Happy and Sad

Part of my job as reference librarian is to answer questions about genealogy.  What is genealogy?  Quite simply it is the study of one's family history.  Often people want to know all about their ancestors.  Happily, there is much to be found in the genealogy area of the Morgan County Public Library's main location in Martinsville, Indiana.  We have family correspondence files, census records, obituaries*, cemetery records* and many wonderful books that have a wide variety of information about genealogy and local history.  Much of this wonderful information was pulled together and originally organized by a former library employee who, sadly, passed away on August 1, 2013.  Her name was Phyllis Walker and she worked at the library for many years.  If you remember using the bookmobile in years gone by, perhaps you remember her.  She was responsible for organizing that library service.  As for genealogy, she helped at least 7 families become DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) members.  At the library we have quite an extensive collection of materials in the genealogy area, thanks in no small part to Phyllis.  I see her handwriting almost every day as I help others research their family history.  Phyllis had already paved the way with her exhaustive research of family histories.  Her work makes my job easier.  Thank you, Phyllis, for leaving a solid foundation that helps others research their Morgan County family history.

submitted by Janice K
*The cemetery records and obituary indexes are thanks to the exhaustive work of volunteers, library administrators, and members of the Morgan County History and Genealogy Association.