According to Zion Roots Research Library creator, Ken Craft, the Paitzdorf/Uniontown churchbook records are "amazing."  Pastor Gruber, in the earliest years, was quite the documentary historian.  It is so wonderful when those who "take the notes" are thoughtful enough to take the time to write down details about locations where people lived, causes of death, the people that were present as sponsors, etc. etc.  These details are wonderful for social historians and other family researchers.  I can't wait to see the completed records.  An expert on digitization is taking each page and modifying it for clarity using special software.  Then each page is printed in large format color printing and placed in the archival folders for researcher's use.  There will also be thumbdrive copies for digital use.  Ken has painstakingly created an index for this book, because the previous recorded order in an earlier  index does not match the documentation in the original book.  The earlier index is still quite useful, but the reordering was necessary to use the books in the order they were written/printed.  We have used the books several times this week.  They come in handy for many reasons, but recently we have had to look up confirmation scriptures that are also used during funerals.  The most interesting thing for me about the Paitzdorf/Uniontown records is a Bavarian connection--I will explain more soon.

I'm looking forward to working with the exhibits committee on our upcoming Heritage Quilt Days at the Altenburg Museum.  We will decide on the opening date for the exhibit, and will plan for the quilt artists that will be exhibited throughout the spring and possibly into the summer.  We hope to also work with the East Perry County Cultural Alliance and Saxon Lutheran Memorial on  joint project(s) during this time.  More to come, soon...

I want to thank Florence Gruenwald and Gladys Engert for covering the museum on Saturday.  Geri Falast and Gerard Fiehler will hold down the fort on Sunday.  Please don't forget the "After Christmas Concert" performed by the East Perry County Chorale on Sunday.  For time and more info. call the museum 573-824-6070.  I'm writing this from my home office and do not have the time with me.

The "Messiah" will be performed at Trinity Church, Altenburg, on January 15, at 3:00p.m.  There will be a reception following the concert at the museum.  We will leave the Christmas Exhibit up until after that time.

Take Care,
Carla Jordan