The
Original 13 List Group was initially conceived by Vince Summers.
Early in 1999, Vince first started an e-mail list on genealogy
that he called Genea-Logical Techniques. It was intended
as a sort of "think tank" for new researching techniques. It
had some staunch supporters but was doomed to fail. How many
new ideas could there be that no one else had conceived of?
Trying
to think of something else, Researcher Robert James Hardie,
aged 82, who had given him so much genealogy data came to mind.
Robert had shared some of his fascinating data that traced back
through Abraham Tunes-Klinken (who was one of the original 13
settlers of what came to be called Germantown, Pennsylvania,
and who sailed aboard the Concord in October 1683). So, the
thought crossed Vince's mind, "Why not set up a group based
on this, and see if it will work?"
So
Vince Summers set up a new group with Listbot, a site that offered
free email groups, and called it the "Original 13 Settlers of
Germantown.
"Vince
said, "I think "YEWTEE" was the first to enlist. Yes, before
I signed on officially, myself (now automatic) she managed to
become member #1! Followed by myself." Since its inception in
early 1999, the group has matured from a membership of "2",
to well over 200, and growing.
Later,
Vince recognized the need for a web site for the growing List
Group. As he began to create the website, he asked for volunteers
within the Original 13 List Group to take charge of it. Kevin
Sholder volunteered to take on the task, but due to unforeseen
time constraints, the torch was swiftly passed to Liese Uptegrove-Ade'.
She thoroughly revamped Vince's original page, giving the material
its full visual impact, and regularly updates the website. The
content of the site is a composite product of information and
links provided by contributing members.
In
January 2000, The Original 13 List Group relocated both its
web site (to http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~original13)
and the list itself (to Rootsweb). (Click on the "Join Our List
Group" button at the top of this page to join).
The
Group is well-rounded and diverse. The members consist of all
sorts of persons: professional genealogists, family historians,
educators, computer scientists, some with very large databases,
and some with very small databases. Vince often reflects, "Who
ever would have thought that this germ of an idea... an e-mail
list with the theme of a collection of 13 families, and their
role in history, would have sprouted into such a great group?
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