W.I.S.E. words The Newsletter of W.I.S.E. Family History Society Wales – Ireland – Scotland - england Volume 19, Number 4 Denver, Colorado October, November, December 2018 Celebrating 35 Years W.I.S.E. is 35—What Will the Next 35 Years Bring? Volume 19 began with a 35th Anniversary article, and it’s fitting to close with one as well. For the past year I’ve had the opportunity to assemble and peruse 1,090 pages of W.I.S.E. Words and have gleaned these nuggets from our history. Because of the breadth of information contained in over a thousand pages, I concentrated on reading through the Presidents’ messages through the years. One common theme was a smorgasbord of excellent programs through the years, which has allowed our society to fulfill its mission of fostering interest in the Genealogy and Family History of the British Isles, increasing the educational opportunities and knowledge of the society members and the general public, publishing W.I.S.E. Words, and supporting the Denver Public Library with the donation of at least 155 books. Commenting on the quality of the programs, then President James Jeffrey posed the question in 2006, “How many other North American British Isles groups can lay claim to having hosted the President of the Guild of One-Name Studies, first Vice President of the Federation of Family History Societies, Pres- ident of the Federation, and the founder of the Ulster-Scots History and Heritage Soci- ety?” (W.I.S.E. Words, Volume 7, Number 2, April May June 2006, page 16). James also authored a detailed account of the history of W.I.S.E. in 2008, “The Evolu- tion of W.I.S.E.: How a study group matured into a spirited family history society.” (I 1983 think we can all agree that we continue to honor and hold sacred the “spirited” part of that title.) In celebration of our history and to inform current members who might not make the effort to access an old volume of W.I.S.E. Words, major portions of James’ historical article follow: 2018 “When was W.I.S.E. formed and what is the back story? We trace our earliest history to the formation of an "ethnic study group" suggested by Shirley Ann Sheets. Miss Sheets worked for many years as a genealogy librarian at the Denver Public Library. She was also involved with the St. Andrew Society of Colorado. She was in charge of the Clan and Genealogy Tent when the Colorado Highland Games were held at Brooks Field, Colorado School of Mines in Golden. Miss Sheets relinquished her duties to Ann Lisa Pearson when the games moved to Highlands Ranch Heritage Park. The Denver Public Library in the early 1980s had three reorganizations, and the W.I.S.E. story fits into that. After the first revamping in about 1982, there was a push for nontraditional programs and events. Shirley Sheets had been hired to assist Joanne Classen in the Genealogy Department, and she set about organizing ethnic study groups. Continued on Page 54 www.wise-fhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 51 October, November, December 2018 Treasurer’s Report ........................................ 54 W.I.S.E. Family History Society Membership Report ...................................... 54 New England Musings: The Pilgrims ........... 54 W.I.S.E. Family History Society is dedicated to research in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, the Chan- Tech Talk – Podcasts .................................... 56 nel Islands and the Isle of Man. Attention is also directed Butte, Montana, Richer than Ever ................. 57 to the emigration and immigration of these peoples as Do You Have the Time? ............................... 57 well as heraldry and one-name studies. Monthly meetings June Program ................................................ 58 are generally held the fourth Saturday of most months at the Central Denver Public Library, 7th Floor. Member- August Program ............................................ 58 ship is open to anyone with interest in family history and Denver Architecture Walking Tour .............. 58 genealogy. Membership dues for the calendar year are Colorado Scottish Festival ............................ 59 $12 for an individual or $15 for a family living at the same address. The W.I.S.E. Family History Society pub- Oh, Canada! .................................................. 59 lishes W.I.S.E. Words four times per year, and a subscrip- Lughnasadh or First Harvest ......................... 61 tion is included with membership dues. Add $5 to the dues Edward I – Longshanks, Pa rt II ................... 62 if you want a printed copy of the newsletter mailed to you. A Welsh Film Star: Richard Burton ............. 64 © 2000-2018, W.I.S.E. Family History Society, Book Reviews ............................................... 66 P.O. Box 40658, Denver, CO 80204-0658 All rights reserved. Program Schedule ......................................... 67 Visit our website at www.wise-fhs.org. President’s Message Officers and Board Members As we prepare for our Scottish Seminar featuring Christine Woodcock, I can’t help looking back at President ............................................ Sylvia Tracy-Doolos [email protected] 2018 and forward to 2019. As genealogists and his- Vice President/Program Chair .................... Sandy Ronayne tory buffs we constantly examine the past and draw Secretary .................................... Marilyn Edwards-Roberts parallels to the present. This month, with W.I.S.E.’s Treasurer ..................................................... Bruce Haefner 35th anniversary, as we step back to consider our Membership Coordinator ............................... Suzann Smith organization’s rich history, we can get a glimpse of Members’ Interests Coordinator .......................Jo Sempeck the intentions of our founders, and we can look for Publicity Coordinator ................................... Diana Copsey new ways to build on those intentions. Archivist .......................................................... Marcia Kehl CCGS Delegate ................................................ Bill Hughes Building community is what W.I.S.E. was founded Hospitality Coordinator ............................ Debbie Boucher on and continues to be about. A community of in- Interim Webmaster .......................... Sandra Keifer-Roberts dividuals who love to learn about our shared history Member-at-Large ............................................ Sandy Breed in the British Isles, Ireland, and America—a com- munity of genealogists, historians, and literary con- noisseurs. We come together monthly to explore, Newsletter Staff share, and discuss our families, our histories, and Newsletter Editor .................................. Mary Anne Larson our differences and similarities. Our August pro- ............................................................ [email protected] Assistant Newsletter Editor ............. Sandra Keifer-Roberts gram was an example of the breadth and depth of Book Review Editor ........................... Zoe von Ende Lappin the interests and talents of our membership, and the Proofreader .................................................. Bruce Haefner support our community has for its members. Distribution Coordinator .................................. Sue Clasen We are continually looking for interesting ways to Wales Editor.............................................. Nancy McCurdy build community and to serve the interests of our Ireland Editor ................................................ Thyria Wilson members. Aside from our monthly programs we Scotland Editor ........................................... Diane Barbour have an off-site field trip each summer and have England Editor .................................................. Mark Wells representation at area festivals that expand on W.I.S.E.’s community. We have been represented In This Issue at four festivals in 2018 and have at least one more W.I.S.E. is 35 ................................................ 50 planned. Resources to support these outreach op- President’s Message ...................................... 51 portunities have been purchased or donated by our From the Editor ............................................. 52 community members. If you have ideas that you www.wise-fhs.org W.I.S.E. Words 52 October, November, December 2018 think would help build or strengthen our commu- Zoe Lappin very capably documented some of the nity, please share them with any board member. societal changes that have taken place in the past 35 years as well: As I look forward to 2019, my first thoughts are to the Annual General Meeting and elections. We “It’s said that a business owner’s first re- have several openings for those who have talents sponsibility is to stay in business. Without they are ready to use in advancing W.I.S.E.’s goals. a product, the product or service cannot be We also will be approving a budget that will allow sustained and it goes kaput. Jobs disappear. W.I.S.E. to better serve our community. A small in- The accomplishments, venerability and im- crease in membership fees will be proposed be- portance of the business don’t matter if the cause we are still charging 2004 prices while the owner must bail out. cost of everything else has gone up. We have great Sadly that’s what happened in Denver this things planned for 2019 and beyond and hope you winter when the Rocky Mountain News, my will continue to be a partner in those plans! employer for 24 years, died just short of its Sylvia Tracy-Doolos 150th birthday. Economic conditions, the Internet, and possibly, a defective compet-