Family History Conference 2013

With all the comings and goings of a major snowstorm, two religious holidays, and, maybe, somewhere on the horizon, warm weather (surely sometime soon?), it's easy to forget that in just a few weeks, it will be time for the annual Family History Conference "Research, Records, and Repositories." This year's featured speaker, Claire Bettag, brings us a wealth of knowledge about major repositories and research techniques. She will be joined by some great local speakers and a full house of vendors. You really want to be part of this exciting day's event!

Early registration ends on the 6th of April. Of course, you can still register after that, but you will save some money and help us in our planning by registering early. Lots more information and a registration form on our website: www.stlgs.org.

Got Books?

For many years, StLGS has operated a used book area called the Trading Post in our office lobby. Filling the shelves of the Trading Post is dependent on donations, and those are especially important in the months before the annual Family History Conference. As many of you know, the Trading Post usually has a room full of treasures at that annual event.

At this time, our supply of books is quite low. We welcome gently used copies of books of historical and/or genealogical interest for the Trading Post. (Please, no journals.) Go to the Trading Post page on our website <http://tinyurl.com/a5xwjpx> for specific donation guidelines, and thank you for your generosity.

New Exhibit at Landmarks St. Louis

Did you ever wonder why the Campbell House Museum seems to sit alone in mid-St. Louis? It wasn't always that way. It once was the center of a thriving neighborhood called Lucas Place, and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis is ready to share a beautiful new exhibit focusing on their neighborhood with the public.

"Lucas Place: Lost Neighborhood of St. Louis's Gilded Age" will open with a reception on Friday, 22 March at 5:30 p.m. at the Landmarks Association office, 911 Washington Avenue, Suite 170. The exhibit will stay open during regular Landmarks office hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, until July.

The Landmarks press release states, "The exhibit will explore the history, people, and buildings associated with St. Louis's premier residential neighborhood of the mid-nineteenth century. Located between 13th and 16th Streets along what is now Locust, Lucas Place was once populated by some of St. Louis's most renowned families and citizens. Its success was short-lived, however, as rapid commercial and industrial development surrounded the street and residents departed for new residential districts farther from St. Louis's commercial core. Today, the Campbell House Museum is all that remains of this once elegant and fascinating neighborhood."

Landmarks is also planning a series of lectures on lost neighborhoods of St. Louis in April and May. More news on those lectures to come . . .

Questions: Andrew Weil at Landmarks: aweil@landmarks-stl.org
Website with more information: www.landmarks-stl.org

StLGS Trivia Night: Friday, 8 March

Our fourth annual Trivia Night is right around the corner. It's not too late to register for a table or an individual space or two. Once again, we will be at the Maryland Heights Centre, 2344 McKelvey Road, just west of I-270 and north of Dorsett Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the action starts at 7:00 p.m.

This is always such a fun-filled event! One of our members, Judi Donahue, will be this year's trivia hostess. Judi has prepared a wide variety of questions on many topics and is prepared to both challenge you and make you smile. In addition to the trivia questions, there will be  a silent auction with awesome baskets of goodies, and several special games, such as "Heads or Tails," "Dead or Alive," and "50/50." We will provide soft drinks and light snacks, and you are welcome to bring whatever food and drink you like for your table.

Prices for this evening are $120 for a table of eight or $15 per individual. There is plenty of space, and, of course, we will help you find some new friends for the night, if you don't have a complete table or just want to come by yourself.

Click here to register on our website. Directions to the Maryland Heights Centre and a map are there too. If you have any questions or want to register via telephone, you can call the office this week on Tuesday or Thursday from 9 a.m. till noon at 314-647-8547.

Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, and the Civil War

Sound interesting? If you have some free time this evening, you might want to head downtown to the beautiful new auditorium in the lower level of the Central Library to enjoy veteran performer, Dave Ehlert as he portrays Lincoln and Twain in a live theatrical production. Discover how a Union president and a Confederate deserter fought against slavery and racism during the Civil War. To register or for more information, send an e-mail to Tom Pearson at <tpearson@slpl.org>.

In Memoriam, Skip Rogers, 1929-2013

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of long-time volunteer and friend of StLGS, Edward M. "Skip" Rogers. For more than twenty-five years, Skip worked for the society as office manager, printer, and data entry volunteer. He had endless energy for collecting records from cemeteries and churches, often going on site to copy information. He indexed and proofread thousands of records at home and in the office. He was ever solicitous of those of us who worked in the office, coming in for classes and special events to help set up, staying late to make sure we all got out safely. Even in the past year, when his health was failing, he had his wife, Norma, bring him into the office as often as he could. Our hearts go out to Norma and to their son, Stephen. We will miss Skip very much. (Look for more in the March issue of News 'n Notes.)

Finding Your Ancestors at the Mo. History Museum Library & Research Center

Looking for something unique in St. Louis records? The Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center may have just what you need. Join associate archivist, Dennis Northcott, for an entertaining and informative look at the genealogical treasures stored at the L&R Center.

Dennis will talk about the repository and its fascinating contents on Wednesday, 6 February from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Kirkwood Public Library, 140 East Jefferson Ave., Kirkwood, Mo.

The L&R Center has city directories, military records, company newsletters, school yearbooks, historic photographs, and newspapers, as well as extensive business records for St. Louis. Dennis will walk you through what you can find there, the ins and outs of doing on site research there, and how to get the most from the L&R's website. The workshop is open to all and is free. No pre-registration required.

For directions to the library, click here: http://kpl.lib.mo.us.

For more information on the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center, click here: http://www.mohistory.org/lrc-home.