CONFEDERATE RESEARCH CENTER COVERS ALL SOUTHERN STATES
Brenda Kellow
June 3, 2012
The Harold B. Simpson Hill College History Complex, in Hillsboro, houses the Confederate Research Center. No longer does the museum contain only information on Texans who served in the military, but it has a vast collection of information on those serving from all the southern states. Their records are extensive on every aspect of the Civil War. The scope of material covered includes Texans who served from the Civil War, but extends through the Vietnam conflict.
Established in 1963, it has over 5,000 acquisitions pertinent to Civil War research. It has undoubtedly the most extensive material on this subject in the southwest. Among the collection are original manuscripts, diaries and letters from the war period and maps and photographs of civilians who lived during that period. The microfilm library is substantial. It includes the compiled service records of all the Texas Confederate soldiers, Texas newspapers published during the War, census records of the Central Texas counties, and post returns of the forts in Texas. They have subscriptions to most of the major magazines and journals published on the War. The recently remodeled complex hosts a state of the art theatre with films highlighting the collection. A rather complete index of items available is at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mscivilw/csa_resc.html.
There are several galleries in the Research Center. The Civil War research material is in the Blue Gray Gallery. Another section, the Weapons Gallery, contains many of the items from the Harold B. Simpson personal artillery collection. The display is of weapons from each military period.
Audie Murphy of Farmersville was the most decorated soldier who fought in World War II. He has a gallery named after him. The holdings contain more than 5,000 additional books dealing with WWI and WWII, and new ones are added regularly.
Hill College received the United States Civil War Centennial Commissions Bronze Medal of Distinction. It is the only educational institution in the Southwest to win the award.
The museum and Research Center are open Monday-Thursday from 8:30am-4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. It closes for lunch between 11:30 and 1 p.m. The Research Center also offers genealogical research services. For more information on the Harold B. Simpson History Complex, call 254-582-2555, extension 295, or visit www.hillcollege.edu/museum/museum. It is located west of I-35 on State Highway 22 in Hillsboro.
1940 CENSUS INDEXES COMPLETE: The 1940 census indexes completed for the following states are Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Vermont and Wyoming.
RENOWNED GENEALOGIST JOAN CURRAN PASSES: Joan, 85, well known in the genealogy community, passed away May 19. She served as both a trustee and officer of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and for the New England Historic Genealogical Society. I am honored that she worked closely with me during my early years as a Certified Genealogist. You can read her extensive obituary at http://stei-23848.tributes.com/show/Joan-Ferris-Curran-93849284.
FIND MY PAST: Just added to the site are more than three-million records on Plymouth and Devon, England records. These records contain baptisms, marriages and burials from 1538, the start of vital records, to 1911. These are on their site at http://www.findmypast.co.uk/content/news/plymouth-may12. Although this is a subscription site, you may search free for 14 days. If you opt for the 14 days, be sure to mark it on your calendar to either pay for it or cancel so you will not incur any charges.
FATE OF GENEALOGY SHOWS ON TV: The network cancelled Who Do You Think You Are for the coming TV season citing falling stocks. The Public Broadcasting System is keeping Finding Your Roots on their schedule.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].