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Blair Society scrapbooks

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS1025

Scope and Content

This collection contains three scrapbooks documenting the activities of the Blair Society for Genealogical Research (BSGR) from 1984 to 1998 and items about the history of the Blair surname in the United States, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Items cover subjects including locations with the Blair name, famous people with the Blair surname, Blair genealogical information, cemeteries, images of Blair family members and descendants, and BSGR conventions.

Images in the scrapbooks include scanned copies of photographs (approximately 1860-1940), photographs related to the Blair Society activities (1984-1998), and a few original photographic prints (about 1880-1910). There is one photograph of an 1856 painting. Most of the scrapbook pages with photos include identifying names and genealogical information. Other photographs in the scrapbooks are of grave stones; cemeteries; and locations in Blair ancestral towns and homes. Print materials in the scrapbooks include photocopies of newspaper clippings; postcards; family history documents (family group sheets and pedigree charts); cemetery listings; and brochures and publications about places where Blair ancestors lived.

Dates

  • 1856-1998, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

The Blair Society for Genealogical Research (BSGR) is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in 1984 in Kentucky. Its purpose is “To collect, preserve and disseminate genealogical and historical knowledge and information concerning the Family of Blair in its various lines of descent and in all parts of the world where Blair descendants have settled.” The BSGR is run by a board of directors.

The original Blair Society for Genealogical Research was organized in 1925 and was located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The society’s activities included publishing a quarterly newsletter, The Blair Magazine (1925-1931). In 1937 memberships declined due to the economic hardships of the Great Depression.

Arnold Raymond Blair and William Osborne worked together to reorganize the society in 1982 and the first convention of the revived BSGR was held in 1984 in St. Louis, Missouri. The BSGR belongs to the American Family Records Association (AFRA), Association of One Name Studies (AONS), Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Genealogical Society (NGS). The BSGR holds annual conventions and offers resources for Blair surname research on its website at http://blairsociety.org/.

Extent

4.625 linear ft. (three oversize boxes)

Language

English

System of Arrangement

This collection is arranged by volume.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1998

Description Control

This collection was processed in 2012.

Title
Blair Society scrapbooks
Author
Sue VerHoef
Date
June 2012
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared According To Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040