The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 17

FOCUS Sunday The Muncie Star Sunday, Aug. 1989 Page Section Also In This Section: Crossword Travel Whatrit DTeleTeit Books Newsfeatures Foraing ai Alliamce Rita Winters Genealogy Group Merges to Provide Better Resources rvA. Class Reunion Brings an End to Summertime nne more summer holiday and the Christmas candy A will be lined up for sale on iv! il tne drug store shelves. Wasnt it just last month that we put the 1988 decorations away? As we face the resumption of school for the 1990 academic year, we have to admit that the older one becomes, the faster time passes. Agreed? Two months ago, three school V- friends and I assembled for lunch Star Photo by Jennifer Flower NONA NUNNELLY AND RODNEY QUALKINBUSH AT RESOURCE CENTER "Although our emphasis is on local records, we are certainly not limited to Delaware County.

to talk about gathering together the 19 classmates in our 1949 school graduating class. We discussed how we would encourage them to attend the modest carry-in meal to note our class's 40th year since receiving diplomas. Reuniting is not an unusal procedure for any school class any year. Each spring and summer The Star publishes hundreds of column inches of By HOPS BARNES For TtwMunc Stir The past 20 years have smiled favorably upon genealogists in Delaware County. Rodney Qualkinbush, new Delaware County Historical Alliance genealogy chairman, and Nona Nunnelly, DCHA genealogy library chairman, sat at a table in the Resource Center, 120 E.

Washington St, and talked about the good things that have happened in genealogy. Behind them, neat shelves on the walls displayed an abundance of genealogical resources, concrete evidence of the extensive, organized materials now easily accessible. "In 1969 when a nucleus of people attended a genealogy class at the Chirch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we discussed starting a genealogy group, Qualkinbush said. "I proposed it be associated with the YWCA and it grew from there, with a desk, a few books in a closet and a lot of enthusiasm." Between those early hectic days and the neatly shelved and filed materials available for use today, is a story of patience and faith, accompanied by the hard work of all who made it possible. "Twenty years ago this fall Bert Anson, retired from the history department at Ball State, was the first president" Qualkinbush said.

"Some of those who have been in it from the beginning are Juanita Lewis, Alma and Kenneth Petro, Barbara Murray, Bert and Cornelia Anson, and Mary Elizabeth Johnson." Qualkinbush emphasized there have been many others who helped in the long process, but these are the ones who have remained on a continuous basis. In 1987, the creation of the Delaware County Historical Alliance merged three Delaware County organizations: the Historical Society, the Genealogical Society and Historic Muncie Inc. Jane Beekman, Genealogy Society president at the time of the merger, gave valuable assistance during the transition period. After the merger the genealogy group was able to move into its present location at the Resource Center. In preparation for the move, renovations of the Resource Center were made, including shelving and card catalogs for the genealogy library.

The Resource Center facilities committee contributed to this project under the chairmanship of Oliver Bumb. The genealogy materials that had been shifted from place to place for 18 years are now being professionally cataloged under the direction of Betty Arthur and her committee. Since July 1987, when Scott Zimmerman was hired as DCHA executive director, he has given continuity and support for the alliance's programs. Under the leadership of DCHA president, Thomas A. Sargent a major membership campaign was launched in an effort to expand membership and broaden the base of support While substantial funding has helped the organization as a whole, for the genealogy division, it has meant improved facilities.

Nunnelly, who has completed the National Genealogical Society's basic 18-month course said, "Since we've become an alliance, we've expanded the library with additional emphasis on local history and historic preservation. "Although our emphasis is on local records, we are certainly not limited to Delaware County. We also have materials from surrounding counties." With resource materials increased and better organized, genealogy members are now interested in increased library use. They encourage the community to take advantage of its resources, which they are quick to point out "are in an excellent location, just one-half block from the courthouse and within walking distance of the (See GENEALOGY on Page 4B) Potpourri of Resources Available type announcing high school class gatherings. If it were possible to compile such statistics, it would be interesting to see how percentages of attendance at class reunions balance out In our case, when the day came In a tour of the Genealogy Library at the Historical Resource Center, 120 E.

Washington St, library committee chairman Nona Nunnelly pointed out various resource materials genealogists would find helpful For beginning researchers there are references on how to do genealogy. In addition, there are printed family histories, which could help one to find clues to a family line. There is also a collection of family files, which consist of letters, newspaper clips andor other pertinent information about each family. The surname index card file informs the researcher of family lines other persons are researching. The advantage of this is the researcher can learn of others who may be working on the same name.

Sometimes material can be shared, thus saving many hours of valuable time. The Genealogical Helper also has an extensive surname listing. Nunnelly said, "We have recently received a (IGI), a locality index, published by the Latter Day Saints. It lists people by location with one item of information per listing and we were just given a microfiche reader to use with the index. Other important books and records in the genealogy library include: Handy Book for Genealogists, published by Everton.

Some genealogists have referred to it as "the bible for genealogists;" Index to the Federal Census for Dela ware County 1930, 40, '50, '60 and 70; The Federal Census for Dela ware County 1950 and '60; Index to Birth Records, 1882-1920, compiled by Indiana works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1940; WPA Index to Delaware Co. Marriage Records Index to Supplemental Records for Marriage Application, 1905-1911; Indiana State Medical Society, 1888-1907; Scrapbook collection of Indianapolis Star Queries in Indiana Ancestors, Revolutionary War Pension Applications. There are also: county histories, church histories, cemetery transcriptions, Indiana Quaker records, Indiana Pioneer Ancestors, current genealogical publications, an audio tape collection, atlases, maps and major state collections for Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennesse, Maryland and and New England. By Hope Barnes and passed, our attendance rounded off at about 50 percent of the original class when we converged on the summer home of two of our classmates who married 38 years ago. Well, you could say close to 50 percent There were 9 of the 19 there.

The other 50 percent missed a pleasant nostalgic, laugh-filled afternoon and evening. Although we were disappointed in tne lack of tne interest of those who chose not to attend, we had good food and an enjoyable time. One had a flimsy excuse like a 500-mile race in Michigan he couldn't miss because he goes every year, while others had no excuse at alL We had wonderful fried 'Nurse on Duty' Is a Big Plus for Day Care Service By RUBY SWICKARD For The Muncie 5ii "Ni For The Muncie Star "urse on Duty" were the magic words attracting answers to an advertisement of "Tender 3.. chicken and ham and a purple and lavender Center Spartan cake. Friend husband, himself a northerner, gasped when he saw the color of the cake.

Later when he asked who ordered the cake, I said I had. And then I admonished him: "Dont you ever bad-mouth the color purple around a Center Spartan." To all of that we added delicious homemade food, including old-fashioned cream pie made from Edrafaun Black's recipe. Edrafaun, a longtime resident of Mount Pleasant in Perry Township, was a respected cook and her niece, wife of one of our classmates, whipped up two. Some in our class have known each other all of their lives. Four attended the Perry Township, Delaware County school the entire 12 academic years.

And four of the nine at the 40th reunion were among those. Most of us never knew any other principal but E.K. Keesling, who eventually taught our high school Bible study class before instructing the course was outlawed in public schools. I always disappointed E.K. when he asked for a proverb, either for class recitation or on a quiz.

I could never remember any but Proverbs 26, verse 11. It reads: "as a dog returneth to his vomit so a fool returneth to his folly." And like that dog, four of us returned to recapitulate the 12 years of our formative years, and the five others who joined us from other schools and other times had a wonderful time. Ross Cowgill, mailroom superintendant for The Muncie Star and Muncie Evening Press, verbally nailed me about the column I prepared for the Aug. edition of The Muncie Star. Ross said I published the wrong date for the conclusion of World War H.

And he is right It should have been 1945. And I should have known that because too, was at Orv's Drive-in the night the war was declared over. Rita Winters is Focus Department editor. "It's scary when a mother takes her first baby home!" New mothers need all the help they can get "Baby care books make good gifts for new mothers," Wray said. "I sometimes advise my own daughter, 'Get out yourDr.Spock!'" Although the children are so young, Wray and Craig lay a foundation for good manners.

"We teach them to be aware of their surroundings and to respect property and one another," Wray said. "We use 'please' and 'thank you. We encourage the children to learn and use each others' names. This is not 'baby. This is Baby Natalie or just Natalie," Wray said referring to 8-month-old Natalie, daughter of J.

Kirby and Sue Thompson. A father of one of the children found that shaking hands with his son was a satisfying gesture for both of them, and now all the children want to shake hands, Wray said. "We also try to anticipate their wishes so they will not become too hungry, or too tired, or too wet Crying is contagious. We want crying to be for a purpose as a signal that something is wrong." If a baby gets sick, Wray notifies the mother and follows hospital isolation procedure to separate tne child from the group. Wray was encouraged to begin the specialized service by her daughter-in-law, Brenda Stafford and her daughters, Amy Jones and Ann Golden.

Wray's husband, Charles Darger, of Smith Gaylor Investment Brokers, Anderson, is very supportive of her business. Darger keeps books for Wray, but he has also constructed equipment for the playroom including an aquarium, colorful box playhouses and shelves. "When he comes in he shakes their hands, talks with them, plays with them, turns on the music box and dances with them." Terri Townsend, a Ball Hospital registered nurse and her husband, Marion, a juvenile probation officer, use Tender Years care for their daughter, Jennifer. "I think it's great" Terri said about the service. "Jennifer is happy.

She gets a lot of attention. She has learned a lot They have helped her with motor skills." At present Wray and Craig's two full-time helpers are Ivy Tech students Christy Cowan and Sheralyn Langley who will attend the Muncie Area Career Center to study child care this fall "We really need them," Wray said, "especially from 2:30 to 5:30. This time of day is just as important as mealtime. "We want the babies to go home clean and happy." Years" infant care. The special infant day care service has staff to provide care for children from infancy to 18 months of age.

Jeanie Wray, licensed practical nurse, is assisted by Lois Craig, registered nurse, and provides licensed day care for up to 10 little ones in her home, 2404 Olde Towne Lane, in Lantern Park. When infants are accepted for care, "we find out how the mother takes care of the baby at home and what the baby's routine is," Wray said, "and then we try to fit into their schedule so that there is continuity in the baby's care." The infant's security symbol, be it pacifier, teddy bear or favorite blanket is taken to the nursery by the parent along with the baby's diapers, formula and cereal When the child is old enough to eat table food, it is provided by the day care nursery. "We furnish diaper changing supplies including Desitan, disposable gloves for the workers and wipes. "One day my husband and I had 30 boxes of wipes in the shopping cart He said, 'I bet they wonder why two gray haired people are buying all these baby "How many do you have in diapers?" asked the check-out person. Wray laughed as she pantomimed the clerk passing one item after another through checkout "The lady behind me in the line said, 'And I thought I bought a Wray explained her nine babies actually belonged to clients of her day care service.

"Grandma Dee Dee," as Wray's grandchildren and older day care children call her, was a school nurse in Muncie Community schools. She retired in 1988 after working 15 years in Washington Carver, Emerson and Wilson schools. Craig has worked as a nurse in Ball Hospital obstetrics and post- partum departments, in doctors' offices, and most recently, in several health centers. She was an instructor in CETA programs for nurse aides and orderlies and taught an inservice program at Delaware County Health Center. There is a wide disparity in age from nursing home care to nursery care," but there are a lot of similarities," Craig said.

"After all, we treat each one as an individual, no matter what the age." Besides caring for infants' physical needs, Wray and Craig proved nurturing for physical, mental, emotional and social Photo by Ruby Swtekard SHERALYN LANGLEY HOLDS NATALIE THOMPSON AND ALLISON STRAUB for them," Wray said. "We feed them on time before they know they are hungry so they dont cry. "Sometimes we teach the parents how to care for the babies, and what we have found that works best for the children." In fact Wray would like to offer a program to teach new mothers infant and child care. "Young girls are taught in a teenage mothers program, but older mothers might need instruction in infant care so they are comfortable taking their little ones home from the ho6pitaL development "We talk to them a lot We dont use TV at alL" Wray said. "So they intermingle with the other children and the adults.

"TV does seem to stimulate their nervous systems and they'll get noisy. We learned that early on so no TV, but we have quiet music playing sometimes. "We teach them the names of things. We play with them, hold them and rock them." Feeding is an important part of baby care. "We work with the babies to figure out the best way to feed them burp them and care.