Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society

There are several genealogical and historical societies in the West Tennessee area.  These societies are excellent resources for research tips and information through programs that are presented at meetings and through contacts made with other members.  By joining one of these societies, you might even find a relative who has the information that is needed to solve your genealogy mysteries.

The Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society was organized November 12, 1968, in Jackson, TN.  The purpose of this society is to assist members in their genealogical research, to create interest in genealogical and historical records, to collect and preserve these records, and to deposit these records in libraries and archives.  This society covers all West Tennessee counties, except Shelby County.

The sixteen charter members of Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society were:  Carmen Ann Cockrill Bruer, Irene Turner Clayton, Faye Tennyson Davidson, Howell Lee Davidson, James W. Etheridge, Ruth Gibbons, Lillian B. Russell House, Helen Oxley Johnson, Ruby Johnson May, Elizabeth Greer McMaster, Mary Ann House Mitchell, Maggie Fae Jacobs Owens, Mary Katherine “Kay” Ogle Pearce, Evelyn Hope Primm Sipes, Louise Sublette, and Charlotte Rushing Thornton.

Helen Oxley Johnson of Jackson, TN and Carmen Cockrill Bruer of Houston, TX continue to be active members.  They are lifetime members along with Mrs. C. C. James of Humboldt, Robert Nolen of Jackson, and Jonathan K. T. Smith of Jackson.

Mrs. Johnson explained, “Jackson State had a class about genealogy.  Mrs. Ruby May was the teacher; this was in the fall of 1968.  There were about fifteen students there, all adults.  Mrs. May encouraged us to start a historical chapter or organization and helped us establish our first workshop.  Mrs. Guy McMaster was also instrumental in forming the Society.”

Anyone interested in genealogy is welcome to attend the meetings that are held the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 309 East Baltimore Street in Jackson.  Membership dues are twenty dollars per calendar year.

Membership includes “Family Findings” quarterlies that are published in January, April, July, and October.  The Society began publishing the quarterly in April 1969.  All issues are available in the Tennessee Room of the Jackson-Madison County Library located at 433 East Lafayette Street in Jackson.  With permission of the Society, TNGenWeb posted the 1969-1979 issues online at http://tngenweb.org/family-findings-quarterly-journals/.  Currently, several contributors submit articles and photographs for each issue of “Family Findings.”  The themes for the 2014 quarterlies are Civil War in January, entertainment in April, railroad families in July, and women born before 1900 in October.  The theme for January 2015 will be the cotton industry in West Tennessee.

Informative programs are presented by members and by guest speakers.  In August, Bill Hickerson presented “Beyond the paper trail: Finding ancestral origins and distant cousins via DNA testing!”  Society President Larry Greer will be the speaker on September 11 with the topic of “Stop signs, detours, and roadblocks: The Genealogy Trail.”  Kenneth Newman will be the guest speaker on October 9 with the subject of “Cemetery Mysteries Solved.”  The Society’s forty-six year anniversary will be one topic at the November 13 meeting.  Members, prospective members, and guests will enjoy the annual Christmas reception on December 11.  The annual show-and-tell meeting is always interesting and will be held on January 8 when attendees show heirloom items and tell stories associated with the items.

The Society currently has ninety-three members from twenty US states and Washington, DC.  Membership includes several libraries and archives.  Meeting attendance averages about thirty people each month.  Membership includes experienced genealogists as well as those beginning their search.

Social media is a great way to find relatives and share family information.  Private groups can be created on Facebook, and photos and documents can be shared.  Join the Society’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MidWestTennesseeGenealogicalSociety.

Here are a few other local genealogical and historical societies.

• The Bemis Historical Society’s monthly meetings are held the third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Bemis Mill Village Museum.  Learn more at http://bemishistory.org/. 
• Visit the Big Black Creek Historical Association’s website at http://www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com/. 
• Chester County Historical Society meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Chester County Senior Citizens building in Henderson. 
• Read about the Humboldt Historical Society on their website at http://humboldthistorical.com/. 
• The McNairy County Historical Society meets the last Tuesday in the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Selmer Library. 
• Tennessee Genealogical Society was founded in 1952 in Shelby County.  Their website has valuable information, and meeting times are listed at http://www.tngs.org/. 
• West Tennessee Historical Society’s website is http://wths-tn.org/.

Join a genealogical or historical society.  Make new friends while you discover your ancestors.