The Carolina Room has recently received one of the largest gifts in its history. Virginia and Frederick Cornue are members of the Ranson and Hunter families of Huntersville and have graciously donated hundred of items to the Carolina Room including business documents, ledgers, letters, photographs, school drama programs, books, receipts and school consolidation materials. Materials date from the late 1860s to the 1970s. One of the notable members of the Ranson family, Lacy, has a school named for him - Ranson Middle School. The depth and scope of this donation will be invaluable for those researching the history of Charlotte and Huntersville. Their gift is still being processed but will soon be available to the public.

The Alexander Funeral Home on Statesville Avenue in Charlotte has graciously allowed the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room to microfilm its historic burial records. This wonderful gift will allow researchers an opportunity to learn more about the deaths of many African-Americans in the area. The funeral records are now available in the Carolina Room and cover the years from 1919 through 1972.

As always, we appreciate your gifts of photographs, maps, family research, school publications, postcards, and books we can keep or trade with other libraries. Past planning and generous contributions of patrons have made our collection one of the best public library special collections in the state.

• Wills, Admins & Marriages of Fauquier County, Virginia, 1759-1800
• Descendents of War of 1812 Veterans
• Obituaries: North Carolina Civil War Soldiers and Veterans, Vol. 1-7
• Some “Colonial Dames” of Royal Descent
• Transcription of Provincial North Carolina Wills, 1663-1729/30 V 1 A-K.

The Library will be closed to the public on May 25 - 26, 2005 so we can install a new computer system. We will re-open to the public on May 27, 2005.

Henry “Hank” Z. Jones, Jr. will be our guest speaker on May 14, 2005. He will present four lectures on genealogy:

• When the Sources are Wrong
• Tracing the Origins of Early 18th Century Palatine & Other Emigrants
• Family Tradition: How to Separate Fact From Fiction in Genealogical Research
• Psychic Roots

Mr. Jones is the author of several genealogy works including Psychic Roots, and a two volume set entitled Palatine Families of New York-1710, which received the Donald Lines Jacobus Award as “Best Genealogical Work of 1986”. He is also an accomplished actor and has appeared in several Disney movies, an Unsolved Mysteries episode, My Three Sons, Mork and Mindy, Petticoat Junction, Love American Style, Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others television shows.

His presentation will be in the Main Library Auditorium from 9:30 – 4:00. To enroll in the workshop please send a $20 check made out to PLCMC and send it to Main Library, Carolina Room, 310 North Tryon, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Learn more about the life and works of this accomplished genealogist, actor and author.

The Carolina Room wishes to thank the Marriott Charlotte City Center Hotel and the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society for helping to sponsor this program.

Postal History of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Exhibit courtesy of Tony L. Crumbley

Carolina Marquetry Quilt 2003-2004
Exhibit courtesy of the Carolina Chapter of the American Marquetry Society

You can now access HeritageQuest online through the Public Library’s web page. You can access the product at your local branch or from your home computer. To use this product from your home you must have a library card. You can select by subject “Genealogy” or scroll down alphabetically by name of the product to HeritageQuest. If you need assistance accessing this product please call the Carolina Room at (704) 336-2980.

Access HeritageQuest Online