Hello GenTravelers!

So, what does Billy Graham have to do with onsite genealogy research? Well everything to do with evangelism christian history. I recently read about an archive I was unfamiliar with: The Billy Graham Center. I read about this resource in the 2003 FGS Forum (Volume 15 Number 2, Summer 2003).  The article by  Wayne D. Weber, Reference Archivist at BGC was very informative.  He explains the unique collections they have – many valuable records that aren’t found anywhere else.

Wayne explains “There are over five hundred collections in the Archives ranging from one thin file folder to over hundreds of boxes…If you have a relative who was involved in a nondenominational ministry such as foreign missions or youth work or evangelism, we could have the records you seek.”

Please go read the full article, if you have ancestors with evangelism backgrounds – especially the “Africa Inland Mission”, the “China Inland Mission”, the “Woman’s Union Missionary Society”, or the “Mission Aviation Fellowship”. And if you’re planning a GenTrip to Illinois, you’ll definitely want to stop by the archives.  Here is their website, so you can plan ahead: Billy Graham Center Archives.

So, are you planning your GenTraveling yet? Where do you plan to go? Be sure to share your GenTraveling Bucket list on our Bucket List Page.  GenTraveling: It’s the Real Deal Thrill!

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