We the people: Family History Month events planned in October

By Sharon Burns

Published: September 25, 2008

The Oklahoma History Center Research Library and the Oklahoma Genealogical Society's annual October Family History Month celebration will provide special programs for researchers at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N Laird.

Scheduled events include "Dating Old Photographs” by Chester Cowen from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Oklahoma History Center.

Registration is required. The $10 fee includes lunch.

Cowen, historical society photographic archivist, will share tips for dating photographs. Attendees are urged to bring historical family photographs to the program.

The Oklahoma Genealogical Society "Free Genealogy Skill Building Workshop” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 in the Chesapeake Event Center at Oklahoma History Center. The registration form is available online at www.okgensoc.org or at the Oklahoma History Center Research Library.

Information about programs for the remainder of the month is available at the Oklahoma History Center Research Library.

June Cornwell Stone will present "The Forgotten War — World War I” at the Oklahoma Genealogical Society meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Chesapeake Event Center at Oklahoma History Center.

Stone, chairman of the World War I Index Project, will present a brief history and timeline of the war that was dubbed the "War to End All Wars.” Highlights of the program will include available sources at the federal, state and local levels as well as what is available on the Internet.

Some lists of soldiers, by county, are available at the Oklahoma Historical Society Library. The Veterans Affairs Department has a list of those who were killed in action but does not have a list of all soldiers who served. The American Legion Department of Oklahoma does not have a list. The Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator provides the name of the veteran, branch of service and the conflict served in, if buried in a national cemetery. Veterans buried after 1997 in a private cemetery also are listed in this gravesite locator database.

Stone will explain the purpose and process of the genealogical society's project to compile an index of the soldiers with Oklahoma connections who served in World War I. She is requesting help in gathering information about Oklahoma World War I veterans. Information obtained will be published by the society to honor these veterans.

Requested information includes full name of veteran, date and place of birth, date and place of death, place of burial, date and place of marriage, name of spouse, names of parents, rank, branch of service, medals earned, obituary, pictures and anything that would contribute to the veteran's file.

To contribute to this project, send information to June Stone, 3601 NW 19, Oklahoma City, OK 73107-2815, e-mail JuneCStone@aol.com or fax information to 942-0546.

Help will be available at 5:30 p.m. for genealogical questions or people needing information about First Families of the Twin Territories. The research library will remain open until 7:45 p.m.

The meeting is open to the public and free to society members. A $3 donation is suggested for visitors.

For more information, call Billie Fogarty at 637-1907, e-mail okgensoc@aol.com or go online to www.okgensoc.org.

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