From the Editor

THE GREAT TRUAX DOCUMENT HUNT

One of the most frustrating things about preparing the Truax lineages for publication has been gathering supporting documentation. Although Thura Truax Hires did a tremendous amount of work in gathering family information for her manuscripts, unfortunately the sources for much of that information were often never noted, or were of dubious reliability.

Every one of you probably has copies or transcripts of census records, birth, death or marriage records, obituaries, etc. that you have gathered over the years. Plus, you probably have access to other records at your local library or Family History centre that you either didn't know were there, or ignored because they didn't pertain to your particular branch of the family.

I want those records, so I'm starting a contest:

I'm offering a year's free membership, plus whatever other goodies I can think of (maybe a free copy of the database when it's finally published?) to whoever can send me the most primary documents with the Truax surname over the next year. These can include census records, church records, birth, marriage and death registrations or certificates, and wills. I will also accept family bible records, tombstone inscriptions, or obituaries if they are over 50 years old (no local histories please, unless they offer something startlingly new). Extra points if you find something that adds new names or relationships to the database. Zero points if it's a document I already have, so you might want to contact me before sending it in. Photocopies are preferred, although I will accept transcriptions, but in either case the document source must be clearly noted (title, location, film number, page number, etc.). If you have already sent me documents, let me know and I'll be happy to include those in your total.

Don't have much lying around at home? Call, email or write to me, let me know where you live, and I'll give you my 'want list' for that area, plus any information I have about where specific Truax documents can be found. Those of you in Wisconsin can start with the Vital Statistics Index I've included with this issue.

This Association has about 200 members, living in nearly every U.S. state and Canadian province, each of whom has at least a passing familiarity with genealogical research. Between the bunch of us, surely we can dig up enough documents to fill in ever gap and attach every wayward branch to our great family tree. Let the hunt begin!

~ Jennifer Smith