FGS 2010 Recap

I'd love to provide you with a nice long recap of the FGS Conference in Knoxville, but I expect that I would put most of you to sleep if you heard my recap. My duties as audiovisual chair kept me putting a lot of miles on my feet during the course of the conference. I was able to spend a little over four hours on Tuesday at the McClung Collection of the East Tennessee History Center, providing expert assistance for researchers. During "Focus on Societies" Day, I presented Organizing Your Society's Library and Archives. During the main part of the conference, I presented Appalachian Resources of the Appalachian College Association and Alabama Ancestral Sources. I was honored to have the author of one of the resources I mentioned as a general source in attendance at that last session. It was fun to meet a few genealogists that I only knew through Facebook, and it was fun spending time with so many that I only see once or twice each year. Everyone seemed to enjoy the restaurants on Market Square. I don't know if it still holds true, but I know that at one time Knoxville was said to have the most restaurants per capita. I think several of them were enjoyed by conference participants. It was exciting to have so many people enjoying this area. Participants also really seemed to enjoy the outing to the Museum of Appalachia. There was plenty of time to network while enjoying music and Appalachian heritage and culture. It will take my feet a couple of weeks to recover, but the conference was a huge success, so I guess the foot pain was worth it. I'm now back at work so I can get a little rest!

Two Weeks Until FGS

Two weeks from today, APG will be holding its Professional Management Conference in Knoxville, and two weeks from tomorrow, the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference begins with its Focus on Societies Day. Many librarians have already pre-registered for the COMPLETELY FULL Librarians' Day which will be held at the Hilton on that day. All of us here in East Tennessee are looking forward to greeting all of you who are coming! I spent a good part of the afternoon at the Knoxville Convention Center ironing out a few last minute details with their wonderful staff. After that, I ran over to the East Tennessee History Center for a few minutes. I noticed that the museum gift shop is really filled with things that genealogists will enjoy purchasing! I stopped by Coolato Gelato which is just across Gay Street and barely down in the next block from the History Center to enjoy a small hazelnut gelato. On a day with a heat index of 103, the gelato really hit the spot! (Of course, I enjoy their gelato any time I have an opportunity to do so!) There's also a French Market Creperie, Lenny's Sub Shop, and the S & W Grand Cafe in this block. Knoxville's Market Square is actually a block nearer the convention center and offers many dining opportunities. Market Square Kitchen is known for its soups, but offers sandwiches and other foods as well. The Tomato Head is a local favorite. The offer vegetarian entrees as well. You can build your own salad at Trio Cafe. When you walk in, get one of the menu slips and pencils and circle the ingredients you want on your salad. They have other menu items as well. If you are in a Latin mood, try La Costa. It's gaining a great reputation and a strong following. In the hot weather, Rita's on Market Square is a popular place. They serve Italian Ice and Custard. Oodles Uncorked is another restaurant in Market Square. Be sure to check out the Market Square District Association page for more information on restaurants in Market Square and on Gay Street as well as other merchants in these areas.

3rd FGS Hotel

The two conference hotels (the Hilton and Holiday Inn) are filled. We have been able to secure a block of rooms at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville at the rate of $108/night for persons still needing lodging. In order to receive the rate, you must contact the hotel directly at 865-522-2600 extension 2366 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT. Be sure to mention that you are with "Federation of Genealogical Societies" to receive this special group rate. The hotel is 2.5 blocks from the Convention Center and is on the city of Knoxville's free trolley route. It will take approximately 10 minutes via the trolley to reach the convention center. A trolley arrives approximately every 15 minutes. The full service hotel features Mahogany's Restaurant and a Starbucks. The hotel is only 2 blocks from the East Tennessee History Center.

2009 East Tennessee History Fair

At the East Tennessee History Center , Krutch Park , and various downtown sites

August 22, 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The East Tennessee Historical Society will celebrate our region’s history in a big way in Downtown Knoxville. On August 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., bring your friends and family to join in the excitement. Activities will include a living history timeline, historical and genealogical groups from our 35 counties, live traditional music, historical craft demonstrations, storytelling, children’s activities including Davy Crockett’s birthday party, trolley tours to downtown’s historic homes, old movies at the Bijou Theatre, Market Square Farmers Market, tours of the new exhibitions Voices of the Land: the People of Tennessee and Mountain Splendor: Art and Artists of the Great Smoky Mountains, 1850-1950, and much, much more. The event is free to the public.

The East Tennessee History Fair is sponsored by the Knoxville Central Business Improvement District (CBID) and Clayton Bank and Trust. The East Tennessee History Center is located at 601 S. Gay Street , Knoxville 37902 . For more information call 865.215.8824 or visit www.eastTNhistory.org. Look for more to come on this event in Newsline and future emails.

Knox County Libraries to Reduce Hours

Knox County (Tennessee) Public Libraries will be cutting back hours to avoid laying off staff. (They do have a hiring freeze.) Most of us researching genealogy use the McClung Collection the most often of the various branches, so I briefly want to outline how these changes will affect us. Basically, the library will open at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. as in the past. On Tuesday evenings, the library will close at 5:30 p.m. instead of giving us evening hours until 8:30 p.m. (The library will still be open Monday evenings until 5:30 p.m.) The library will not open until 1 p.m. on Saturday, giving researchers who work all week only 4 hours to research on that day. In light of the fact that I've just read about increased library usage in light of the economy, I think that the government officials have made a terrible mistake in cutting library hours. This cut in hours is primarily affecting those who are working. It gives them even less time to use the library. The cut in Saturday hours is the worst thing for me. I live about an hour from the McClung Collection, and it is the best genealogical collection in the East Tennessee area. I usually work Monday nights during the academic year. I rarely used the library on Tuesday evenings because I'd only have a couple of hours to use it by the time I ate and got there after work. Saturday was my prime time to use McClung. Because of church activities, the Sunday hours don't work for me. I'm now reduced to 4 hours of research at the most when I do go. I enjoyed getting there early, going for lunch on Market Square and returning to research until near closing time. As bad as this is for genealogical research, I think the cut in hours will even be worse for potential users of the various branches of the library. You hear the government officials talking about how literacy and other educational measures need to be improved, but when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is, it isn't happening! I hope the public outcry will be great. Libraries in Tennessee are already underfunded. I was so disappointed in the selection of materials when I moved here from Ohio. I was a heavy user of the Cincinnati Public Library system when I lived in Cincinnati. When I moved to Tennessee, I ended up becoming a heavier purchaser of reading materials. East Tennessee libraries are inadequate in good fiction, but they are even worse when it comes to the types of non-fiction materials I enjoy (such as history which can be checked out).

This weekend in Knoxville

This would be a great weekend to visit the Blount Mansion and Ramsey House. It's Statehood Day Heritage Festival time.

National Library Week Tribute #5: McClung Collection, Knox County Public Library

The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection of the Knox County Public Library System is the best historical and genealogical collection in the East Tennessee area. It is housed in the same building with the East Tennessee Historical Society and the Knox County Archives. In recent years, the facility has expanded beyond the old customs house in which it was archived. They have renovated the older facilities as well. While I don't get there as often as I would like, I enjoy using their collection. Their materials for east Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina are quite good.

Boomsday

Today is Boomsday in Knoxville. I wish it were still held on Labor Day as it was until a couple of years ago. Boomsday is labeled as the largest Labor Day fireworks show in the United States. They close down a bridge or two for most of the weekend to set up for the show. They tell us that the first few minutes will be quite spectacular this year. When it was held on Monday, I used to go with some friends down to watch it. Now I just watch it on TV.

Favorite Televised Fireworks Show for 2007

. . . and the winner goes to Boston's show complete with the Boston Pops. They are so pretty over the Charles River. Besides, Boston definitely had the best orchestra!

Actually, it's not quite fair to New York because I didn't get to see their show because our Knoxville station thought it was more important to broadcast the Knoxville show. When I lived in Cincinnati, I always thought New York had the best because they were so pretty out there in the harbor.

I also saw portions of the Washington DC show while watching the Knoxville one. It's called channel surfing! Of course, weather put a damper on DC show.

Knoxville & Electro-Turkish Baths

My favorite local columnist is not featured in a mainstream paper, but instead his articles appear in the MetroPulse, an alternative paper which has just been purchased by E.W. Scripps. The columnist is Jack Neely. He writes articles on interesting things from Knoxville's history. This week's column on Electro-Turkish Baths is no exception to his interesting topics. There is also mention of an early vegetarian restaurant which fared better than its contemporary counterparts in the city.

McClung Warehouse Bricks Get New Life

Many of the bricks from the McClung Warehouses fire in Knoxville will find a new home at the Museum of Appalachia.