North Arkansas Ancestor Fair

Contact: Larry Green
larry@ozarkisp.net
www.ancestorfair.us
870 447-6161

Searcy County Historical Society Unveils Redesigned, Updated Website

To provide the most current information about its upcoming Ancestor Fair, the Searcy County Historical Society has redesigned its website, www.AncestorFair.us. In addition to its new look, the site includes general information on the 19th Annual Ancestor Fair, a biography of featured speaker Dr. Michael Dougan, the most comprehensive listing of accommodations and dining in Searcy, Stone and Van Buren counties, and an assortment of links to other genealogical and historical resources. Reservation materials for free display space at the Fair will be added as they become available.

Continuing as the oldest and most popular family-history event in north Arkansas, the 19th annual North Arkansas Ancestor Fair returns on Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, 2008, in Marshall, Arkansas. The two-day event offers research seminars as well as county historical societies and family historians sharing and collecting information about northern Arkansas families.

The Friday seminars feature Dr. Michael Dougan, professor emeritus in history at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro and former president of the Arkansas Historical Association. Dr. Dougan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association in 2006. His themes will deal with Arkansas newspapers, on which he has authored a book, "Community Diaries:
Arkansas Newspapering, 1819-2002," Arkansas immigration patterns and the various ways Arkansans acquired land from the U. S. government. The talks will run from 9:30 a.m. until noon and from 1:00 until 3:30 p.m. The morning and afternoon sessions each have a $10 admission fee; the all-day fee is $15.

An evening mixer-dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and gives attendees a chance to circulate and meet informally between the main events.

On Saturday, June 1, family historians, county historical/genealogical societies, museums, booksellers and descendant organizations with information about northern Arkansas and its families will be available to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Functioning as a genealogical swap meet, the Saturday activities allow family historians throughout the United States to explore their Ozark roots through a variety of sources. Admission and display space is free; donations are appreciated.

Program information is available at www.ancestorfair.us. For more information, contact Larry Green, 2640 Harry Brown Road, Leslie, AR 72645; e-mail larry@ozarkisp.net or call 870 447-6161.