Publicity for Judy Wight Branson

December 10, 2007 Speaker for WVGS General Membership Meeting

*********************************************

Have you ever thought of cemeteries as exciting places, full of genealogies to chart and maybe even a mystery to solve?

 

Our speaker on December 10 is deeply involved in genealogy; in fact, you might say she has her foot in the graves of ancestors. Judy Wight Branson started researching her family tree in 1996 and discovered 5,000 relatives she didn’t know she had! Since some of her relatives had immigrated to Madison County, Iowa in the 1860’s, she went there to photograph family headstones. Seeing many of the markers in disrepair, she knew the information would soon be lost forever if no one compiled the data soon.

 

Judy began photographing headstones, but not just her own family’s.  She launched Gravestone Photo Project  web sites for the counties she had explored in Iowa and Arizona. She uploaded her photos and information in order to share them with others.

 

In the September 2005 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, president of the National Genealogical Society is quoted as saying, “Judy’s (project) may well be the largest gravestone photography project in the country.” One researcher from the state of Washington was looking for information on his great-great-great grandfather. Wow! Was he surprised to find a photograph of the gravesite!! (Thanks to Judy’s efforts.)

 

The West Valley Genealogical Society (WVGS) meetings are open to the general public; you need not be a member to attend. Come join us and bring a friend!