Exhibit showcases treasured family items from Athens" past
March 20, 2008
If you knew that a museum would one day tell the story of your most treasured items and tell about your family, what would you donate to that museum? A family portrait? The family Bible? A special vase? How would you want your family’s story told?
Opening last Saturday, The Athens County Historical Society & Museum’s spring exhibit, “Ancestors of Athens County: Treasures from First Families,” explores a plethora of pioneer-era objects in the museum’s collection.
The exhibit also serves to kick off the yearlong celebration of the 25th anniversary of First Families of Athens County (FFAC), a program of the museum and the Athens genealogy chapter that honors the lasting contributions of persons who lived within the 1820 boundaries of Athens County by recognizing their direct descendents, according to a press release.
Treasures such as jewelry, wedding dresses, hand-written letters and objects from the Civil War will be on display and identified not only in the space reserved for changing exhibits but also within the period rooms located along the walls of both floors in the museum.
“These objects represent some of the oldest items in our collection,” Kelee Riesbeck, executive director, said in the news release. “The nature of each item carefully preserved by the families over time is in and of itself a testament to what our ancestors valued in terms of material goods.”
The story of the pioneers represented in the exhibit tell who the first families of Athens County were. The First Families of Athens County program was established in 1983. The program helps both historians and genealogists better tell the overall story of Athens County by identifying where the early settlers came from as well as their occupation, the size of their families and other details, Joanne Prisley, the museum’s curator, said in the release.
“The First Families of Athens County program is about adding branches to the first family trees,” she said. “Documents supplied by applicants for membership into FFAC provide an invaluable resource for family and historical research in Athens County.”
To date, 533 descendants have proved direct descent from 459 pioneers who resided in Athens County between 1797 and 1830.
Today, the Historical Society and Museum and the Athens chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society have identified 29 people who could become FFAC members by supplying a birth certificate, becoming a member of the museum (an FFAC requirement), and paying the FFAC processing fee. Among the names familiar to most Athens Countians are Bobo, Coe, Cooley, Cuckler, Dorr, Douglas, Dowler, Carpenter, Gillette, Lochary, Walker, Wickham and Nye, to name a few.
“Ancestors of Athens County: Treasures from First Families” closes Aug. 1.
The opening reception is today at the Historical Society and Museum from 5-7 p.m. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be served as will refreshments by Purple Chopstix.
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