Remembering the Beginning

by R.L. Guffin with Wayne Wakefield

Just how did we get started? I discussed the idea of a genealogical society with a couple of people in the early 1970's. I began teaching a class in genealogy in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Alabama in 1973 and I told my friend, Wayne Wakefield, that after I had taught a couple of classes, we would perhaps have a nucleus of people who would be interested in forming a genealogical society. But it was actually Tom Boozer, Director of the Tuscaloosa Arts and Humanities Council who got the ball rolling.

A man from the state of Utah conducted a mini-workshop in genealogy at the old Friedman Library one morning, an event advertised in the local newspaper. A good number of people showed up including Tom Boozer. I was not there nor had I met Tom Boozer. However, Tom put a notice in the paper that an interest meeting would be held at the Friedman Library early in November of 1975 to see if local genealogists would like to form a genealogical society. I attended and gave my full support to the idea.

Someone asked what we would call the society and W.A. Harrison suggested that we call it "The Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society." All concurred and we agreed that we would begin with a morning group and a night group, starting the first Thursday in December. It was also agreed that officers of each group would be elected in the December meeting who would serve through the 1976 year.

Wayne Wakefield had been my mail carrier beginning in the summer of 1972. One day I went to pick up my mail as he was placing it in my box and he said, "I see you are a genealogist." He got his clue from the Genealogical Helper to which I subscribed. Wayne not only became a wonderful friend but he attended my first class at the University and was elected Vice President of the Night Group in December of 1975. Here are Wayne's words which he recently shared with me:

"Even though I grew up in the midst of a fairly large family - cousins, aunts, uncles -I did not develop an interest in genealogy until talking with my father after I returned from military service. He did not have a great knowledge of his ancestors but did know that our family had settled in Fayette County, Alabama. I became quite interested in finding more information and began writing a short family history.

About this time Carl Elliott, a former member of Congress from West Alabama, had begun publishing family histories in his series, "Annals of Northwest Alabama." Fortunately, he learned of my interest in family history and offered to publish a short sketch of the Wakefield family in one of his volumes. Thus the "seed" of genealogy was planted. My life then changed drastically when I transferred to the Tuscaloosa Post Office as rural carrier for Route 3. R.L. Guffin was a patron and I noticed that he was getting a genealogy magazine - another "spark!" We were soon discussing family histories - he knew so much more than I - it was an education for me to chat with him. Later we traveled to Georgia and South Carolina searching for ancestors. These trips were profitable and exciting for both of us.

The early 70's brought talk of forming a genealogical society. Excitement brought about the formation with R.L. Guffin as President and Wayne Wakefield as Vice President.

One of the first meeting places was upstairs in the Friedman Library on Greensboro Avenue. It did have a "homey" atmosphere with its creaky stairs and floors. Some early members were Louise Wilson from Fayette, the Shepherds from Berry, Beasey Hendrix, Angie Cooper, Marsha Burke, and others that I don't remember. It's always pleasant to think about our early years and the many ways we have grown."

Certainly Wayne Wakefield was a vital part of those early years. And, as I recall, I attended that December organizational meeting at 10:00 A.M. and somehow got elected President. That night I attended the night meeting to give them encouragement and once again, I was elected President of that group as well. I walked out thinking, "What have I got myself into?" I wondered how I could juggle being a husband, a father, a professor, an active churchman, and now this. And our only daughter was only 7 months old.

But, as Wayne has recalled, there was an excitement in those early days. People would come early and often stay late, eagerly sharing family stories or research adventures. I ordered many ancestor charts and family group sheets and made them available to the group at cost. And early I announced two goals that I wanted us to accomplish. First was to promote genealogy in the community in as many ways as possible and, second, to make sure that anyone who came to our meetings would learn something about genealogy by being there. The promotion of genealogy came through getting the word out about the society and second, by contributing genealogy books to the local library.

I recalled that when I began visiting the old Friedman Library, they had two small shelves of genealogy books available in the back room. As I look at the collection of genealogical materials available in our library here in 2005, I have a feeling of gratitude to those early members who joined with me in helping build such a collection. And thanks should also go to the administrators of the library through the years who have supported our efforts by allowing us to have a comfortable meeting place each month and who have joined our efforts in purchasing new genealogical resources for the library. In those early days we appreciated the purchase of microfilms and today we enjoy a broad array of sources made available through computers dedicated specifically to genealogy!

At the end of 1976 I appointed a nominating committee to select officers for the coming year. Both groups asked me to stay on as President since we were still a young organization. I agreed. For six consecutive years they said the same thing. Finally, in 1982, I indicated that it was time for me to step down. We had many talented people in the society and we had moved into a beautiful new library facility. I felt that we were poised to grow significantly and under new leadership.

In those early years we started a newsletter, published a popular lineage chart book, and then a highly successful book,Pionners of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Prior to 1830. It was a privilege to work with those early officers and I particularly appreciate those who headed our big projects such as Margaret Findley with the lineage charts book and June Reese with the Pioneers book.

Here I am once again serving as President of our society in 2004 and 2005. And this gives me this special opportunity to thank those hundreds of people who have helped to make ours a quality organization over the years. In the words of Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories!"

Published in the 1 Dec 2005 Thirty Year Celebration Issue of "Roots And Branches"