The HIGH Family Association
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About ... The HIGH Family Association The High Family Association has been a work in progress since 1987. In that year three High cousins, one in South Carolina and two in North Carolina, each of a different branch of the family and all three interested in genealogy, got together and agreed to put out a family newsletter. Each contacted 8 to 10 family members on their side of the family and encouraged them to join. At first a donation of $15 per year was asked and almost everyone who was originally asked to join responded favorably. In the third year the first newsletter evolved into a journal and it included items of family interest as well as family genealogy. After the first request for donations it was decided that the best way to make the association grow was to add to a mailing list, free of charge, anyone who wanted to become a member of the family association, a practice that was continued until 1998. In 1993 the association was incorporated under the laws of South Carolina as The High Family Association. This incorporation created a legal entity that could outlive any of its individual members. It was determined that if the family association was to continue over the years, not to mention grow to meet the needs of the members, that a treasury was necessary. In 1993 a call went out for donations to help with the cost, which were beginning to run between $800 and $1,000 each year. Lake E. High, Jr., the president of the association and editor of the Journal promised to use only one half of the donations for expenses and to place the other half of all donations in a permanent fund in order to build a treasury for the future. Donations were generous and the association, at this writing, has over $3,500 in the bank and is meeting its financial obligations as they arise. A family archives was established where family books and papers are preserved in museum quality, acid-free storage boxes. Photographs contributed by family members are reproduced by the latest archival technology and stored in archival boxes specifically designed for that purpose. In 1999 the back issues of The High Family Journal were reproduced, bound, and made available for sale to those interested in having a set. Also in 1999, Grace Lawrence of Alabama completed and published High Family Notes, her book on the High family. That book contained her extensive database of High genealogy combined with the database of High genealogy of Lake High, Jr. High Family Notes has over 14,000 names of descendants and spouses of Thomas High, our founding ancestor, who was born in England in circa 1647 and came to Virginia in 1660. High Family Notes greatly expanded on the only previous book on the family, the then out of print My High Line by Joe and Jessie High of Arkansas. There are over 25 family genealogists, both amateur and professional, who have gathered the family information that was contributed to the total family genealogical database. Those genealogists continue their work and new family genealogists are joining the association each year. It is our goal to connect each branch of the now far-flung High family to the main family tree. With the exception of a couple of isolated genealogical problems, that goal has been accomplished; that is, we now have identified all of the main branches of the family and we have been able to connect them. Various family genealogists are actively working the few families who can not now be connected to the main family tree. At some point in the future it is our hope, and our goal, to be able to give any member of our family a copy of his lineage all the way back to England. For the most part, that has already been accomplished. This year (2000) saw the launching of the Highfamily.org web site. Built and maintained primarily by Howard High of Kansas with the assistance of Mike Ratledge of South Carolina, this new online venture is our attempt to reach as many family members as possible. It is our desire to share our existing research, inspire additional family genealogists, and build a bigger and better family association. We encourage all interested parties to visit our Membership page and learn how to join with us on this family project.
President, The High Family Association |
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Website content © 2000 High Family Association |