Baca County History Book – VOLUME II

While manning our booth at the fair, Steve Doner and I discovered how difficult it is to persuade people to submit their stories for Volume II of the Baca County History Book. We heard every excuse imaginable from “I can’t write” to “No one wants to hear about my life.” We concluded these key points for everyone to consider:

1.) Even though some of us (including me) in 1983 may have been skeptical about the value of the first book when it was being created and published, we now realize THAT skepticism was COMPLETELY misplaced. For whatever reason, if we thought it really wasn’t important, or we thought people would fill their family histories with bragging and such, or it would be boring information, or no one cared about my family history, etc. WE WERE WRONG!! Without exception, when we visited with those who came by our booth, everyone now realizes the value of our beloved Baca County History Book. Thank you, Virginia Basham, Betty Cook, and all those who labored to make that unique and valuable book for the people of Baca County. Everyone agreed that the book is of utmost importance in preserving our shared collective history, and that Volume II, while in the first book’s shadow, will also play a vital role in preserving our history.

2.) We also discussed with those who passed by our booth the fact that many key families and individuals in our county who played a vital role in our lives never submitted an entry. How disappointing it is when we pick up our history book, look up a name, and find no information. Soon, the role those missing names played will be forgotten except by those who work to keep it alive. The best way to preserve the memory of your family and loved ones is to write an entry for Volume II.

3.) Many of those who stopped by said, “Since I don’t live in Baca County anymore, then my story shouldn’t be in the book.” If you are familiar with the old book, there are many entries of people who grew up here and left to pursue a life elsewhere. Those who knew you in your younger years will always be interested in you, your continued story, and your family. The old history book and this new Volume II will be for everyone, from those with the smallest to the largest Baca County connection.

4.) As mentioned above, many said they were not going to submit an entry because they couldn’t write or didn’t know what to write. To get you over that difficult “writer’s cramp” hump, we have provided a couple of questionnaires to make it easier. Choose the one that looks the simplest for you. Use the questionnaire as a framework for your writing. You don’t have to answer all the questions, but only the ones you choose. EDITED: I forgot one more thing. If your family had a story in Volume 1, summarize that information in a paragraph or two and then tell us about your family from that point on, mentioning the important events, deaths, births, jobs, etc. that have happened since that original story. Please feel free to ask questions.

Questionnaire #1

Questionnaire #2

When you have completed your story, find information for submission at: https://plainsmanherald.com/baca-county-historical-society/

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