Speaking for myself, I have decided to place discovered data either on my website or advertise its availability. In my research I have needed data that others might have, and I ask. But often I cross a paper in the attic, or an old old book, that some one else might need. When the libraries have a sale, I look, for often they may be causing out of print books to be out of sight. Maybe we all need a repository for that kind of documents. I have a typed report on flimsy typing paper done in about 1924 concerning the first 100 years of the Morvin Ga Camp Grounds Church and Cemetery. Many Confederates and maybe a few Texans buried there. I hope it does not get lost. I have sent copies to the local libraries and have made it available on line. But we sit on the biggest information tool in history. If everything were available online, how many history problems could be resolved? How many stories would their be available.

Does anyone have any other tools that need to be laid on the table. Are their things that I don't know of? (Many). Its the new year. If you have material, you will never use, but sit on hoping to hatch a miracle. Make it available. If you have a need, maybe Mr Martin would open a site or maybe he has one for lost history. Don"t forget to donate! George can not pay for it all.

I feel that before long old history books and reports and records for all the wars will be available. Look at Fold3. A little more improvement on their viewer and the access and they will put the website record issue out of business. They have even opened the site to SCV members at a reduced cost. I am praying for the access to private held papers to be more open. I hope the colleges leave this area open for internet use, and not as a way to pay for something.

Like hospitals, I may be wishing in one hand. What do they not charge for in a hospital, and it will get worse.

We have only four years to do a lot of Civil War history. Visit the Handbook of Texas Civil War History, make corrections and additions. It could become the jewel of the South. This year I added several bio's and made many corrections. Now I need to start working on the other Texas Brigade(s). The Hood Brigade or so called historians keep calling Hood's, "The Texas Brigade". but "The Whitfield-Ross Texas Cavalry Brigade" is another, as was Parson's, and several others. Didn't they even meet together several times in the late 1890's?

Another area of importance is the writing of history or inventing, that needs to cease, as does POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, which is another way of inventing history. This area just trampled over the individual First Amendment Rights of several thousand SCV members here in Texas and has created a small rift in the SCV by those who do not want to force the issue with a suite. They say the SCV pays both ways either as a member or as a Texas tax payer, so why sue. Thus political correctness marches on.

I would also like for Texas History to recognize that from 1860 through 1865 a lot of Texas history took part out of the state and a lot of Texans are buried in other states. Maybe we could get Texas to mark the Cemetery at Hollywood, and then bill the VA. Mrs. Sue Moore, the Longview Chapter of the UDC and myself just paid to mark a long lost Texan in Mississippi with a VA Marker and a Texas Ranger Cross, plus our time and travel. It was more than worth it, and he was only my Great Grandfather's company commander. There are more out there, without markers. Many are not researched.

Four more years! What else is needed.

Forgive me for my fumbling, but at 75, it's OK. (PS: I hope Mr Stephen Kirk's book on Ross' Texas Brigade, is published soon. It is in final preparation, I understand.)