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Archiver > OHGALLIA > 2004-12 > 1101956260


From: cheryl enyart <>
Subject: Re: [OHGALLIA-L] Fw: 1980 Gallia County Family Histolry Book
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 18:57:51 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <022b01c4d80b$e582a200$b417d6d1@default>


Thank YOU , Denise
CHeryl Enyart
VP of the Gallia County Genealogical Society

Denise Ashleman <> wrote:

To all members of the Gallia County Genealogical and Gallia County Historical Society:

I am writing this letter for current researchers and future generations who are interested in their ancestors, their families, their history.

I am disappointed with the people who have voiced recent objection to the printing of a second edition of the 1980 Gallia County Family History Book. What is the motivation to the opposition to make valuable family history, provided by those families, available to the ever expanding generations of descendants of these families and genealogists? I have noticed that the "reasons" that seem so important to those who chose to suppress the reprinting of this book seem to be questions regarding the denigration of the "Limited, numbered First Edition" History Books. Owners of these can rest assured that numbered, first editions, always maintain their value. A first edition, numbered book, work of art, etc., is a special, rare item and will always be such. We are fortunate that there have been numerous editions reprinted and released for the works of all the great authors and books throughout time. Just imagine if the great literary works were owned by, and available to,!
only a select group of people. Motivated by self entitlement, greed, and/or ego that made them feel superior to the masses, a small group of people could deny all others access to Shakespeare, Whitman, Yeats, Poe,Twain, Hemmingway, the Bible, even Harry Potter! The stories contained in the 1980 History Book were contributed so that future generations could gleam some insight into their ancestors and as a living testimonial to each and every family. These family histories belong to the members of these families for generations to come and were contributed to tell their stories long after they have gone. The best way to preserve and protect the integrity of these stories and the integrity and purpose the Gallia County Historical and Genealogical Society is to honor the families by continuing to make these stories available for generations to come. With modern technology, expanding population, relocation and progress, genealogy has become affordable and information readi!
ly available to anyone who is interested. In my Grandmother's time, it would take years to obtain the information I have at my fingertips. The cost of long distance calls, travel and obtaining copies of documents was not affordable to our ancestors. They did what they could afford to do and spent years compiling the mostly handwritten information we now work from today. I live in Florida and can still access information from all over the country, even the world. My parents are in Ohio, however, my father left Gallia County for Columbus at a very young age. The world moves on and so must we. Progress by no means implies that we can disregard timely research and study of old documents, this information is the foundation of history and time. Families that recently contributed stories for the most recent Gallia County Family History Book did so to insure the perpetuity of these stories for all time, not so these stories could be suppressed and available to a select few o!
r only the highest bidder at some time in the future.

In closing, to those who object to second editions of anything being published, you had better take a long hard look at the motivations behind your protests. Only a selfish individual would knowingly deny the histories of so many families contained in the 1980 History Book to their future descendants, for any reason. Ignorance can only thrive when knowledge and information is withheld.

Please let the staff at The Gallia County Historical and Genealogical Society know how much this information is needed and encourage them to continue to make sure that every family story lives on. In years to come, I hope that as many editions of any of the publications are reprinted. I hope that many editions will be wanted and needed by all of our decendents, not yet born, to learn and know about the family that they came from. These publications are priceless to so many people for their content, not their cost or monetary value. The family stories can fuel the imagination of a small child or bring a smile or tear to an old mind that needs a little nudge to remember fond times and people from their past. Many of us have "hit brick walls" because our ancestors did not talk about or record many things. An "elephant"could be in the middle of the living room and they chose to ignore it, walk around it, or just not talk about it. Today's researchers and family historian!
s need to see, write about and ride the "elephant" into the future. Excentric or "ahead of the times" are kinder and more gentle words for all family "elephants", regardless of who or whatever they may be. The best stories usually involve these family member or incidents.

Denise Ashleman


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