17 Eylül 2012 Pazartesi

Oldtime EWGS News

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Lola McCreary passed to me a box that had been inpast-president Marvelene Carney's basement for years. The box contained littleblack binders filled with typed or mimeographed notes on the minutes, doingsand history of EWGS for the years  1935(the founding year of EWGS) to 1963. The EWGS publication then was called Tree Talks.  The first issue of Tree Talks, our first EWGS publication, was dated May 1963. 
I gleaned out some tidbits and pearls for you from thoseearly notes:  About 1945:  "The Society has been deeply interestedin the formation of the Friends of the Spokane Library Association. Membersworked individually to promote this idea." AND "The Society shallmaintain a committee to guide beginners in accordance with our aims andpurposes to assist all person who so desire to delve into theirancestry."  AND  "EWGS dues will be$1.00 per year and 50 cents for out-of-town members."  AND  "Many of our EWGS core library waspurchased and donated during these years (1942-1947)."  AND  "By April 1, 1958, over 42,000 indexcards had been created and filed by Lee Patchen."   AND  "Officers in 1944 (today's Boardpositions) were: President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, Recording Secretary, CorrespondingSecretary, Treasurer, Librarian and five Directors." 
Early EWGS programs included:  A Paper on Christian Names Used in EarlyColonial Days of America; Oldest Townsin America;  Jamestown in Virginia;  Settlers of Rhode Island;  Old Style-New Style Calendar;  Migration of Early Settlers of NJ and DE intoPennsylvania;  Educational, Social &Domestic Life in the New Settlements; History of Township 26, North/Northeast of Spokane;  Mechanics of Library Work.
From the minutes:  May 2, 1953…. 5 members and 1 guest were present at themeeting;  31 Jan 1958…. the 24thAnniversary Lunch…. 23 members and guests were present;  between 1949-1959 some 63 new members joined. As of 31 Dec 1947, our bank balance was $2.26;  1 Dec 1951 it was $25.29;  by May 1962 it was $54.65.
In Feb 1959, EWGS committees were: membership,  programs, telephone,  general indexing,  book committee,  genealogy help committee, work committee (towork on the EWGS scrapbooks). Did you realize that in these early days, folks applied for EWGS membership andmight be refused?? Are you asking yourself the same question that occurred tome?  How did so few members with suchsmall funds purchase or acquire such a wonderful large collection of books????
What will EWGS be doing in 2062, some fifty years from now?Do you think there will be an EWGS??
I just HAD to sharethis postcard tucked into the 1959 binder:  "Dear Mr. Burleson: Thank you…. as Secretary of E.W.G.S…. forinforming me of my election (without consent) to be Librarian of the Society.Therefore to you I send my resignation with regret that I am unable to acceptthe honor. Sincerely yours, Ruth C. Austin, Spokane 9 January 1959."

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