Bobbin Shuttle Tatting Class - November 6 and 13

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, October 21, 2009

Did your grandmother tat, but you never learned? Have you seen tatting kits in stores and been intrigued? Is tatting something you’ve heard of, but aren’t quite sure what it is? Now is your chance to learn the art of tatting! The next offering in the Giles Arts Council and Giles County Historical Society Needle Arts Class series is Shuttle Tatting, taught by Bernie Cossell on November 6th and 13th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at the Historical Society.

Like other crafts based around knotting, tatting began with fishermen’s knots: large shuttles were used to weave heavy rope into fishing nets 2,000 years ago. Other knots were used in the rigging of sails and to secure anchors. Later, the same ideas were translated to yarns then finer threads to create fine lace used to embellish the clothing of royalty. During the Victorian period and into the mid-20th century, tatting was used to edge linens and to make table covers and chair linens.

A tatting shuttle is used to make tiny knots around a central thread. Loops are connected to loops and picots in various ways to make a heavy lace that is often used as an edging or an overlay on fabric. Tatting shuttles today are often plastic, but in the past were made from wood, hand-carved ivory, or precious metals. The shuttle and thread are small enough that tatting can be done anywhere, making it a very portable craft.

Call or e-mail the Historical Society to register for the Shuttle Tatting Class and learn this decorative craft!

Experimenting with Social Media...

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, October 14, 2009

Traditionally, companies have used the media outlets such as newspapers, radio, and television to make others aware of their services. Today, there are a host of other media and publicity options. It may seem obvious for computer firms and software companies to use the internet for publicity, but it also makes sense for non-profit organizations and museums to use the internet as well. Many non-profits are concerned that they aren’t attracting the younger generation as volunteers, donors, visitors, and board members. By using social media on the internet, non-profits can reach a younger crowd and more people than they can locally.

Social media provides an opportunity for people to quickly share information with others who have a shared interest. It is an internet communication medium where people can be both authors and audiences. Examples are Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and blogs, where people can read and comment on your input. Because the internet is international, your audience becomes much larger than the local newspaper market, listening area, or cable system. When you find an organization of interest on a social media site, often you’ll find other organizations or people that you would like to connect with also, quickly expanding your social network.

Like many museums throughout the country, the Giles County Historical Society is experimenting with social media to attract a larger audience of people who are potentially interested in our programs. We are using social media to advertise our events as well as let people know about interesting things that happen on the site. You can follow us on Twitter for short, 140 word updates about events and daily happenings; become our fan on Facebook and link with other people who have similar interests; read our Virginian Leader articles on our blog; or check out Flickr for photographs of our recent events. All of these sites are accessible from our website: www.gilescountyhistorical.org. We’ll look for you on the internet!

(If you're paying attention, you'll notice that we missed a week. Despite the ease of using the computer for social networking and publicity, the computer is only as smart as its user - if you don't attach the newspaper article to your e-mail, it won't get into the paper! Figures it would happen with this article too!)

New Genealogical Research Donations

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, September 30, 2009

The Research Office at the Giles County Historical Society contains books, family files, and county records pertinent to the families and communities of Giles County. We receive many genealogists throughout the year from many different parts of the country who are researching their family history. Often we can trace the path of settlement of Giles County’s families, by looking at our guest book. After leaving Giles County, early settlers headed west through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky, Ohio, and other places in the Midwest – many of our genealogy visitors now live in these states.

When genealogists with roots in Giles County finish their family histories, they often send them to the Historical Society for inclusion in the Research Office and use by other visitors. This year has apparently been especially productive for Giles County genealogists as we have received a number of new books including: Little Walker’s Creek by Rebecca Cox Sowers and donated by Peggy Hollar; “Doty/Niday Family History” by Carol Niday Doty; “William Cephas Lucas and Birdie Mae Collins Lucas Family” by Hilda McCoy Walker; “Encounters with the British in Virginia During the War of 1812,” “War of 1812 Veteran Burials at St. John’s Episcopal Church Graveyard, Richmond, VA,” and “War of 1812 Burials in Virginia” from the Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia; “Cleveland Lucas Family History” by Mary Peare; and “Kinfolk – the Stevers Family History – 1752-2008” by Heather Reynolds.

Stop by the Historical Society to look at these books and learn more about your own family history!