I just finished with my cemetery research trip to Kentucky and Alabama, where some of my ancestors lived and died. Being the professional organizer that I am, I planned the trip fairly extensively, down to the GPS coordinates of the cemeteries I was planning to visit. I worked up a schedule and made hotel reservations. My intention was to visit four cemeteries in three cities over two and a half days. I needed to end up in Nashville mid-afternoon of the third day for a conference.
On Day One, I realized that my plan was flawed. And I was so glad that I had the flexibility to change it. What I hadn’t done in all my planning was to build time in to look at local genealogy repositories for resources that might not be available to me on the internet. When I discovered that there was a Kentucky Room in a public library in Owensboro, Kentucky, 45 minutes north of where I was, I chose to stay and do research, rather than proceeding to Alabama as I’d originally planned.
That extra time in the Kentucky Room garnered me a death certificate on microfilm for my great great great grandmother, Elizabeth McEuen (that’s her grave marker in the photo), which in turn gave me her parents’ names.
The next day I proceeded to Baileyton, Alabama, where I had no trouble locating the grave markers of my great great grandparents, Laban and Margaret Rasco, and Laban’s parents, Jesse and Martha Rasco. When an internet search revealed a genealogy room at the library of Wayne Wallace State University, in Hanceville, Alabama, I decided to stay in northern Alabama and forgo my trip south to Marion Junction, Alabama, to visit another cemetery. I chose library research over cemetery research. This also saved me a few hours of driving in each direction.
I think it was a good decision. At the Wayne State library, the helpful librarians quickly identified Laban Rasco’s death certificate on microfilm and, in addition, they located his Confederate pension application, a 15-page document that I am looking forward to poring over.
I’m so glad I took this trip. Stepping away from the desk can be so beneficial. To stand in front of the graves of my ancestors was so powerful. To see the towns in which they lived helped me see them as humans. And talking with local people who knew my family’s surnames, brought my ancestors to life for me. One of the librarians in Hanceville, it turns out, grew up next to my family’s homestead. Making that connection with her was priceless. A week or two after I got home, to my delight, that librarian mailed me a copy of the death certificate for Laban’s wife, Margaret Elizabeth Dye!
Thanks to a blog reader, I called ahead to the church associated with one of the cemeteries and was connected to a wonderful local historian who went out of his way to help me and even met me at the cemetery. The trip couldn’t have gone better. And I learned a valuable lesson: When on a genealogy trip, keep my schedule loose and flexible so I can take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.
Janine, I spotted your timely post this morning and snarfed it up like a famished, thirsty vagabond, stranded too long in the desert. I’m on the verge of a genealogical research trip, myself–a big one this time–and like you, have done my due diligence in organizing every moment. And yet, after working at the micro-management for nearly a year now, I’m terror-struck at the thought of not finding anything. Your reminder to be flexible is the salve I needed.
Jacqui, good luck on your research trip!! I’m so glad you found this blog post helpful. My big advice is to leave yourself open to options that aren’t on your carefully made plan. And even if you don’t find exactly what you seek, I know you’ll find some amazing things!
Your evocative comment made my day.
It’s been over a decade since my last genealogy trip. I’ve been to CA, MA, CT, IA, IN, IL, KY, TN, and the Family History Library in SLC (a few times)…oh, the memories! Then I hit a bunch of brick walls and gave it up for awhile. My newly resumed research has not yielded any new, firm leads as of yet, but your posts remind me how much I miss it!
Thanks for your comment, Hazel! I hope that you get some great new leads and are able to hit the road again! It’s so much fun.
Janine, Your trip certainly was successful! I’ve often found genealogy rooms in small local libraries in places I would never think to look. You are right – getting a local perspective on your family’s history can be so enlightening. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for your comment, Lisa! The genealogy room in small local libraries is indeed an amazing find. The vertical file at the Alabama library I went to had all sorts of info on my family. I even found my own name in there. Amazing. Thanks for the encouragement to keep looking for those! I just checked out your blog and really enjoyed it.
I am heading to Kentucky in 2 weeks to do some research in Breathitt, Madison, and Owen counties in particular. I am very glad to learn of the Owensboro public library room. I am not as organized in my trip, but have a longer time frame, 3 weeks. I hope to find answers to some of my brick wall questions which have been around since my grandfather, Wilgus Bach, was doing research in the 1930’s, and my mother, Stella Duncan Bach tried to solve up until 1980.
What a fun trip! I’m excited for you. I’d encourage you to spend a little time looking for local libraries and historical societies that you might visit, as well as cemeteries, of course. If you have time, the Kentucky State Archives research room in Frankfort is also well worth a visit. (http://kdla.ky.gov/researchers/Pages/visitingthearchives.aspx) I went there as a side trip when my husband took a leisure trip on the Bourbon Trail a month after my research trip. Have a great trip!
Thank you for that link! And the suggestions. I am including cemeteries for sure. My person whose parents we can’t find, was born in Madison County in 1818, so finding her parents has been a challenge. I think the Madison historical society may be a help, and possibly old newspapers.
You’re welcome! After I posted that comment, I saw that on June 24 there will be a Kentucky Ancestors Town Hall organized by the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort. Just in case you’re near there and want to attend: http://history.ky.gov/event/kentucky-ancestors-town-hall/. Have a great trip. You’re making me want to hit the road.
I also found a conference in Owensboro June 22-25! Thank you for the tip about Frankfort
town hall! They overlap, naturally…
Hi Janine, I’m glad you enjoyed your visit in Hanceville, Alabama. Can you update the institution name to Wallace State, not Wayne State? Robert Davis is the wizard who has put the genealogy resources together there. Thank you.
Joan, thank you so much for commenting and for pointing out my error. I’m really embarrassed and I apologize. I made the change in the post. Thanks very much to Robert Davis for creating such a wonderful genealogy center at Wallace State!