Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society

NWMGS History

Taken from "Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society Journal" dated April 1999

The Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society was organized in April 1979, at a meeting held at Clasby Museum, Savannah, Missouri by thirty-five people who had taken classes at Missouri Western State College. The classes were taught by Gena Rae Shores who became the first president. Other officers elected at that meeting were: Martha Marcum, 1st Vice President; Wavalea Oliver, 2nd Vice President; John Ostertag, Recording Secretary; Kenneth Cox, Treasurer; Marion Jones, Corresponding Secretary; Doris Lett, Membership and Frank Shores, Family charts.

Thirty-two persons became charter members. Following is an alphabetical list; an asterisk denotes that a person is still a member of the Society: *Dorris Arn, Walter Arn, Kay Butchart, Edward Cain, *Kenneth Cox, Michele Davidson, Luella Detro, Elizabeth Harvey, *Thomas Harvey, *Phyllis Heath, Marion Jones, Shirley Lawler, *Doris Lett, *Loren Left, Brian Liechti, Penny Liechti, Gloria Lyons, Martha Marcum, Richard McClanahan, *Letha McClanahan, *Wavalea Oliver, Perry Oliver, *John Ostertag, *Enid Ostertag, Frank Shores, Gena Rae Shores, *Maxine Sklenar, *Helen Stanton, Ann Turner, Earl Van Sickle, Ina Wachtel and Hildreth Wyckoff. Four additional people who held membership in June 1979 are considered charter members. They are: Betty Anslinger, Yvonne Ramsey, William Ware and Dorothy Ware.

It was decided the Society would represent nine surrounding counties, to wit: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth. The purpose of the Society was to encourage an interest in genealogy, to add to the education of the membership, to assist in research and to preserve genealogical records.

Since its inception the Society has met in numerous places after leaving the Clasby Museum at the end of 1979. Meetings were held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Farm and Home Savings and Loan, St. Mary's Catholic School, the Senior Citizen Center and Missouri Western State College. The first library was at St. Mary's School and Joyce Allen was the librarian. Mildred Moore was the next librarian. These early libraries had very limited hours. In 1982, the Society moved into a five-room house at 3619 Anglique Street, established their library there and held their meetings there. When they outgrew that facility, the library and meetings were moved to 719 Francis Street and later 717 Francis was added. Dixie Painter joined the Society in 1980 and since 1982 has been the head librarian through growth spurts and moves.

For two-and-a-half years members of the Society held bingo nights to earn money to buy a permanent home for the Society and its library. Bazaars and bake sales proceeds were added to the fund and in February 1991, they moved into the present library at 412 Felix Street. In 1994, Marjorie Thompson Caskey of Bella Vista, Arkansas, donated her extensive collection of research books to the library. These books have added much data for the use of the library's patrons.

In 1979, dues were $5.00 for an individual, $7.00 for a household. 1981 brought an increase to $7.00 and $10.00. In 1985, the dues were $10.00 and $15.00 and since 1992, they have been $15.00 for each household. Membership has increased from the original thirty-two to over seven hundred at present, representing forty-five states and Canada.

A newsletter was started in 1980. The first "Journal" was published in April 1981, the second anniversary of the Society's founding.

There have been six presidents of the Society:
      Gena Rae Shores 1979-1982;
      Jackie Dunn 1982-1985;
      Matthew Carver 1985-1987;
      Mary Sims 1987-1995;
      Edward Blakeley 1995-1999; and
      Juanita Haskins 2000-present
These dedicated people have led the Society through the twenty years of growth and development. However, they have not done it without a lot of help from equally dedicated members. All are volunteers, all work long hours to keep the Society running and the library staffed and many of the volunteers wear two or more hats. At the present time, there are about forty people who are officers and board members, librarians, helpers to get the Newsletter and Journal ready for mailing and typists who transcribe data.

Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society on their twenty plus years! May future years bring the same dedication to the orginal goals and may the growth of the Society encompass the same dedicated members.

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