Calhoun, Camden Counties Publish Histories
September 25th, 1994CALHOUN, CAMDEN COUNTIES PUBLISH HISTORIES
County histories are one of the most important research sources available for genealogists, local historians and teachers. “Against Oblivion: History of Calhoun County, Georgia” is the first-ever county history of this southwest Georgia county. The Calhoun County Historical Society worked many years to reach this point. Each chapter is written or compiled by a society member. The topics covered include towns and communities, banks, churches, clubs, music, newspapers, schools and county collectibles. By far the largest chapter, 250 or so pages, is about families. The appendices include cemeteries, citizens, Civil War lists, county officials, schools, more on towns and communities, and veterans of other wars. There is a surname-only index, which has some (unmentioned) parameters, such as the fact that each cemetery has its own index and those names are not in the master index, nor are other appendices in the index. The book is printed well and has many good illustrations and photographs. Each town is well-covered and the book includes both the black and white citizens. This is the county where the main plantation home, the Dickey House, at Stone Mountain, came from, and it is discussed. This book is a wonderful new addition to Georgia’s county histories. Published through W. H. Wolfe Associates, it is available from the Calhoun County Historical Society, P.O.Box 351, Edison, Ga. 31746.
CAMDEN COUNTY REVISION
“Camden’s Challenge: A History of Camden County, Georgia”, about Georgia’s southeasternmost county, was originally published in 1976 and has recently been revised and reprinted. It is not clear what has been updated, except that in the family section there are numerous dates postdating the original book. There is also a chapter on King’s Bay Naval Base, and information on the county’s genealogy library, the Bryan-Lang Historical Library in Woodbine, which is worth a visit. There are two limited indexes, one to subjects, and the other to family histories, actually just to the major names in each history. The history of all the citizens, both white and black, appear to be covered in this new edition. The county, which for a long time was sparsely populated, includess a lot of interesting towns as well as Cumberland Island. Published through W.H.Wolfe Associates, the book is $30 plus $4 postage (to Camden County), mailed to the Bryan-Lang Historical Library, P.O.Box 725, Woodbine, Ga. 31569.
ALABAMA RESEARCH
“Research in Alabama: Special Sources from the Heart of Dixie” with emphasis on early migration from Georgia will be the topic of Robert S. Davis, Jr.’s workshop for the Georgia Genealogical Society on Saturday, October 8, from 10-2:30 at the Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Rd., Atlanta. Cost is $12 members, $15 non-members. Davis is a well-known author of many books on Georgia records (including the Montgomery County History) but recently moved to Alabama to head the Family History Program at Wallace State College, Hanceville. Reservations by October 1st (payable to the Georgia Genealogical Society) to Linda Geiger, 4526 Bexley Dr., Stone Mt., Ga. 30083-5518 or call 987-2301.