 8. There will be no tickets sales at the door.  Learn more and sign up for the conference at IAJGS2025.org.

A cold case, involving the death of a 4-year-old boy with ties to the Philadelphia area, may now be solved after five decades.

Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, say genetic testing has identified the body of Carl Matthew Bryant.

A cold case, involving the death of a 4-year-old boy with ties to our area, may now be solved after five decades.

On June 13, 1972, the little boy's body was found under a bridge in Lorton, Virginia, according to Fairfax County police. The boy was was labeled a John Doe.

It was determined that he died from blunt force trauma and the case was ruled a homicide, police said.

For over 50 years, police worked to find his name and what caused his tragic murder.

Authorities said the breakthrough came thanks to genetic genealogy, which uses an unknown person's DNA to trace his or her family tree. His DNA profile was obtained from just a few millimeters of hair, police said, and then genetic genealogy helped detectives track the little boy's family to Philadelphia.

Through a relative, detectives zeroed in on Vera Bryant as the mother, police said.

In June 1972, detectives say Vera and her boyfriend James Hedgepeth -- who was a convicted murderer -- were traveling from Philadelphia to Hedgepeth's relatives in Middlesex County, Virginia, with Carl and his six-month-old brother.

However, when the couple arrived, they didn't have her sons with them, police said.

Then, over Thanksgiving in 1972, when the couple visited Vera Bryant's family in Philadelphia, Vera allegedly told them the children were in Virginia with Hedgepeth's family, police said. The couple never reported the boys missing, police added.

Vera died in 1980; her body was exhumed and DNA confirmed she was Carl's mom, police said. Hedgepeth has also since died.

Although Carl has a name, police are now searching for his little brother, James Bryant.

James has never been found.

Detectives believe the missing baby was killed around the same time as his older brother, police said.

At a news conference on Monday, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis praised the detectives who did the "hard work" to identify Carl.

"You still knock on doors, you still talk to family members, you still talk to potential witnesses," Davis said. He also highlighted the power of genetic genealogy, which he said allows the department to "bring closure far, far more often than we ever have."

"To see the extent of that boy's injuries and what he had suffered through, I'm happy to be here today announcing that at least we've identified him," detective Melissa Wallace added. "He can have his name, we can get him his name back on his gravestone and the family can have some semblance of closure or resolution."

The homicide investigation is ongoing. The Fairfax County Police Department urges anyone with information to call its Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2.

The Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society will host its first-ever conference in September.

The Williamsburg Area Genealogy Society will host its first genealogy conference, “Discovering Your Ancestry Can Be Revolutionary,” Sept. 20 at the Reserve at Williamsburg Clubhouse.

After becoming a nonprofit this past spring, the WAGS team decided that the community was ready for a genealogy conference.

“Our theme is Discovering Your Ancestors Can be Revolutionary.  As we are into the America 250! celebration, and there is perhaps greater interest in finding your ancestors, we thought this might be a great time to share resources, to learn about what work is being done in this community, to share ideas and help others with their own journey of finding their ancestors,” Debbie Misiag, president of WAGS, shared.

Multiple sessions are planned for the conference. William & Mary will present a panel discussion about the school’s research into The Bray School. There will also be a presentation on updates to Ancestry.com, a beginner class, a discussion on planning research trips and more.

The WAGS team has also booked a keynote speaker. Stuart Butler, a retired archivist from the National Archives, will discuss resources that the D.C.-based archives have available.

“We are excited to share our organization with the greater community of Williamsburg.  We have members just starting their genealogy journey, and some that have been doing research for 20 or more years. What we do have is fun, interesting and caring members that support each other on their journeys to find their ancestors and to break down ‘brick walls.’ We love to celebrate a member who has found something they have been looking for for quite a while. It makes us all happy. I am proud to be a part of this group as we share our ideas, research strategies, new resources and knowledge with each other. We all have grown in our skills and our friendships,” Misiag shared.

The event will also feature vendors and lunch is included with the $60 registration fee.

Registration for the conference is open to the public and is ongoing until all 70 spots are filled or Sept. 1. For more information, visit wagsva.org/2025-wags-conference.