Hello all - I'm planning a trip next month to North East AL - Cherokee, DeKalb, Marshall and Etowah counties area. To get the biggest "bang for my (research/travel) buck," can someone recommend libraries/archives/historical societies, etc. to do research in the area. I'm definitely going to the Gadsden library (I've pulled info from their web site), and want to know where to go in Ft. Payne and Centre. I've thought about going to Birmingham but my traveling partners (read: husband and 9 year old) may shoot me if I drive them around too far! I need: vital recs, burial sites, probate recs, land recs, anything to add "meat" to the family skeleton, and miracles! I've done quite a bit from long-distance, but there's not a lot here in Michigan on Alabama records! My ancestors (LAWSON, SHIRLEY, POOLE) were primarily in DeKalb and Cherokee counties, arriving in the 1840's. My Shirley g-father has documented CW service, and I'm quite sure my Lawson g-pa did too, but haven't confirmed. Thanks for the input. Sandy