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Genealogists gather for national conference
By Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr.
Special to The Journal-Conslitulion
The recent National Genealogical Society Conference in the States held in May in Raleigh, N.C., brought together more than 1,100 genealogists. The opening session was addressed by North Carolina Gov. James Martin, who is a native of Savannah. He displayed a copy of his father's book, "The Klcmington Martins (by the Rev. Arthur M. Martin, 1970) about their roots in Liberty County, Ga. There was a special session of genealogical columnists at which I and others spoke about the ins an outs of writing a genealogy column. Also speaking at that session was C. W. Stephens of Wrens, Ga., who writes "Ancestor-ing.?
The farthest traveled was Nick Vine Hall, director of the Society of Australian Genealogists, who is from Sydney. He writes several genealogical columns Down Under and
is coordinating an international genealogical conference there in 1988 in conjunction with Australia's bicentennial. Awards were presented to individuals for the best written family tree and to societies for the best society newsletter. Atlanta's Rita B. Worthy was named a Fellow of the National Genealogical Society, a very high honor.
^''The 1988 genealogical confeK ence will be held April 27-30 in Bij loxi, Miss. It will be hosted by tha L. W. Anderson Genealogical Li4 brary, P.O. Box 1647, Gulfport,\ Miss. 39501. Anne Anderson, the\ founder of the library and a spirited \ Southern belle of the new order, has amassed 40,000 volumes for this private research center on the Gulf
Coast. ____________
Open Tuesday through Saturday, the library is located in Gulfport on the Gulf Coast campus of William Carey College. The library will also be hosting a genealogical conference Aug. 3-5.
STATE SOCIETIES: Here is a sampling from those states who had literature available at the conference. (If you arc interested in their collections, publications or programs, write them directly.):
?	Kentucky Genealogical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 153, Frankfort, Ky. 40602.
?	The Historical Confederation of Kentucky (P.O. Box H, Frankfort, Ky. 40602) publishes a directory of historical organizations in that state.
?	Illinois State Genealogical Society (P.O. Box 157, Lincoln, 111. 62656) is now entering its 20th year.
\	? Maine Genealogical Society,
I	P.O. Box 221, Farmington, Maine \04938.
?	The Minnesota Genealogical Society (P.O. Box 16069, St. Paul, Minn. 55116), which due to the eclectic nature of that state's origins invites new members to designate the areas of their ancestry in which they need help, such as: Dan-
ish, English, Finnish, French Canadian, German, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish, Scottish and other.
?	The Genealogical'Society of Pennsylvania (1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107) adjoins the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and has as its director Antoinette Sea-graves, who spoke on Pennsylvania research. Few genealogical societies are fortunate enough to have someone as dynamic, knowledgeable and energetic as Ms. Seagraves for their leader. She is an excellent spokesperson for the current field of genealogists, a far cry from what the general public might expect.
?	The *Jtah Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 1144, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110.
?	The State Historical Society of Wisconsin (816 State St., Madison, Wis. 53706), houses one of the largest genealogical collections in the nation and purchases many Southern works, especially county histor-
goes to
library
The Coast?s own L.W. Anderson Genealogical Library was honored last week with an Award of Merit by the National Genealogical Society for the service the library has given to rcscarchcrs during the past three years.
Library founder and director Anne Anderson acceptcci the award on Thursday. Aug. 8. at the National Genealogical Soclcty Conference in Salt Lake Cltv, Utah. The presentation was made at the annual awards banquet in the Salt 1?alace.
Each year at its conference the NGS honors an outstanding library and individuals who have contributed to the field of genealogy.
Mrs. Anderson was among the approximately 1.200 people attending the conference, which featured genealogical experts on hundreds of subjects. Of course, she also bought some books for the library, which will be on the shelves soon. These include several volumes of marriages from the Virginia State Library and back issues of quarterlies on York and Lancaster County. I?a.
The L.W. Anderson Library, located at 221ft 17th Street In Gulfport, is becoming well known throughout the country for Its resources of microfilm and books.
Next year?s NGS Conference will be at Columbus. Ohio, in May. In 1987. the site will be Raleigh. N.C.
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Branches & twigs
Director Anne Anderson poses before the
genealogical library on 17th Street in Gulfport
BY REGINA HINES. C.G.R.S.