A little bit of our history posted April 2004

Happy 20^th Anniversary
Genealogical Society of Collier County

By Sadie Bender, GSCC Historian

We can celebrate, light the candles on our cake, and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done! The Genealogical Society of Collier County is 20 years old this month…Congratulations!

As all of us want to do with our ancestors, it is time to take a quick look back into time to see where our society came from and where we hope to go. With the help of information from Ilsa Lezgus, Bob Holbrook, Helen Eckhardt, and Chuck Doebler, we are able to get a small glimpse into the crystal ball of our GSCC ancestry past and we can look forward to our ancestry future.

Test Your GSCC Knowledge…can you answer these questions?

(Answers to all questions found at the end of this article.)

1. When did the first class/meeting take place?
2. Where did the first meeting take place?
3. Who was the first President?
4. What year did the GSCC join the Florida State Genealogical Society?
5. How much were the first dues?
6. What was the first name of the GSCC?

You can find the answers to these questions and more in the following information provided by Ilsa Lezgus.

GSCC History
By Ilsa Lezgus

Photo provided by Ilsa Lezgus

1984

About winter 1984, Jane Ruck was given permission to teach an introductory class of Genealogy for the Collier County Night School. For the last class time she wanted to take a trip to Ft Myers to the LDS State Library. The administrators were horrified and said, “NO!” that is a religious organization, you cannot go there. The students showed so much interest, she thought of starting regular group meetings. An article was written in the Naples Daily News featuring Jane and her love of genealogy. She also asked if anyone was interested in joining this group to contact her.

I had been working on my own genealogy since 1980, alone, learning from the ground up from “How to” books borrowed from Central Avenue Library. I called Jane and met her at her home near Orange Tree. We were both working on German records. We put our heads together and got a group together, made up of former students and people who called her about the newspaper article.

The first meeting was at the Golden Gate Library next to the firehouse. We met in the evening when the library was closed, jumped thru hoops to get the key, and were only allowed in the front children’s room, with no access to the reference area. There was no air-conditioning on at that time, it was summer and HOT. We had children’s chairs and tables. As much as I can remember, these people were present: Leland Boyd, Jane Ruck, Jim Beauchamp, Margaret Najork, Kathy Nourse, Fraydelle Parker, Phyllis Breen, Pastor Woomer, Esther Fraats, Alberta Sheldon, and Ilsa Lezgus.

We decided to meet once a month. Probably the next meeting, we elected officers: Jane Ruck Pres, Leland Boyd V P, Sec…… & Treas. Ilsa Lezgus. Dues were set, I think at $4 yr. Jane wanted the name: Golden Gate-Naples Genealogical Society and the mail went to her house.

Shortly after, the secretary resigned, I took over. However, all my earliest notes and newspaper clipping are missing from my notebook. During these early days, we tried to have a speaker each month. Some of them were:

Jack Heck, “The Armchair Genealogist”
Betty Grissinger, “English Research”
Pastor Woomer, “The Palatinate”
Jim Beauchamp, French-Canadian Research
Polly Gilmore, Dir of LDS Lib., Ft Myers
Loretta Collins Reference Librarian, Naples Library
Pastor Walter Lausterer, “German Research”

The Treasurer’s report from December 19, 1984 had a balance of $38.58.

1985

January of 1985 dues increased to $7 year. In February of 1985, we had 8 paid members and $94.58 in the bank. April 1985 we had 11 paid members. In February of 1985 we joined the Florida State Genealogical Society and have been a member ever since.

Officers 1985:
Jane Ruck, President
Leland Boyd, Vice-President
Ilsa Lezgus, Secretary
Jim Beauchamp, Treasurer

In May 1985, I was volunteering at NCH White Elephant when a full Ohio Civil War Uniform and a Spanish American War Uniform were discovered in a box. I suggested that these uniforms be turned over to the Ohio Historical Society; I was given the uniforms to have our Society send them to Ohio. As a result there was full coverage given in Naples Daily News Friday, 10 May 1985, Section D. This article helped promote the Society.

Jun 19, 1985, by-laws passed.
Sept 1985, had14 paid members.
Oct 1985 design for society banner chosen and implemented. During this time we added members: Betty Grissinger, Randy & Marguerite Hall, Jack & Shirley Street, Don Dixon, Jack Heck, Kaye Hyde, Allan & Adonna Hoppenstedt, Rosemary McMullen, Marge Theis, Anne Kane, Evelyn Tann, Lillian Miller, etc. Although we tried to find another meeting place, we continued to meet in the library until Feb1985 when the members of High Point Condo Association made arrangements for us to meet in their club house.

Jane had insisted all along that she wanted to keep the group meeting in Golden Gate and would not accept the move. She reluctantly came to the meeting; we presented her with “The Source” Book and thanked her for her work on our behalf. This meeting was the turning point for our society. We had 40 people attend, many of them joined. Robert Demarest the Collier Co Library Director was our speaker. He came with the plans for the new library to replace the old one on Central Ave. Naples.

1986

It was election time again-1986:
Don Dixon, President
Leland Boyd, Vice-President
Betty Grissinger, Recording Secretary and Publicity
Ilsa Lezgus, Corresponding Secretary
Jim Beauchamp, Treasurer
Advisor to Exec Committee: Jane Ruck.
Program Committee:
Jane Ruck,
Betty Grissinger,
Jack Heck,
Rev. Woomer
Ilsa Lezgus.
Education/Microfilm Chairman: Jane Ruck,
Refreshment Chairman: Rosemary McMullen,
Greeters: Jack Street & Bob Blodgett

We had 20 members, dues increased from $7 to $10 single or $15 husband and wife, (One address).

In February 1986, we were told we could no longer meet at High Point Clubhouse; not enough members from High Point. Don Dixon was an executive at Marine Savings and Loan, and made arrangements for us to use the bank meeting room at 2400 N Tamiami Trail, Naples beginning March 1986. At the same meeting the name was changed from Golden Gate-Naples Gen Society to Genealogical Society of Collier County. Betty Grissinger suggested this name because it would be easy for people of Chamber of Commerce to find on their list. (Beginning w/genealogy), and Collier County covers larger area. Society Banner name had to be changed.

May 1986, work and school were too much for Jim Beauchamp, he resigned as Treasurer and Anne Kane took over.
July 1986, Betty Grissinger started the Surname Index Box.
August 1986, we had 39 members.
Dec 1986, we had 47 members.

1987

Officers 1987:
Wally McCoy, President
Leland Boyd, Vice-President
Don Dixon, 2^nd Vice-President
Janet Larson, Recording Secretary
Jean McCoy, Corresponding Secretary
Anne Kane, Treasurer
Jean McCoy, Publicity
Donna Brooks, Refreshments

Anne Kane suggested we open a post office box for our mail, which we did. P O Box 7933, Naples. In April Anne Kane had been librarian, and the books were getting too heavy, so she switched with Leland Boyd, who was handling AGLL film orders.
1987, we had 59 members.
May 1987, we met at McCoy’s home.
We met in Marine S & L until Nov 1987, when bank needed the room for their own training meetings.
We met at St John’s Episcopal Church, Oct 14, 1987, but they charge $25 for each meeting…we couldn’t afford that.
At that time, Pastor Woomer invited us to his church: North Naples United Methodist Church, Parish Hall, 600 Seagate Dr., Naples. Our first meeting there was November 18, 1987.

1988

1988 Officers:
Janet Larson, President
Roger Patch, Vice-President
Jean Lovetang, Secretary & Corresponding Secretary (she resigned soon after)
Alan Hoppenstedt, Treasurer

February 1988: Our first paid outside speaker: Angus Baxter, author of many genealogical books.
November 1988: Heritage Quest Road Show, Bill Dollarhide Speaker, big success, 60 people.
First Newsletter: Apr 1988.

1989

1989 Officers:
Ilsa Lezgus, President
Janet Larson, Vice-President
Jean McCoy, Recording Secretary
Anne Kane, Corresponding Secretary
Alan Hoppenstedt, Treasurer

March 1989, we have our bookcase, with tables and bulletin boards.

1990

1990 Officers:
Ilsa Lezgus, President
Donna Brooks, Vice-President
Jean McCoy, Recording Secretary
Murrel Stephan, Corresponding Secretary
Alan Hoppenstedt, Treasurer

Sometime this year, the newsletter began to be mailed to members, instead of postcards.
29 Jan 1990: Ronald Bremer Speaker:”The World of Genealogy”. This was one of our most successful endeavors. Auditorium was full, we had chairs covering the stage and there was standing room only!
17 Feb 1990: Angus Baxter came back to speak the 2^nd time. He was great.
24 Mar 1990: “Family Tree Climbing Can be Fun”; Everton’s all day genealogical workshop. Another success!

Here are a few more questions to test you GSCC knowledge!

1. Where/What was the society’s first genealogy library?
2. Back in the good ol’days, who was the President, Newsletter Editor and Program Chairman (woman) all wrapped up in one person?

Bob Holbrook gives us some insight into that wonderful world of books during the first days of the Genealogical Society of Collier County.

A Few Words
From Bob Holbrook

Photo by Michele Bender

I became a member of the Collier County Genealogical Society sometime in 1989 shortly after I moved to Naples on a full time basis. I phoned the number that I was given and Jeannie McCoy answered all of my questions and convinced me that I should become a member.

Back then we were meeting in Founders Hall of the North Naples United Methodist Church. Senior Pastor Woomer was a founding member of the Society.

The Society library consisted of perhaps a hundred books and magazines which were housed in a folding, wheeled bookcase. At the beginning of each meeting, this heavy bookcase was wheeled out of its storage area into the meeting room, unlocked and swung open into an “L” shape to display the books. A member could select one or more books to take home for a month, with the expectation that they would be returned at the next meeting. Each loan was recorded in and out in a log book that sat on top of the library or at a nearby table. At the end of the meeting the library was folded up, locked and wheeled back into storage. The wheeled storage rack of folding chairs shared the same storage space, which often had to be moved before we could get at our library. When we could no longer meet at North Naples United Methodist, our books were donated to the Collier County Public Library to begin the expansion of their collection into what it is today.

The society also had its own microfilm reader. Anne Kane handled the orders for microfilm to be rented from the American Genealogical Lending Library.

Back in those good ol’ days, Ilsa Lezgus was not only president, but she served as newsletter editor and as a one person Program Committee. Some of the programs included Angus Baxter to coming to tell us about researching in foreign countries and George Everton, of Everton’s Genealogical Helper magazine, arriving in a huge motor home and unloading box after box of books and other material which we helped carry in to be set up for sale. His wife presided over the sales while he presented programs on various genealogical subjects. Other speakers of note included Fran Carter, James and Paula Warren, and George Chapman.

The final test…can you answer these questions?

1. When was the first GenFair held?
2. When was the Alliance of Genealogical Societies of South West Florida founded?
3. Who have been the two Heirloom editors?

Helen Eckhardt
Remembers the Society

Photo by Michele Bender

I joined the society about 1993 and was hooked from the start! At that time we were meeting at the United Methodist Church. Bob Holbrook was president and Ilsa Lezgus was the Editor of the Heirloom.

I was impressed by the set of “rolling” shelves which contained books that had been donated or purchased by the society. These were rolled out at every meeting and members were permitted to borrow the books between meetings. (This had to be discontinued when we moved from United Methodist as there was no space to store the collection at St. John’s.)

The development of the Genealogy Collection at the Collier County Public Library (CCPL) was entirely due to the tireless efforts of Clara Obern and Doug Reid. They spent hours working on getting a collection together, getting the books cataloged properly and convincing the library that genealogy was popular enough to warrant its own space.

Most of the books from the society collection were contributed to the Genealogy Collection of the library about 1994 when adequate space was dedicated by the library for such a collection. Later in 1994 a computer was provided to the genealogy collection and the Family Search program was installed by the Colonial Dames.

I believe it was in April 1994 while we were still at United Methodist we first celebrated our 10^th anniversary with a pot luck supper. This is a tradition that has continued.

In January 1995 we moved our meetings to St. John’s (thanks to Bob Geroy’s efforts) and have been here since.

In 1996 we held our first Genealogy Workshop and because of its success, beginning in 1999, I have held Genealogy Workshops once or twice each year at the CCPL. These workshops have been very successful and are always completely booked which indicates a need in that area. The library has always been cooperative in this effort.

In 1997 Bill Bergen became president.
In 1998 I became president.
In 1998 the Alliance of Genealogical Societies of South West Florida was founded. Our society had been involved in establishing the Alliance from the beginning (a two year process.) I was President beginning in 1999 for two years. The group held its first GenFair in March 2000 with great success. They have sponsored GenFair programs every other year since and they have continued to be popular.

In 1999 we made a one day bus trip to the Miami Dade Library. Later we traveled to Orlando (the hotel was a disaster for some but the library terrific) and then later back to Miami (both of these were overnight trips). These trips were very much enjoyed by those who attended and everyone was successful in getting good information.
In 1999 Ilsa retired as Editor of the Heirloom and I took over and have been editor since.
I have always enjoyed doing the Heirloom. As genealogy education is my bag, I enjoy finding information to aid the members in their research.
In April 2000 we began our first Special Interest Group – Brit SIG.
In 2002 Chuck Doebler became president.

Charles Doebler, GSCC President

Photo by Michele Bender

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF COLLIER COUNTY FUTURE DIRECTION

What is the future of the Genealogical Society of Collier County? Since we are an educational organization we must constantly be aware what the members need in aiding their research today and what they will need tomorrow. This is the challenge that the Society Board faces as tries to plan a balanced program for Society members.

Personal computers have revolutionized genealogical research. A decade ago computers were used mostly in record keeping and by very few researchers. It was “paper and pencil” on the dining room table. It was trips to larger libraries and government facilities for census records, city directories and hard to find books. It was using the Soundex method of locating ancestors in the census records. Today most of the census records are indexed and on line using the personal computer at home or in a local library. Soundex as a tool may become a lost art to new genealogical researchers. One can find obscure records on the World Wide Web such as World War One Registration Records, pictures of tombstones in a hometown cemetery and tax records at the county court house that were once hard to find and are now on line. There is much more data to come. A member now can write and publish their family history either on paper or electronically. They can use pictures of old documents and color photographs at very reasonable cost. The future of the personal computer is just starting. To add to the present technology a completely new research area will open up to genealogical research. It is the use of DNA.

Using DNA in genealogical research is so new and foreign that most of our members haven’t even considered the options of this new tool. At the present time a researcher can find only living relatives or what origins one’s heritage might be. Our imaginations have yet to focus on the future of DNA in genealogical research yet we are the baseline for future generations to come. Over the next few years this will be an area of research that the leaders of the Society will keep our members informed and up to date.

The future is ours to explore. The beneficiaries are our descendants.

Charles E. Doebler
President, Genealogical Society of Collier County
April 2004

There have been many who have contributed much to the society and we want to thank them. We also want to acknowledge each and every member who has come, gone, and/or stayed with a big “Thank You” because you have all made it possible! And now on to our second 20! Happy Anniversary!