FAST FIVE Laura Dabney: From searching family history to research coordinator
Meet Laura Dabney, a wife, mother, grandmother and genealogist.
When Laura retired in 2011, she started to research her family history through stories her parents shared throughout the years. Laura took photography and writing classes at North Idaho College. It was at NIC that Laura got to know others in her “Writing for Keeps” classes who were members of Kootenai County Genealogical Society. This is where Laura learned about familysearch.org, ancestry.com and how you can start a family tree. Laura went to one of their meetings and thought she would learn more about researching her family history for her daughter and grandchildren to have for their future. Eventually, Laura became a member, was on the board of directors for three years and when Jeanne Venturino decided to step down from being the research coordinator, Laura decided to run for that position in 2019. Laura is in her sixth year as research coordinator for KCGS.
The society will host a presentation, "Discover the Stories Behind Hayden and Hayden Lake," from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Hayden Library, 8385 N. Government Way. Local historians Barbara Bennett and Judy Eichelberger will share captivating stories of the towns' early days.
1) What is the Kootenai County Genealogical Society and how long have you been a member?
"Our society is dedicated to aiding individuals in the genealogical pursuits including fostering education and interest in genealogy and preserving genealogical and historical data, and aiding members in their genealogical or historical research and in compiling their family histories,” per our website, kcgs.org. We meet the first Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. in the Hayden Library except December/January and July/August. We also have a genealogy section of the library open to the public and on Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. we have volunteers to assist members and the public with help for their research if needed. I have been a KCGS member since 2016.
2) How did you become interested in family history and history in general?
I became interested in preserving my family history for my daughter and grandchildren to have for their future. I wanted them to know where our ancestors came from, when they migrated from Europe to America, where they settled and what they did when arriving to America.
3) What are some exciting or unusual discoveries you have made in your research?
Outside of my family history, KCGS was asked to do research on an Anderson Family Bible that Naomi Strom had come across from a family member. Pam Heath and I partnered up to do the research. Pam researched the Canada side of the project and I researched the Idaho side. Anderson family members Colin, Agnes and their daughter Vera Anderson came from Canada to Coeur d’Alene in 1911, where Colin worked in the lumber mill, Agnes was a homemaker and Vera was a musician for the silent movies at the Dream Theatre, where Nicholas Huff was manager and owner. Through our research, we found in 1920, Vera married Nicholas Huff and this uncovered a host of histories of the Dream Theatre, Huff Theatre and the Huff Apartments. Who knew a family bible that was sitting on a shelf at Ft. Sherman Chapel since 1963 would bring to life the Anderson Family and the life Vera had with Nicholas Huff. This project is known as the “Anderson Family Bible Project.”
4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am a published writer of poetry with the International Library of Poetry. I had four poems published in four different books that are in the Library of Congress.
5) Why is it important that we study history, and why should people care about the past?
Past history has brought us to where we are today. All the hard work our ancestors lived through has to be admired because they did not have the modern conveniences that we have today. Some of us are concerned that the next generation will not have the interest to pick up where we left off when it comes to research and that genealogy will be lost. It has been a talking point with some instructors that give presentations to genealogy organizations.
