TEXAS MEMORABILIA AUCTIONED ANNUALLY
Brenda Kellow
May 6, 2012
The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) again joined with Heritage Auctions to put on an event on March 3 about which this author was unaware until I received a catalog of items to be auction. The TSHA and Heritage Auctions get together every year to present the Texana Auction where they sell donated memorabilia. Proceeds go to support TSHA programs. Both academia and the nonacademic community are the donors.
The TSHA has long been a leader on Texas history research and education. They sponsor programs to help identify, collect, preserve, and tell the stories of the State of Texas we all so appreciate. This year’s catalog says, TSHA is “located on the campus of the University of North Texas since 2008, the Association works with partners to provide passion, talent, and long-term support for the dissemination of scholarly research; educational programs for the K-12 community; and opportunities for public discourse about the complex issues and personalities of our heritage.”
For those who love history and examining sale items, you can browse the catalog online at Associations site, http://www.tshaonline.org/auctions. On the left click on 2012 Heritage Catalog (pdf).
My thanks to Ed Standridge for providing me with this catalog and educating me on this event. I thought I was an informed Texan. Ouch! It is another case where a person is never too old to learn.
DECIPHERING HANDWRITING: Some modern handwriting samples are difficult to read, just as is colonial handwriting. Having trouble with new or old? Compare the first letter of your word to other letters on a page because so often different letters appear much the same. For instance, in reference to capital letters, the “L” and “S” may appear nearly the same as is “I” and “J”. The lower case letters using the older double “s” may often look like an “ff” or even “ps”. According to some who read my handwriting, my “W” looks like “Th” and often my fancy “H” resembles “JC”. Actually, in medieval times, there was no letter for “th” as in “the”. Therefore, a “y” was used. In these cases, the “y” is called a thorn. Nevertheless, it is pronounced as a “th”. If you would like to read more about early handwriting, go to http://cdm.reed.edu/cdm4/indianconverts/studyguides/colonial_american_handwriting/cultural_significance.php. It is an interesting site.
COLLIN COUNTY LOOKUPS: Paulette Lawson Chandler, [email protected], volunteered to do lookups or fulfill research requests for Collin County. She has many of the sources in her personal home library.
SAR AWARDS CITY OF PLANO PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS: The Plano Chapter of the Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) gathers June 5 to give the awards to the City’s finest! The Police Chief and Fire Chief will help present the awards to the Police, Fire, EMS and 911 employees for their outstanding work for the year. Join them for dinner at Outback Steakhouse at six and the meeting begins promptly at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.
FREE LECTURE ON HERALDRY: On May 19 from 10:30-12:30, Genealogy Friends presents a free seminar titled Introduction to Heraldry for Genealogists given by David Appleton. It will be at the Haggard Library in the program room on the first floor. Come soon after 10 a.m. and help ready the room, coffee and muffins, and network with other genealogists. You do not have to be a member to attend. For more information peruse the site at www.genealogyfriends.org or email [email protected]. Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. is a nonprofit organization certified under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
PENNSYLVANIA HAS DEATH RECORDS ONLINE: The site is organized and easy to use. If you have Pennsylvania death records to find, go to http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=1085804&mode=2.
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].