All I want for Christmas
Dear Santa,
I know you’re really in a hurry today.
I know we’re almost out of time.
And I know maybe I haven’t been that good this year.
But hey… I’m trying.
(I know. I know. Very trying.)
(C’mon, Santa, I’ve been good enough for those DNA samples and you know it.)
But before I sign off for the holiday, can I just mention one itsy bitsy teeny weeny thing more?
Like all those absolutely wonderful county, local, regional and specialized societies out there without which genealogy would be darned near impossible to do? I mean, seriously, Santa, you can leave a few extra presents on behalf of the entire genealogical community in the stocking of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council, which works so hard on records access to benefit us all, right?
And, Santa, I want to tell you… I’ve had the chance this year to meet folks from a wide variety of smaller genealogical societies and, really, they’re terrific. There aren’t enough complimentary phrases: they’re the cream of the crop, the salt of the earth, the cat’s meow.
I can’t list then all, Santa, but let me just name a few for people to check out…
And just between you and me, Santa, nobody’d mind if you left a few new members in their stockings this Christmas.
Trust me, Santa. They all deserve it… these and so many more:
• San Luis Obispo (Cal.) Genealogical Society
• German Genealogy Group of Long Island (NY)
• Fairfax (Va.) Genealogical Society
• Imperial Polk County (Fla.) Genealogical Society
• Connetquot (NY) Public Library Genealogy Program
• Genealogy Research Group of the Patchogue-Medford (NY) Public Library
• Southern California Genealogical Society
• St. Clair County (Ill.) Genealogical Society
• St. Mary’s County (Md.) Genealogical Society
• Ocean County (NJ) Genealogical Society
• Muscogee County (Ga.) Genealogical Society
• Chicago Genealogical Society
• Genealogical Forum of (Portland) Oregon
• San Mateo County (Cal.) Genealogical Society
• Mt. Vernon (Va.) Genealogical Society
• Genealogical Society of Bergen County (NJ)
• Bucks County (Pa.) Genealogical Society
• Hudson County (NJ) Genealogical & Historical Society
And, Santa, I’d really be remiss if I didn’t mention the very first local genealogy group I ever joined — the Burke County, North Carolina, Genealogical Society, where my Baker, Buchanan, Davenport and Wiseman kin put down roots.
And… oh, Santa, really, I know. I know. You can’t bring new members to all the society stockings yourself.
But how ’bout this? Maybe you could just leave a note in everyone’s stocking reminding us to take a look at all the wonderful groups, amazing people, and terrific resources… right in our own backyards. You can do that, right?
And, oh, Santa?
Merry Christmas.
And thanks for all you do.
Thanks for including us on your list, Judy. We have a wonderful group of volunteers doing large and small things to make the hidden gems in our collection findable, continuing their education in how and where to research, building our collection continually and, best of all, getting to meet great people like yourself! Jeanette Hopkins VP of GFO Portland OR.
GFO deserves to be there, Jeanette — what a wonderful group of folks and that library! WOW!
Since the Legal Genealogist is being awfully needy with Santa these last few days, I hope she won’t mind my giving a plug to MY favorite regional society, the Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library in Lancaster, Virginia–in the beautiful Northern Neck and the cradle of all of civilized Virginia, and birthplace of three Presidents–George Washington, James Madison and James Monroe.
As a volunteer at the genealogy and history arm of this find fine organization, we DO have a dedicated book fund if Santa or his elves are in the Christmas spirit to drop by and visit us wwww.mbwm.org.
The Legal Genealogist will please, in the spirit of Christmas, forgive me for horning in on her dedicated Santa phone line. And I wish her and all others here a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Researching New Year.
If any of you are ever in the Northern Neck, please drop by and see me at the Mary Ball Washington Museum & LIBRARY.
As someone with very deep Virginia roots, I sure don’t mind at all, Craig! Merry Christmas to the Northern Neck-ers, too!
That was certainly a surprise. The Imperial Polk Genealogical Society is very honored to be included in this list. I think I’ll have to get a new flyer made and add “Judy Russell recommended”.
Seriously though, thank you and Merry Christmas!
You absolutely CAN say recommended, Emma! You folks are terrific. Merry Christmas to all!
Thanks so much for the Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society mention, Judy! Have a Merry Christmas!
And thanks to Hudson County for the great job it does! Merry Christmas to all!
Hi, Judy. Many thanks for including the Dallas Genealogical Society in your holiday wish list of Overlooked Gems. We appreciate the shout-out. We are still getting positive comments about your Fall Lecture here in Dallas this past September. Happy Holidays.
The Dallas Genealogical Society definitely is a gem, Carolyn, and I enjoyed every minute of my visit! Happy holidays to all in the Lone Star State!