Surnames from Member Pedigree Charts

In the sharing spirit of our Columbine society, a project began many years ago in which members submitted their pedigrees to be shared among the organization. In 1991, the project became computerized. A database of surnames was begun by a group spearheaded by Mary Lou and Earl King. The result is a set of thirteen binders, containing printed pedigrees with surname indices, which are brought out for display and research at the CGHS business meeting on the second Tuesday of the month. Another set is available at Bemis Library in Littleton for public access. An archivist is elected each year to maintain the records and add new and updated pedigrees from members as they are received. 2009 is my first year in this capacity.

We find ourselves entering a new phase with this project. Not only are we restoring our dilapidated printed versions with new copies and binders in their sixteenth year, but we have produced the information on a CD-ROM database for expanded accessibility. With the unselfish expertise of Don Elliott, we can now share our surnames more widely in new ways, and to hopefully connect with more related family historians.

Our hope is that researchers will find their cousins among us and contact the submitters to share further finds and information. Have fun researching and sharing in the Columbine spirit.

Paula Davis, CGHS Archivist