In November 2010 Charlotte Megill Hix and Anita Anderson Lustenberger were named the newest fellows of the NYG&B. (Please see corresponding article in the Winter 2010 New York Researcher, page 60.) As an introduction, former editor of The Record, and FGBS, Harry Macy Jr. provided some information on the history of the designation, and of those previously named Fellow. His fascinating introduction is excerpted below.
The honor of Fellow of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, or FGBS, was awarded for the first time in 1924. Several other genealogical societies have Fellows, but the FGBS is the oldest such honor that is still being awarded by a genealogical society in this country. The first Fellow was John Reynolds Totten, editor of The Record, and he was honored for “his great services to the cause of Genealogy.” There was no mention of genealogical scholarship, as that concept was only beginning to develop at the time. Just two years earlier, in 1922, Donald Lines Jacobus, recognized as the father of scholarly genealogy in this country, founded the journal now called The American Genealogist or TAG. Before Jacobus, many writers had compiled good genealogies, but without clear standards to guide them. Jacobus and his colleagues set out to create such standards, largely through articles in TAG and the other major journals including The Record.
The standards which evolved prescribed thorough research and the proper evaluation and use of sources; full documentation of every event and relationship; and presentation in a prescribed format. At first this was often referred to as “scientific” method, but it is the methodology which we now call scholarly genealogy, and which we honor this evening.
The FGBS has been awarded 63 times, including today’s nominees. The original intent was to give the honor for contributions to either the society or genealogy, or both. Of the 63 recipients, 26 have received the honor at least in part for their genealogical contributions. I want to tell you a bit about some of them.
1924. Clarence Winthrop Bowen, president of the society, whose eight volumes on families of Woodstock, Connecticut, show many New York links
1929. John Edwin Stillwell, compiler of the 4-volume Stillwell Genealogy and 6-volume Historical and Genealogical Miscellany ... of New York and New Jersey
1932. Abraham Hatfield, trustee and librarian of the society, author of genealogies of Hatfield families of New York, New Jersey and Nova Scotia
1933. Howard Stelle Fitz Randolph, editor of The Record, author of New York and New Jersey genealogies
1935. William J. Hoffman, known particularly for his articles which were incorporated into An Armory of American Families of Dutch Descent, recently published by the Society
1935. Josephine C. Frost, first woman to be named a Fellow, compiler of New York genealogies and records of Kings and Queens counties
1936. Lila James Roney, compiler of genealogies and record abstracts for Ulster County
1937. Theresa Hall Bristol, first woman to serve on the society’s Publications Committee, abstractor of Westchester County sources
(The awarding of the FGBS stopped abruptly in 1937 and was not renewed until 1981, forty-four years later. Why this happened is not clear.)
1981. Kenn Stryker-Rodda, editor of The Record, author of New York and New Jersey genealogies and research guides
1989. Kenneth Scott, president of the society, abstractor of early New York records, still at work when he received the award at age 89
1990. Elizabeth C. White, president of the society and trustee editor of The Record, genealogical author and early supporter of genealogical education
1991. Rosalie Fellows Bailey, author of New York genealogies, histories and research guides, with a particular interest in New Netherland families
1992. B-Ann Moorhouse, compiler of genealogies and record abstracts from New Amsterdam to 20th-century New York City, and a pioneer in Irish-American genealogy
1993. Rabbi Malcom H. Stern, called the father of American Jewish genealogy for his work on the earliest American Jewish families. A founder of the Jewish Genealogical Society
Besides today’s honorees there are six other Fellows who are still active in the field: Timothy Field Beard (1992), Henry B. Hoff (1993), Harry Macy Jr. (1993), Roger D. Joslyn (2001), Meriwether C. Schmid (2003), and Leslie Corn (2003).
Anyone familiar with New York genealogy will know that is an impressive list, and we can only hope that it will grow to be an even more impressive list in years to come. And so we come to tonight’s most-deserving honorees, Charlotte M. Hix and Anita A. Lustenberger, whom McKelden will now introduce.
by Harry Macy Jr., FASG, FGBS
Originally published in The New York Researcher, Spring 2011
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