Bible holds the key: Searching for a link to history
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 31, 2017 7:10 AM
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News-Argus/PHYLLIS MOORE
Marty Tschetter, local history librarian at the Wayne County Public Library, points out the quality of an undated photo made possible through technology in the history room at the library. Some equipment donated by the Old Dobbs Genealogical Society also helps make higher resolution copies, prompting the library to invite residents to bring in old family bibles to glean genealogical information.
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News-Argus/PHYLLIS MOORE
Marty Tschetter, local history librarian at the Wayne County Public Library, discusses how pages are scanned through technology in the history room at the library. Some equipment donated by the Old Dobbs Genealogical Society helps make higher resolution copies. So the library invites residents to bring in older family Bibles to glean genealogical information.
Several years ago, Lynn Johnson was trying to join the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She had done most of the prerequisites to prove genealogical lineage to a patriot who served this country in the Revolutionary War.
But she still needed to connect the dots before she could submit all the paperwork for consideration.
Fortunately, her ancestors kept great records and she knew exactly where to find them -- in a family Bible she was told was at the Johnston County Heritage Center.
"But the Bible was no longer at the Heritage Center," she said. "We don't know what happened to it.
"I happened to remember a distant cousin who had granddaddy's bible. It takes me from my grandfather to the Revolutionary War."
Back in the days before the Internet, and even today, the paper trail for finding birth, marriage and death records, as well as property holdings and other deeds and official documents, is typically through the courthouse or similar offices.
But there is no guarantee that records have been preserved.
That is the case in Wayne County, where a lot of older records have been destroyed, either through fire or other means over the years.
"So the only place you can find birth and death and marriage records, sometimes in a will, but family bibles and the register in family bibles are a primary source that you can use," she said.
Ms. Johnson, who lives in Smithfield, has done her homework.
She is a member of the Old Dobbs Genealogical Society, an active group in this community, tracing ancestries and appreciating the importance of solid record-keeping.
The group has worked closely with the Wayne County Public Library, which features a local history room that contains an assortment of books, clippings, photos and microfilm.
Together, Old Dobbs and the library are enlisting the help of the community in improving records.
"We're looking basically for family bibles that are from 1910, 1920 or older," she said, explaining that since 1914, North Carolina has recorded births and deaths. It wasn't always done well until around 1920, she said.
"Before vital records, around 1913, people used to authenticate their family history," said Marty Tschetter, local history librarian at Wayne County Public Library.
"We're looking for stuff that isn't necessarily in the courthouse.
"We have two files of old family records but the problem is one of them is really difficult to read. They're either old (pages) or we couldn't read their writing."
Residents are encouraged to bring their older family Bibles in to the library.
The intent is to sift through the Bibles and copy certain pages listing relatives and documenting the sources for future reference.
The library doesn't have space for every Bible, Ms. Johnson explained, so the Dobbs group invested in equipment to streamline the process.
"They bought me a small lens for the microfilm ready to make the paper smaller," said Tschetter, giving the library a second scanner and allowing for a nicer resolution quality of items reproduced.
The process of replicating the family pages doesn't take long and the newer equipment is especially helpful in the cases of those "huge old family bibles" that once held a prominent place in the home.
In addition to improving the genealogy records on hand at the library, Tschetter said he would be happy to make a complimentary copy for the family member bringing in the family Bible.
The best time to visit the local history room and have the Bible scanned is Monday through Friday between 9 a.m .and 5:30 p.m.
Tschetter can also accommodate special requests for evenings or weekends, by calling 919-735-1824, ext. 5117 or e-mail Marty.Tschetter@waynegov.com.
Ms. Johnson praised the library for hiring the historian in 2013.
"Marty has just done wonders since he's been there," she said.
"It's the first time we have had a trained librarian in that position."
The Old Dobbs Society is also welcoming new members interested in genealogy.
The group meets four times a year, the third Saturday of the month, in January, April, July and October. Meetings take place at the library at 10:30 a.m.
At the next meeting, July 15, the topic will be moonshine and bootleggers, she said.