The Butler County Genealogy Society met Jan. 25 at the First United Methodist Church with 18 members and three guests attending.
President Barbara Rexroad presided. Shon Griffin of the Poplar Bluff Public Library presented an update on the progress digitizing newspapers. The yearbooks for Poplar Bluff from 1950-1989 already have been digitized as well as the Neelyville yearbooks from 1954-1989. Memorial books, Tennessee Records: Tombstone Inscription and Manuscript in memory of James McNeelis and Tennessee Records: Bible Records and Marriage Bonds in memory of Adeline Shearon, are now available in the library.
The society currently is working on a cemetery canvassing project to update the cemetery books and records. Shirley Pearman stated several cemeteries were completed, but the canvassing is still in progress. There are many volunteers for this project, but more volunteers would be beneficial.
Member Linda Surber presented a program on the book News of the World by Paulette Giles the current Book in the Bluff. Paulette Jiles, a former resident of Salem, Mo., also wrote Enemy Women, a historical fiction account of the Civil War in Southeast Missouri. News of the World has been named a National Book Award finalist. Afterwards, member June Allen shared several books that were written by authors in and around Butler County.
The society's next meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. Visitors always are welcome to attend.