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years and would be very expensive. There has also been talk of boxing up the collection and <br /> waiting for a new Heritage Center to be proposed, discussed, and possibly built. He said that <br /> the last time the boxing up process was done was during the most recent library renovation. <br /> Some resources have disappeared and have not been found since then. He suggested that <br /> the new library house this room. <br /> Nerissa Williams read a prepared statement: <br /> "I'll begin by quoting a fellow researcher, who emailed NC-DOGS (North Carolina- <br /> Durham-Orange Genealogical Society): <br /> `I live in California, and have been attempting to do genealogy research via computer <br /> AND the help of newly-found, distant relatives. I also visit once a year to do research which is <br /> the most I am able to financially manage. My next visit will be the first week end in June. I had <br /> planned to visit the site in discussion. <br /> What can I do....from 35-hundred miles away....to help ensure the collection remains <br /> intact? <br /> I am researching these Little River/Lebanon Township families: <br /> Harris (including Jefferson Harris —founder of the Harris Grove AME church), who <br /> were enslaved by Elsey Harris. <br /> Mack/McMannen, who were enslaved by Dr. Charles McMannen. And before that, <br /> belonged to the family of his wife, Mary Jane Terrentine. <br /> Lipscomb, who were enslaved by John and William Lipscomb of the Arrow Head <br /> Plantation. <br /> It turns out that I am related to most of the black population of the Little River/Lebanon <br /> Township, by only a few degrees of separation.' <br /> This email also mentions the Forsyth(e)s in Granville and the Cameron-Bennehan <br /> Plantation in Person County. It signs off: `Gwen Olson from San Leandro, CA.' <br /> Will this June be Gwen Olson's last annual pilgrimage to Hillsborough to research her <br /> roots? Or will there still be an accessible, intact Orange County collection for Gwen, and <br /> others, to visit in 2010 and beyond? <br /> The search for slave ancestors in existing genealogical records is arduous. Often <br /> listed by first name only, slaves were not enumerated in Federal Census records, by their full <br /> names, until after the Civil War. <br /> Trying to identify the tick marks indicating slaves before that, as one's own blood, IS <br /> looking for the proverbial `needle in the haystack.' Despite that, our ancestors' souls call out to <br /> be known. We must turn to library collections for answers. Which brings us, and our heritage <br /> dollars, to places like Hillsborough. <br /> Alex Haley's Roots created the first, big wave of African-American genealogists. But <br /> there's a much bigger wave on the horizon. Influenced by: The Incredible Internet. Dynamic <br /> digital tools. Developments in DNA testing. And, most recently, the soul-stirring sight of <br /> Barack Obama. Being sworn in. On steps. Originally built by slaves. Who knows if any of <br /> them had roots in Orange County? <br /> Genealogy, however, is as much a process of elimination as it is the thrill of finding <br /> proof. So, on behalf of Gwen Olson now, and the Gwen Olsons of the future, who will have <br /> research to do and heritage dollars to spend here in Orange County, please preserve our <br /> North Carolina Room AND protect its collection. <br /> Each and every one of its records and artifacts is especially precious to those of us <br /> whose ancestors were once officially enumerated as tick marks. Thank you." <br /> Carol Boggs read a prepared statement. <br />