Marilyn Schwartz writes and asks: Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:08:54 -0700 From: "Marilyn Schwartz" <familyismytreasure@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [GERMANNA] Calendar of the Kentucky papers of the Draper Collectionof Manuscripts -Online To E. W. Wallace: Thanks for the referral to the site for the "Calendar of the Kentucky papers of the Draper Collection" via HeritageQuest. Now, after one finds a reference in this "calendar," how do you access the reference? It appears to just be a listing of citations for materials included in the collection. How do you actually get to see what is said in those materials? So enticing! Anyone know? I found the following references to my Germanna surnames: J. F. Coons on p. 366, 1852 (a letter to Rev. J(ohn) H. Brown); John Coons on page 478 (an interview with reference that he came in 1794 from "internal settlements"); on page 475 references to William Camper in Montgomery County (an interview), Tighlman Kemper, James Kemper, and Rev. James Kemper; Jeptha Kemper on page 494.. My ancestors Jacob Coons and his wife Letitia Kemper lived in Montgomery County, so I'd love to see these articles. M. Schwartz MY response: As I tried to explain in one of my e-mails *Calendar* in this instance is a sort of index. Neither of my dictionaries gives an adequate description of the calendar [one of several of this sort] named above. The nearest one: *An ordered list of matters to be considered." (Wikipedia does not give an adequate definition of this kind of calendar, either.) At any rate, now that you have some names and some references of some Germanna colonist descendants, you are going to have to do some research--to find a library or a repository which has the umpteen rolls of films of Lyman C. Draper's manuscripts, Kentucky Papers being only one of a great many others. According to the Family History Library catalog (_www.familysearch.org_ (http://www.familysearch.org) - catalog link is on right side of opening screen), there are 147 reels of film - perhaps even more at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin!!! You will have to get together with a skilled reference librarian to determine whether 1 there is a microfilm reader at a nearby library and 2) whether the librarian can order one or two reels of film. Many Universities have this microfilm collection. Warning - this film is NOT easy to read. Take a magnifying glass, a bottle of water [not to open at the microfilm reader], plenty of pens & pencils and paper, if allowed, and be prepared to spend a LOT of time. Much of the writing is that of the collector Draper himself. There are few letters (I found a couple from my ancestor, written ten years apart about his father, a companion of Daniel Boone), some clippings from newspapers (found another ancestor--hearsay info), and so on. This is a kind of scrapbook, and you have to look at the film in that manner. It is *hearsay* evidence, but fascinating nevertheless. Mostly he was interviewing descendants of the early pioneers of Kentucky (in the Kentucky papers). The Illinois Papers pertain to George Rogers Clark, etc. A good portion of Draper manuscripts were the notes of Rev. Shane. On the Family History Library catalog (FHLC) use the keyword Draper manuscript collection Go down the LONG list, and you will be fascinated by the topics, I think. A University in the State where you live probably has this manuscript collection. Generally, in order to gain access to the microfilm room, however, you need a card, and you may have to pay for it. That is how I accessed the films about my folks, but the more I study the list of films, the more I think I need to do more. Oh, if I only had fewer chores and more time and better eyesight! If you are near an LDS family history center, you can order the film(s) from FH Library, for a fee, for a limited time. Do not order too many films, as you will not have time to read them!!!! The writing is faded in many cases, so photocopying may not be in order. I had to transcribed the letters I found. Do a google.com search for *Draper manuscript collection* Heritage Books has published some parts of the manuscripts, and then several University libraries have their links there--one in Ohio and Bowling Green in Kentucky. I have to confess that as I began this genealogical journey, a cousin once removed, an amateur historian married to a well-known historian, guided me to one of Allen Eckert's books called The Frontiersmen. In it he had voluminous notes and bibliographies many involving the Kentucky Papers. When I found an ancestor's name, I used Eckert's notes to find that passage. BUT, of course, on the way, I stopped to read other passages in the film itself, and that is when I discovered other gems!!! Eckert's book is a tale of the Indians and the white folks in early Kentucky (a few scoundrels on both sides), but a well-documented tale. I don't see any names of Germanna folks, but this is just to share my experience with you. I do not know whether the State Historical Society of Wisconsin will send you photocopies or not. That is for you to inquire!!! They have a website and there is this notation on the right side: Goggle for it, and read the list--there may be some other goodies, which I have overlooked. Members get up to 30% off all genealogical research - State Historical Society of Wisconsin. You will have to determine whether that discount applies to the Draper Mss!!! E.W.Wallace a descendant of John Kemper, the Germanna colonist through his Garrard Co., KY descendants - John, Sr. and family ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.