As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m now awarding Seton Shields genealogy grants on a quarterly, rather than monthly basis. This quarter, as both requests were modest, I’m awarding two grants – one to Rich Custer and the other to the White Lake Area Historical Society.
Rich Custer has invested a couple of decades traveling around gaining access to Rusyn records that would otherwise vanish, so he’s an amazing gift to the Carpatho-Rusyn community. The grant will assist with costs associated with a week-long research trip to archives in eastern Pennsylvania and northeastern New Jersey. Rich’s aim is to provide detailed accounts of the development of all Carpatho-Rusyn (and related) immigrant communities in Pennsylvania, based substantially on primary sources, and to describe the patterns of chain migration in each place (and by extension, within the state and in other Rusyn communities in the U.S.), thus aiding genealogists to trace the movement of their families and relatives or fellow villagers. (Photo above is used with the permission of Rich Custer.)
The White Lake Area Historical Society is dedicated to preserving their area history for future generations. They’ve created a museum and a Historical Center, both open to the public and full of early photos and local artifacts. Also featured is a family banner collection, which includes over 100 pioneer families so far. Many families walk their banners in the annual 4th of July parade, as shown in the photo below, used with the permission of the White Lake Area Historical Society. The Society’s latest project is the creation of a series of books that will showcase area families and notable people, places, and events; the grant will help defray the initial costs associated with this project.
To apply for a Seton Shields grant, fill out and submit the form here. You can see examples of past grant awards here.
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