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2018 NCGS AWARDS

The Awards Committee is pleased to present the winners of its 2018 NCGS Awards that honor outstanding contributions to the North Carolina genealogical community.

NCGS 2018 Awards Winners photo
Back row, left to right: Jordan Jones, accepting the award for B. Darrell Jackson; Richard Cox; Cyndi Deal; John A. McGeachy
Front row, left to right: Sharon Castle; Sharon Rea Gable; Kay Bissette; Ginger Mann; Diane L. Richard; and Cynthia Gage

The Award for Excellence in Periodical Publishing for a newsletter published by a local North Carolina genealogical society recognizes Wake Genealogy Watch, published by the Wake County Genealogical Society and edited by Cyndi Deal.

This newly redesigned quarterly newsletter does a first-rate job of informing WCGS members of happenings of genealogical interest within the society and in the area. Recent articles, such as a local cemetery threatened by development and navigating the revised version of Find A Grave, entertain and educate. Wake County sets a standard for newsletters. The newsletter is distributed electronically and accessible to both members and non-members at https://www.wakecogen.org.

 

The Award for Excellence in Periodical Publishing for a journal published by a local North Carolina genealogical society recognizes Wake Treasures, published by the Wake County Genealogical Society and edited by Diane L. Richard.

 This quality journal publishes a variety of abstracts and transcriptions of difficult-to-find and often overlooked primary sources of historical and genealogical interest to Wake County researchers. It is well-formatted, illustrated with photos and document images, and features a full name index in each issue. The quarterly is accessible online to WCGS members or may be purchased through the WCGS Lulu Store.

 

The Award for Excellence in Web Presence for a freely accessible website promoting North Carolina genealogy is presented to The Race & Slavery Petitions Project (https://library.uncg.edu/slavery/petitions/), University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Richard Cox, Digital Technology Consultant.  

The Race & Slavery Petitions Project, in cooperation with the Electronic Resources and Information Technology Department of University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is an easy-to-use online portal to access a database that has collected, extracted, and analyzed legislative petitions and county records documenting slaves from North Carolina, fourteen other Southern states, and the District of Columbia. Because records of slaves can be obscure and very difficult to find, this website is a valuable resource for discovering detailed personal information about slaves, free people of color, and whites, both slave owners and non-slave owners. While less than ten percent of North Carolina records comprise the database, this site has significant value for North Carolina researchers and may even make it possible to follow slaves between states. This impressive database is part of the Digital Library on American Slavery (https://library.uncg.edu/slavery/), an “expanding resource … focused upon race and slavery in the American South”.

  

The Award for Excellence in Web Presence for a freely accessible website promoting North Carolina genealogy is also presented to Wake County Genealogical Society website (https://www.wakecogen.org), Cynthia Gage, WCGS Webmaster.

This very easily navigated website attracts new members and keeps current members informed with details of upcoming society happenings and other events of genealogical interest in the area. Its Spotlight feature offers a peek at upcoming articles in the society journal and summaries of previous society meetings. There are previews of current journal and newsletter articles and downloadable meeting presentations as allowed by presenters. One will also find links and resources relevant to research in Wake County and North Carolina and WCGS Blog posts with tidbits on various subjects. From joining to volunteering, the Wake County Genealogical Society website is welcoming and interesting. It makes visitors want to return – even the requests for assistance with journal transcriptions are enticing.

  

The Award for Excellence in Publishing for a book, or set of books, of abstracts or transcriptions of an original North Carolina record (and published within eighteen months preceding the 15 August 2018 closing date) is presented to Wilkes County, North Carolina Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions; October Term, 1798 – February Term, 1805 and May Term, 1805 – October Term, 1810, transcribed by John A. McGeachy.

 These two excellent easy-to-use volumes represent a huge commitment of time and effort in transcribing these court records that are so time consuming and cumbersome to search. County Court minutes are extremely valuable for their “records of local judicial, domestic, and business-related matters.” The detailed indexes of full names, locations, businesses, and subject headings make these even more useful for Wilkes County researchers.

Order information: Lulu.com or John A. McGeachy, PO Box 30783, Raleigh, NC 27622.

 

The Award for Excellence in a Publication Relevant to North Carolina Genealogy (and published within eighteen months preceding the 15 August 2017 closing date) is presented to Order of First Families of North Carolina Ancestor Biographies, Vol. 3, compiled by John Anderson Brayton.

 This is another superb volume of early North Carolina ancestors with excellent indexes, well-researched biographies, and  transcriptions of individual records from various sources. Corrections and additions to the first two volumes and the addition of two new features since the latter in the form of transcriptions of wills and drop charts for sorting out family lines greatly enhance the value of this work.

Order information: John Brayton, 1900 Central Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104.

 

The Award for Excellence in Publishing for a book of family history relevant to North Carolina genealogy (and published within eighteen months preceding the 15 August 2018 closing date) is presented to George and Ruth Castle: Our Family’s Journey 1613-2016, by Sharon Castle with the Castle Genealogy Project Work Group.

This history of the Castle family, whose journey included Quaker communities in Orange and Surry counties, North Carolina, is beautifully written and illustrated. Combining extensive research, social history, and an interesting narrative, this book is a great example of how to write a family story. It features a helpful glossary of Quaker terms and an index of full names, locations, and subjects, such as cemeteries, Quaker meetings, quilts, recipes, and schools.

Order information: https://www.grcastle.com/contact-us.

 

The Award for Excellence in Publishing for a book of family history relevant to North Carolina genealogy (and published within eighteen months preceding the 15 August 2018 closing date) is also presented to Ruffin Family History: Lineal Descendants of William Ruffin (1618-1674) of Isle of Wight County, Virginia to John Henry Ruffin (1861-1951) of Pettis County, Missouri, by B. Darrell Jackson, CG®.

 This well-written, impressive work includes Ruffins residing in Bertie, Edgecombe, and Halifax counties from about 1725 to 1840. Thoroughly researched in original sources, it interprets and analyzes the records well. A hefty appendix discusses a correction to earlier Ruffin ancestry and features maps, copies of documents, and well-reproduced photos. Jackson’s commitment to the use of the Genealogical Proof Standard in this scholarly family history could serve as an example for others wishing to publish a work based on sound genealogical standards.

Order information: Belford Darrell Jackson, CG, 1015 San Juan Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506; also available from jacksonda@aol.com.

 

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to North Carolina Genealogy for an individual whose longtime genealogical contributions have greatly enhanced the study of family history in North Carolina is presented to Sharon Rea Gable, CG®.

 Sharon’s attention to detail, commitment to genealogical proof standards, and historical and legal expertise are invaluable assets to all northeastern North Carolina genealogists. Her research, publications, and mentorship provided evidence of migration patterns of Native Americans and free people of color from Virginia into North Carolina and were instrumental in documenting lost history of Nansemond Indian descendants (who received federal recognition in January 2018). Her nomination further describes her as “a shining example of genealogical integrity and selflessness.” Sharon has authored or co-authored almost thirty genealogical publications of records of Camden and Pasquotank counties, North Carolina, and Norfolk County, Virginia. She has been very active in the Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina and is currently serving as president and treasurer. She joined the NCGS Board in 2016 and currently serves as second vice president. As chair of the Publications Committee, she was responsible for getting the Delamar Transcripts published and is now soliciting Bible records for a future society publication.

 

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to NCGS by a Member for an individual whose work within NCGS has been outstanding is presented to Kay Bissette.

As NCGS Journal volunteer, Kay Bissette willingly and ably jumped in to assist and support the then newly appointed editor with the challenge of getting sufficient material abstracted or transcribed for those first years and worked like a “whirling dervish” on just about every kind of content digitally thrown at her. She directly contributed to the quality content from which Journal readers benefitted in 2016 and 2017. Future editions will also bear her mark as material already abstracted or transcribed by her will appear.

 

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to NCGS by a Member for an individual whose work within NCGS has been outstanding is also presented to Ginger Mann.

As an NCGS Journal volunteer, Ginger Mann has wholeheartedly tackled any abstracting or transcription project presented to her, regardless of the type of record, location, or time-period. Her contribution has played a significant role in ensuring that each issue of the Journal includes a variety of material and has made it easier for the editor to plan future issues. Ginger’s tireless commitment and reliability have helped the Journal continue as a valued and respected publication documenting North Carolinians.

 

The Awards Committee thanks all who submitted nominations to help NCGS recognize and honor worthy individual and society accomplishments in publishing and personal contributions to North Carolina genealogy by nominating their work for an NCGS Award this year.

These awards additionally serve not only to promote continued excellence in this field but also to inspire others to publish abstracts and transcriptions of original North Carolina records, cemetery and Bible records, family histories, and society journals and newsletters and to develop informative genealogical websites.

 

Certificates of Appreciation
The NCGS Board also expresses its thanks to several individuals who have served in official capacities in the society and are leaving their positions. Certificates of Appreciation for Outstanding Performance and Exceptional Commitment are awarded to Mary Gray, Webinar Technology Committee; Lisa Marley, Treasurer; Pam Toms, Director and Awards Committee Chair; Maryann Tuck, Director and Webinar Committee Chair.

 

The Awards Committee wishes to acknowledge other nominees for the 2018 Awards

 The Babson Genealogy 1606-2017 (2 volumes), by Alicia Crane Williams, FASG, for a family history relevant to North Carolina. (Available from http://babsonhistorical.org/order-genealogy or Babson Historical Association, 34 Indian Hill Road, Medfield, MA 02052.)

Full Steam Ahead: The Family of Brigadier Charles Lutterloh and Eliza Comerford Lutterloh of Central and Eastern North Carolina, by Christopher Hunt Robertson, for a family history relevant to North Carolina. (Free online at http://www.lulu.com/shop/christopher-hunt-robertson-med/full-steam-ahead-the-family-of-brigadier-general-charles-lutterloh-and-eliza-comerford-lutterloh-of-central-and-eastern-north-carolina/ebook/product-23811848.html.)

Health and Hospitality: Dr. and Mrs. C. W. Hunt of Western North Carolina, by Christopher Hunt Robertson, for a family history relevant to North Carolina. (Free online at http://www.lulu.com/shop/christopher-hunt-robertson-med/health-and-hospitality-dr-and-mrs-cw-hunt-of-western-north-carolina/ebook/product-23811838.html.)

 Indian Wars of the American South 1610-1858: A Guide for Genealogists & Historians, by Michael A. Ports, for a publication relevant to North Carolina genealogy. (Clearfield  Publishing Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211.)

 The Journal of the Forsyth County Genealogical Society, Darla Johnson, editor, for a journal published by a local North Carolina genealogical society. (Forsyth County Genealogical Society, PO Box 30187, Winston-Salem, NC 27130-0187, with membership.)

 The Surry County Jarvises: A Short History up to 1820, by Aaron O. Jarvis, for a family history relevant to North Carolina. (Privately published, jarvisa@juno.com; available as a digital PDF).