Annual Genealogical Society "Lock-In"
Attracts Researchers From as Far Away as California

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

It was a day devoted to intense research, at the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Annual Lock-In, on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until midnight, hosted at the Main Street Genealogical Library. "We had thirty-six people registered for this year's event and all of them came and researched most of the day," allowed Marynell Bryant, with the Genealogical Society. "Some of them made it all the way until midnight!"

"And, we were extremely surprised when a couple from near Monterey, California, came through the door, as they were descendents of the Hopkins family, whom the county was named for, and they were wanting to do research." continued Bryant. "Additionally, we had researchers from all across Northeast Texas and the entire state!"

 

 

 

This year's lock-in event placed emphasis on getting as many Hopkins County rural schools documented with photos and by the end of the day, some 148 photos had been scanned into the Hopkins County Genealogical Society data base, that had been brought by the researchers. "It's great to have these old photos of the Hopkins County Schools, to help document people that lived in the county, maybe for just a few years, but it offers a connection for researching families and their migrations,"added John Sellers, with the society.

 

This drawing of the Branom School was one that was brought to Saturday's lock-in, for scanning.

 

"We invited anyone that was unable to be with us on Saturday to bring any photos that they might have, to add to the collection," continued Sellers. "The more information we can have in our files, the more people we can assist in helping them research their families."

The Hopkins County Genealogical Society will meet next, for the August meeting, in a joint venture with the Hopkins County Historical Society, when once again, noted, local historian Lavyn Sisco, will portray another famous lady, in Hopkins County history. Please watch for future details concerning this portrayal.

 

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