Traverse City Record Eagle
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Section: Northern Living, Page 1E & 3E
On Bottom Page 1 of the section "Northern Living" - continue page 3E
Typed Verbatim - Included: A photo with about half the books I donated in the photo.
Northern People Column:
Genealogist digs up family tree roots (heading)
When Brenda Wolfgram-Moore talks about genealogy her passion for the subject
shows up in the way her face lights up.
Wolfgram-Moore (never have hyphenated this), a lifelong resident of the Traverse City
region, who traces her local family tree to the mid 1850s, is not hesitant to help others
find their roots.
The recently named lifetime honorary member of the Grand Traverse Area Genealogical
Society had her interest in family history sparked nearly 30 years ago when her brother, Ben Wolfgram set her on a mission.
"He wanted to know how much land the family owned over the years," said Wolfgram-Moore who took on the challenge that changed her life.
"I went to the land records office and the register of deeds (oops they messed this) and started on page one and just kept going," Wolfgram-Moore said, noting how easy it is to get hooked.
"You can always go back and do more. It is time-consuming, but very rewarding," she said.
With her broad knowledge (see page 3E) ;)
PEOPLE
Genealogist digs up family
tree roots for people
from page 1E
on the subject of everything genealogy, it wasn't long before people started seeking her out for
advice on doing their own research.
"As her name became connected with genealogy, people would contact her and ask questions, sometimes just give her stuff they had collected," said Mary Briggs, president of the Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society.
Included in the items Wolfgram-Moore collected, both through gifts and purchases, were dozens of books that she has since donated to the Traverse Area District Library's research department.
"She gave more than 80 books that she could have as easily sold or kept," said Briggs, noting that Wolfgram-Moore is as modest about her knowledge as she is generous with it.
Wolfgram-Moore admits that people write to her almost every day asking for information on their family. "I get as excited working on other people's family as my own, because there is more new information to find," she said. "I love to see their face when they see something that I found."
In addition to her interest in family genealogy, Wolfgram-Moore has begun a database of Civil War soldiers from the four county area.
With more than 2,600 names on file, she says she spends at least some time, everyday working on one project or another.
"I'm also hoping to begin a Korean War datbase as a tribute to the area vets," she noted. In an effort to share her projects with the community, she has set up a Web site www.gtregion.blogspot.com that includes images of post cards, newspaper clippings, and a wide variety of photos.
"I have boxes and boxes of items, most of which I can tell you what I have, some I just have no idea," said Wolfgram-Moore.
the end!
Notes:Now online: Northern People: Genealogist digs up roots
NOW>> the item on Korea is error.. I started this site some time ago but she got it reversed! ;)
http://grandtraverseregion.com/grandtraverse/korea_otis.htm
and.. she didn't mention my MIGenWeb: http://grandtraverseregion.com/grandtraverse/index.htm ;(
and .. I won't mention the photo of moi! ;) Even my friends were sad about it. But overall, Lisa did a good job of the interview.
GenieBk
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