Hi, Tina! I've been hitting my head against at least one brick wall, since I was a senior in high school (1980) when a teacher gave us an assignment to produce a family tree. I had always LOVED old family stories, and my maternal grandfather was THE best storyteller; however, by this time I only had one grandparent alive - my maternal grandmother - whose families all settled in Wilkinson County, Georgia before descendants drifted elsewhere (Smith, Kennington, Ryle, Lewis, Eth(e)ridge, Branan, and either Pearson or Kingery - depending upon Lucinda Etheridge's maiden name). I was very lucky my grandmother knew a lot about her own family as well as my grandfather's. I love meeting and corresponding with long-lost cousins! Happy New Year (y'all) from Dodge County, Georgia! Joy -----Original Message----- From: Tina Peddie [mailto:tpeddie@charter.net] Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 8:08 PM To: GAWILKIN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GAWILKIN-L] HOW long have U been doing genealogy? *Hi all: This question was posed on another list, and I find it very interesting, so for New Years Eve/Day, I am posting it here, if anyone would like to respond! (My response is below) ... *Tina* My genealogical interests and pursuits began when I was about 25, which was 32 yrs ago! Briefly, I was working in the UCSB Library, and taking a break one day I was walking around looking at the many books, some of which were old and interesting looking. As I looked into one, it had an old photo of a man named WILLIAM KEEN, and Keene being my maiden name, it piqued my interest, and I wondered, "Could he be an ancestor of mine???" (I didnt know any farther back at that time on my Keene line than my own father, so I had no clue) --- That began my interest, and of course it grew and grew! I did find that I had an ancestor born 1796 named WILLIAM KEEN, but it was not the one in the book. By the time I learned of my WM. KEEN, I had long forgotten the book. Living in Sta Barbara was helpful because they have an excellent city library that houses many excellent genealogy books/resources! Also, at that time, someone recommended I check with the LDS Church/what is now the FHC of course, but not at that time, 27 yrs ago. So my interest grew, and ancestors were found and more interest, etc etc, you know how that cycle goes! :) I have now taught many classes in it, published a book & a surname publication, and love helping others with theirs, and of course I still enjoy doing my own... but the big breakthroughs are fewer and farther between! But I still have *hope* ! * HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL, AND WISHING YOU MANY BREAKTHROUGHS & CRUMBLING BRICKWALLS in '06! * ** So, how about you????? ** *Tina/CA* ==== GAWILKIN Mailing List ==== Check out this great GA RESOURCES PAGE: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cgaunt/georgia.html