KEESEVILLE — The late Betty Bollinger Bateman left her genealogical book collection to the Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society based in the Keeseville Civic Center.
The collection includes many Palatine ancestor books as well as genealogies from the Buffalo Valley and surrounding area in Pennsylvania, New York's Mohawk Valley and Jefferson County.
"We're so lucky, Addie Shields she heard about these books," said Gloria Pratt, society president. "Mrs. Bateman was 92 and just passed away in Plattsburgh. Her daughter Barbara Cronin donated her material. She's given over $4,000 worth of books and journals, things you can't buy anymore because they're outdated. It has made our library extensive."
The bequest and many new books purchased may be seen during the society's regular hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays or at the 24th Annual Spring Conference. On May 18, the society will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for research. On May 19, Dr. Daniel Bean, professor emeritus of St. Michael's College, will present "Orphan Trains."
"The trains came up from different spots and dropped off kids in Vermont and New York to be adopted," Pratt said. "He's a descendant of one of these orphans. He's looking for other people who are descendants of anybody who came on an orphan train. His father was dropped off in Vermont. Dr. Bean didn't realize these trains also dropped people off in New York. Dick Ward told him about it."
Many orphans and their descendants don't talk about this.
"They kept it hush-hush," Pratt said. "He's trying to tell people this is nothing to be ashamed of."
In the afternoon, Keith Herkalo of the Battle of Plattsburgh Association will present "The Day of Engagement in the Battle of Plattsburgh."
"He's talking about the Battle of Plattsburgh and how they had it set up in the wrong place," Pratt said. "When the battle was first done, they had it at a different location. This man wrote everything in his diary. The way he wrote it, it didn't happen that way. It happened in another place."
Next year, the society celebrates its 25th anniversary.
"Bill Marquis founded the society," Pratt said. "He's from Plattsburgh. He's still living (as are) some of the other original founders. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have this library."
The society is always looking for new members or any materials people would like to donate.
"We take everything, even little notes your mother wrote down," Pratt said. "Don't throw them away. These little notes tell us a lot about family trees. Photos are wonderful things to have."
Volunteers are needed at the library.
"To transcribe books or whatever," Pratt said. "We need help with all those kinds of things."