Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

President: Walter P. Johnson				B U L L E T I N     NO. 1
Vice President: M.O. Zimmerman
Secretary: Lou Reid Landreth
Treasurer: Mildred Torney

Vol. 1, No. 1		P.O. BOX 817, Sparta, N.C. 28675		November 1979

From the President…
	Congratulations to the charter members, officers and friends of the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.  YOU made it happen!  Your vision, faith and loyal support made the first year of the Society meaningful and successful.
	Since the Society was instituted in August 1978, it has been effectively organized and chartered.  Since its beginning significant process has been made as plans and programs emerge.  Here are some of the highlights of the Society’s first year’s activities:
·	Growth in membership which today numbers 88.
·	High level of interest in programs and attendance at regular monthly meetings.
·	Splendid publicity given by local media—The Alleghany News, The Blue Ridge Sun and Radio Station WCOK.
·	Genealogy classes sponsored by Wilkes Community College
·	Special programs given by History Professor Jay J. Anderson and Genealogist Mrs. W.O. Absher, both of Wilkes Community College.
·	Survey of private and public cemeteries in Alleghany County.
·	The Incorporation of the society by the Secretary of State of North Carolina.
·	AND, very importantly, the beginning of this Bulletin.
Yes, the first year of the Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc. is noteworthy in tis many achievements.  Now we can push on to greater things as we discover, record and preserve the history of the people of Alleghany.  By working together we will add to our successful beginning.  Thanks to each of you for your most commendable attitude toward and your support of the Society’s elected officers.  Our combined efforts will ensure our success.

NOW for a few details:

	From the first gathering of a few interested persons, there have been 13 meetings as of October 28.  Our second year will officially begin January 1, 1980 and we will be on a calendar-year basis.  This will simplify the payment of dues, terms of office, and the tax deductible period.
During this year we have become a stronger cohesive group which contains nine standing committees chaired by interested members who are dedicated to the purposes of our Society; i.e. to gather and preserve true history and historical items of our county.   

The members should be aware of the working committees and of the need for workers within these committees; therefore, we are listing each committee, its chairman and its aims and responsibilities.

LIBRARY- Mrs. Pauline Jolly- responsible for collecting, cataloging, the care, arrangement and repair of books, manuscripts, family genealogy binders/books, newspapers, films and other historical material which will be housed in the library.

MUSEUM- Roy H. Crouse- responsible for searching for and obtaining through wills deeds or by gift, all objects of historic importance objects.  Any items unique to this county should be kept here for a future museum.  Documents, letters, libraries of prominent families should be obtained as well as valuable artifacts, art, and meaningful items contemporary way of life.  Eventually to arrange museum exhibits and interpret the items on exhibit, and for the care and upkeep of museum quarters.  

PUBLICITY- Mrs. Irene R. Wagner- responsible for placing items or announcements in newspapers and on radio about the Society’s activities and in general promoting the public’s education about the Society to interest new members, to promote support of contributors who will give financial aid, items for the museum, items for our library collection, and moral support to the Society.  To stage radio and television programs if and when possible or desirable.  

HISTORY- Miss Mildred Taylor- responsible for the gathering of details of fact which will make true and comprehensive history, good or bad, of how and what and who made Alleghany what it is.  NOTE: Since the county has a Historical Sites Committee working on preservation of historic sites, that aspect of history will not be included as part of our history responsibility.

MEMBERSHIP- Mrs. Maude Andres- responsible for membership drives or other methods of pursuing the expansion of our membership, and for processing the new candidates: get full mailing address and phone number for contact; see that dated receipt is given for payment of membership dues.  To monitor attendance and contact members who are not attending and who are not paying their dues.

NOMINATIONS- Beulah Crouse- responsible for making nominations for officers and members of the board of directors in keeping with the By-Laws of the Society.

GENEALOGY- Mrs. Lorene Sturgill- responsible for general direction of all Society actives relative to genealogy, the development of educational programs and ways of assisting on the subject of genealogy those who are searching for their roots.  Special attention should be given to genealogy records maintained in the library and adding reference materials, particularly marriage records, wills, deeds, census, etc.

CEMETERY- Mrs. Elvira Crouse- responsible for the pursuit of our program to inventory all cemeteries in the county, to coordinate the work of the many volunteers and helpers in various areas, and to accumulate final results and develop a form or system for best displaying and preserving the records of this research.

As our President mentioned, we have recently become incorporated as a non-profit organization.  We are officially known as the ALLEGHANY HISTORICAL- GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.  Some of the reasons incorporation was deemed desirable are:

a.	The Society becomes a legal entity and the individual members are immune from liability.
b.	The Society now enjoys perpetual existence, which is important to collecting and holding title to historical materials so that they do not fall into private hands if the Society should dissolve.
c.	The legal tax-exempt status is important to benefactors and is helpful in obtaining contributions.
d.	Membership dues, as well as contributions, are tax-deductible.
e.	The prestige of the State recognition of our Society.

HISTORY IS DISTORTED BY OMISSION

	Because it seemed most urgent, we have concentrated on a survey of all cemeteries in the county before more of the old family cemeteries might disappear entirely.  A form was prepared for gathering uniform information from grave stones.  We have a list of most cemeteries in the county which includes approximate location and road number for finding each.

	No one knows all of the old family graveyards and for this reason we ask that members talk with older residents in each community and try to find out about any hidden or disappearing grave sites which otherwise would not be recorded for history.  We strive to be thorough in our search and to be as accurate as available information permits.  

	Because Alleghany is behind in collecting basic facts to feed into the State records and systems in Raleigh, we feel that our organization has a real challenge in helping to rectify this situation.

While on the subject of cemeteries, we’d like to mention the co-chairman for the various townships: CHERRY LANE, Mrs. Pauline Jolly and Mrs. John Norman; CRANBERRY, Mr. Van Miller and Mrs. Elizabeth Moxely; GAP CIVIL, Mrs. Mary Ruth Andrews and Mrs. Hazel Cooper; PINEY CREEK, Mrs. Lorene Sturgill and Mrs. June Zimmerman; PRATHERS CREEK, Mrs. Linda Absher and Mrs. Thelma Woodie; WHITEHEAD, Mrs. Elvira Crouse and Mrs. Irene Wagner.  Our thanks to these and all the other workers in this important effort.  Also a reminder that we need more workers in all locations.

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AIDS AVAILABLE

	Four important hard-cover books have been donated to us:

		State Census of N.C. 1784-1787- from Mrs. Mildred Torney
		Marriage Records of N.C. & S.C.,
		Beginning to Civil War - from Mr. & Mrs. Walter P. Johnson
		An Abstract of N.C. Wills from 1760.1800 - from Mrs. A.C. McMillan
Index to the 1810 Census of N.C. - from Mrs. B.H. Rector

	A hard-cover genealogy of the Miller Families of Ashe was donated by Mrs. Marjorie Armentrout.  Many soft-cover and unbound family genealogies are among our records.

	Abstracts of Wills in Wilkes County, of Marriage Bonds in Ashe County, and of various census records are also available.

	If the censuses you need is not in the Library, there is an interlibrary loan arrangement through which four reels of microfilm can be ordered at a time and can be kept for two weeks.  These come from the National Archives and Records office in Georgia.