The Collection Development Committee not only works with collections donated to our library but also purchases books when one of our members reaches the age of 90. The member can choose a book for WVGS to purchase, which is presented at a monthly Membership Meeting, Then the book goes back to the library to be accessioned into our collection for all of us to use.
At the January 9th Membership Meeting, Sheri Erickson was happy to introduce such a member: Irma Hardin, Past President and currently the Publicity Chairperson. The book presented is Germany, A Nation In Its Time, Before, During And After Nationalism, 1500- 2000 by Helmut Walser Smith.
Irma was born in Illinois and moved to Phoenix in 1965 for her children’s health. She has four children, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She worked for the State of Illinois for 22 years and retired in 1993 to care for her parents and her husband’s parents. The last position was the best: Unclaimed Property Supervisor. Abandoned safe deposit boxes, forgotten bank accounts, and utility deposits are turned over to the state and the task was to locate the rightful owners and return the funds to them.
She started genealogy in 1969 after her sister had twins. The doctor told her sister that multiple births come from the mother’s side. Irma researched the 1850 census and found their great-grandfather had identical twin girls. Further research revealed five sets of twins in her family. Incidentally, Irma’s husband’s family also had several multiple births.
Irma discovered her great-aunt still lived in the house her second great-grandfather had built. She had a family Bible and other documents. She took her grandmother on vacation to Illinois to see her sister. At first, she was reluctant to talk about dead people or share any other information. However, she was willing to share the burial locations of family members. She discovered her second great-grandfather Rabourne had been a minister at a little country church which is still standing. The cemetery was right next to it!