Volume 2 Number 3

Summer 1985

Letter From the Editor

Albert C Skinner Obituary

Debrett Ancestry Search

Ethnic Skinners

Gasoline Alley

Dolorose Skinner Legutki Celebration

miscSKINNERlaneous

NY, Sherburne

Christ's Church Cemetery

PA, Mill Run

Skinner Family

Queries

Resurgence

S.A.L.E.

Skinner Allied Lines Exchange

Scot's Skinner Reminisces

Skinner - Davis Scrapbook

Skinner Kinsmen Letter

Skinner Name of Scottish Origin

Skinner Settlement

John Skinner's Will

Truck Driving Granny

Index Page

Thanks to William Weiler for transcription of this article.

Many people have written and asked how and why the Skinner Kinsmen Update came to be.

Over the years of searching for those elusive Skinners, I felt it a shame that a group hadn't formed to bring all the Skinner information together I had made contact with the Cornell Family Association when searching my Cornell line, and felt that it was so easy. Send in the name that connected to my Skinner line (Mary Cornell) and they, in turn, sent me back all the information I needed on her ancestors. "WHY NOT FOR THE SKINNERS?" I lamented. Somewhere along the line I came across a reference to a group that had formed in the first half of this century, The Skinner Kinsmen. They had apparently published a regular newsletter. Why didn't they keep it up? Where are copies of these newsletters? What happened to the organization?

I, as many of you, continued searching and making contact with Skinners across the country one by one. The entire time I corresponded I felt that SOMEONE should get it together and get everyone together on some kind of a network. I mentioned it to some people, and they said that they had thought of it, but due to other commitments or age, felt that they could not give it the attention it would need.

Well over a year ago I attended the Southern California Genealogical Society's 1984 Annual Genealogical Jamboree. At one of the seminars I attended, the first words out of the speaker's mouth were, "If there isn't a newsletter or family organization on your family name, START ONE!" I felt that she was reading my mind and thought to my self, "I can't do that." The more I thought about it, the more my feelings changed. By the end of the hour, I couldn't wait to get home to get started! I have enjoyed every minute of it, and don't regret it at all.

Over the past year, I have made many connections with Skinner searchers across the country. I have even been able to track down (thanks to Fran McKay of Comstock Park, MI) one of the letters mailed out by the original Skinner Kinsmen in their quest for Skinners (see facing page). This letter was mailed to Skinners sometime between 1917 and 1921.

I hope that over the years we will be able to carry out the original ideals of the organization, and rebuild it to a position of prominence in genealogical circles.

Thanks for your continued support!