Rhio, as still pretty much a newcomer to genealogy, (4 years), could you give me a small idea of what is done at these fairs? I am close enough that I could probably attend, but am hesitant to spend too much of my small genealogy financial allotment, if I'm not sure it would be of benefit for someone as new as me. Are these geared more to gen. societies or what. I sure would appreciate some advice from someone who's been doing this longer. Thanks, Connie Kays

Connie, not real sure about some of the other ancestor fairs around the country, but this North Arkansas Ancestor Fair is designed strictly to share. Individuals bring their family histories and share them, societies bring their source materials and share them, speakers explain the how-to's of research in North AR. Copy machines are set up so folks can take home copies of whatever they want. Individuals and societies as well as commercial vendors have all sorts of research materials for sale - census, marriages, cemeteries, county histories, Civil War lists, newspaper extracts, obits, tax lists, family histories, etc etc. You learn about the various societies - county, Civil War, Trail of Tears, genealogical, historical, family, etc. You learn about web pages. You meet the most extraordinary and diverse bunch of people you can imagine. And it's all free (just a small charge for lectures you'd like to hear). Depending on all sorts of vagaries like weather, there are usually 300-500 in attendance. Some of the societies I'm almost positive will be there are Searcy Co, Marion Co, Boone Co, Stone Co, Carroll Co, Newton Co, Baxter Co, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Trail of Tears, and bunches I can't think of off the top of my head. Absolutely nothing is structured about it except the times that speakers will be sharing their wisdom. (Guess that's why it's called a fair instead of a seminar <grin>) Folks come from all over the country - not just North AR - to share - to give as well as receive. Contacts for further research are boundless. You don't even have to leave to get lunch - food, coffee, snacks, soft drinks are all right there all day. Hope this gives you an idea of what this ancestor fair is all about. It's lots of fun, exhausting, and simply crammed with information. Wouldn't miss it for the world. So long as you're researching in the general area or north-central Arkansas, or if you just want to make contacts and learn more about how to research Civil War or courthouses or getting started or American Indians or whatever, this would definitely be of benefit to you. Mysty shakerag@mtnhome.com ********************************************* ----- Original Message ----- From: <kaysie13@webtv.net> To: <ARMARION-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 9:24 AM Subject: RE: Fair 2001 > Rhio, as still pretty much a newcomer to genealogy, (4 years), could you > give me a small idea of what is done at these fairs? I am close enough > that I could probably attend, but am hesitant to spend too much of my > small genealogy financial allotment, if I'm not sure it would be of > benefit for someone as new as me. Are these geared more to gen. > societies or what. I sure would appreciate some advice from someone > who's been doing this longer. > Thanks, > Connie Kays