Nov. 19, 2007 — A scholarly inclined audience helped the Caribbean Genealogy Library open new doors Sunday in its location atop Raphune Hill in Al Cohen's Plaza.
The grand opening was a long-awaited festive occasion. But unlike most such events, it quickly became more studious than festive in the spirit of the library's mission of research, with many folks abandoning socializing for the treat of exploring the library's riches.
Not surprisingly, the event brought out many members of the island's oldest families, including the Lockharts, Moolenaars, Harthmans and Georges.
The library was founded by Elizabeth Swinson Sharp; her sister Grace Swinson Martin, who could not make the occasion; and Susan Lugo, president. Elisabeth Sharp is president emeritus.
The library has its roots in Sharp's curiosity and lifelong passion. "How do people live without a library?" she wondered years ago; since then, she has seen to abolishing that situation with great success.
Sharp's private genealogy library initially established the collection in 2000. Raised on St. Thomas, where her father once served as rector of All Saints, Sharp was one of the founders of the Immigrant Genealogy Library in Burbank, Calif., a nationally recognized resource for German-immigrant research materials.
In his introductory remarks, local historian Myron Jackson, library chair, noted the many people who have "sweat equity" in the library, a long list. "Grace Martin's spirit is in every nook and cranny," he said.
Welcoming the group, Lugo seemed almost (but not quite) overwhelmed that the occasion had finally arrived. Brushing away a tear with a smile, she said she had "felt driven to make Swinton's dream come true."
"Shirley Lincoln, our librarian, has worked every day for the past three months to catalog all the books," Lugo continued. "We wanted a library for people to come to without having to travel off island to find their family histories. We used to be so isolated. Now we have our own library. Use it."
First lady Cecile deJongh did the honors, but she noted, "I am not representing the government — I am here to support Susan, my friend, and the library."
Being there came with a cost, however.
"I owe my 10-year-old son $5, one hour of TV and two pumpkin pies," deJongh said.
Barbara Petersen, St. Thomas Water Island administrator, conveyed congratulations from Gov. John deJongh Jr.
The library includes virtually anything you might want to research about your own family — or Danish West Indies census records on microfilm from 1841 through 1911, the history of a Quaker colony on Tortola — the information knows no bounds.
It is a licensed branch of the prestigious Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, with that library's vast resources available to CGL patrons. The LDS library has the world's largest collection of genealogical information, with more than two billion names in databases.
Lugo and Lincoln were delighted that folks made immediate use of the research facilities.
"People came in and sat right down in corners with books, or looking at microfilms," Lincoln said. "One women said, 'I have two more pages in this book. I'll have to come back.'"
Lugo was delighted with the turnout.
"It was just the right size," she said. "With more, no one would have gotten a chance to sit and do the research they were doing. One woman was still here when we were closing at about 5:40. She told me she was stuck doing research on her father's lineage. 'I'll have to come back,' she said."
People coming to the library can narrow down their search by accessing libraryworld.com. When you get to the dialogue box type in cgl and hit submit. From there a keyword search will bring up books, maps, censuses and more. You can print out the information and be ready to go when you reach the library, lessening the chances you will be totally overwhelmed by its 5,000-plus books and other printed matter, or the four million rolls of family history microfilm.
Membership starts at $25 annually, $30 for family (two or more persons at the same address) and $10 for students. Members have Internet access to ancestry.com, including all U.S. censuses, historical newspapers and the UK-Ireland birth-death index. The library is open to the public for a $5-per-visit donation.
A small cadre of volunteers man the CGL desk. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 714-2136.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
