EATON — The Preble County District Library held its first ever Genealogy and History Fair on Saturday, June 23. The event brought together libraries, genealogy societies, bicentennial committees, historical societies, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Preble Chapter of Eaton, the Mayflower Society, and some archives to network with both one another, and the public.
This also gave the DAR an opportunity to present Curtis Hodson with the Historic Preservation Recognition Award.
“One [award the DAR presents] is a Historic Preservation Recognition Award — it recognizes and honors individuals or groups that have done remarkable volunteer work at the community level. We recognize those who work in the areas of historic preservation,” DAR Regent Debra Crumbaker said.
“Buildings, landmarks, cemeteries, manuscripts, documents, archives materials – they can compile books and manuscripts. They can publish books on historic preservation projects. This year we want to present our award to Curtis Hodson. Curtis has written many cemetery books and spent many hours in the cemeteries.”
Hodson was presented with an award and a pin, recognizing his achievements.
As for the Genealogy and History Fair itself, it came from an idea to help local genealogists and researchers find information and to bring resources to them in one location.
“This is a chance for everyone to get together in one spot to find out what research opportunities are out there. We had started going and visiting all these organizations and we realized they needed to visit each other too. Why not put it all together? We also had a lot of people who didn’t know we are here, so it is a combination of an open house and networking,” Preble County Room Supervisor Angie Getter explained.
“At the Preble County Room we help people do their family tree, history and local history research, and we also have general library services. We are giving away a DNA kit from Ancestry.com and for 23andMe. Entry is free for filling out a survey sheet.”
As for why they decided to hold this event, Getter said, “For us and the organizations, it was a networking event. For the patrons it is an opportunity to speak to all these different groups and see what they have in one spot, without having to travel between them.”
