Welcome!

DeKalb has had many outstanding researchers, including Jorene Parsley, Will T. Hale, and Tommy Web. They have left an incredible collection of research material that was painstakingly created through thousands of hours of dedicated work. I have also had the pleasure of interacting with many local researchers who have also spent thousands of hours walking through cemeteries to take photos, creating the FindAGrave Memorials, and linking families.

My journey to Dekalb started when I was only a teen, leaving behind a hand-drawn image of Zilpha Roberts, who moved to DeKalb between 1860-1870 into the Dismal area, buying land from the Drivers. I long wondered exactly how to start my genealogy journey when I finally had the opportunity to use this weird thing called the internet back in 1993.

Many hours were spent trying to email people that might have the most minor clue, self-addressed stamped envelopes with requests for record look-ups, then the very, very precious first indexes of DeKalb County, followed by Chancery and Land Deed Books with snippets.

A love affair was born between me and my roots, and although I do work on other lines, the ones through DeKalb have always been a priority. Maybe because I was given that photo, I bonded with my roots there to the point I’ve now put an offer in on a home with plans to live there about 20% of the year.

Zilpha and her husband Matlock have many descendants still in DeKalb. However, very few know of them. I’d hoped desperately there would be some magic file in the vertical files and knew there had to be, with a family Bible image that gave us their parents’ names. How could they be the forefathers of so many in the county, yet no one knew their roots?

In 2021, I finally got to visit for a month and indulge in every research whim I’d had for a few decades. I returned from that trip with a greater attachment to DeKalb and thousands of images of books, tombstones, vertical files, and other assorted items if needed later.

In 2022 I came for a visit again, a little less research time, as dogs are really allowed in libraries. I spent more time finding peace in the area through hiking, driving and knew I needed to be there. During the last few years, I’ve also gotten to know many local researchers and started a one-place study on DeKalb, specifically Liberty, Dismal, Dowelltown, and Alexandria. During this time, I changed from a researcher of my line to a community-based form of genealogy, understanding the power of sharing and collaboration.

A few weeks back, someone approached the Facebook group asking if there was a First Families program, and there was neither one nor a genealogy association in Dekalb. I realized we need a first families program, as there are so many incredible stories, so sure, let’s create one. But then, well, it’s a little weird if an individual is going it, so I talked to a few other researchers and The DeKalb Genealogy Association was born!

We are at the infant steps, first identifying what the goals need to be done, as we do not need to recreate the projects on the Dekalb Gen Web or the WikiTree projects. But it can house the information for First Families, Cemetery Projects, Military Grants, Veterans, and other projects.

So if you have an idea or a unique talent, please consider joining and helping. It truly takes all of our kin collaborating to make the most of the DeKalb History, and we all look forward to working together!

Through collaboration, we can obtain those long sought-after records to help clear up mysteries in our lines and memorialize those who have passed away so they are not lost to the annals of time while memorials sink and become damaged.

In the immortal words of Alice – If we don’t know where we are going, does it really matter which road we take? Looking forward to this adventure with all of my cousins by my side.