The Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Scholarship Awardee for 2019
By Suzan Younger
On December 8, 2018, the Dallas Genealogical Society announced several donations to the Genealogy Section of the J Erik Jonsson Central Library at their annual Awards Luncheon. One of those donations was a gift of $7,500 to establish a scholarship in honor of long-time member Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck who passed away in May 2018. The fund will be used to provide genealogical training for members of the library staff over the next five years.
To be considered for the 2019 scholarship, Dallas Public Library employees had to submit an essay. Library Director Jo Giudice and Genealogy Unit Manager Stephanie Bennett selected Associate Kimberly Thurman from this year’s entries.
The scholarship allowed Kim to attend the 2019 Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR). She elected to do the advanced Southern research technique track. Kim stated in her essay that she was excited about the opportunity to further her genealogical knowledge at this conference.
“My attendance at this conference will help build my professional knowledge of genealogy and research, specifically here in the South. Being a more junior member to the staff, I have not had as much experience in research and genealogy as those who have been here or worked in this field longer than I have. I have also not attended a full professional conference and look forward to an opportunity to gain the experience and knowledge. Being that the conference is focused on genealogy in the South, and there are many customers who seek help in this regional area this conference would allow me to better serve our customers with this particular need.”
TIGR was the first genealogical conference for Kim to attend. She joined nearly 100 other participants in the week-long institute held in Austin, Texas June 10-14, 2019. J. Mark Lowe coordinated and lectured for much of the Advanced Southern Research Techniques track. Kim heard lectures on early southern settlement and migration, land records, southern resources, probate and church records from the twenty courses offered. Additionally, the conference provided several opportunities to network with fellow genealogists and the TIGR faculty.
The Dallas Genealogical Society Board wishes to recognize Kim Thurman as the first recipient of the scholarship and congratulate her on completing the TIGR Advanced Southern Research Technique course. Researchers in the Genealogy Section of the Dallas Public Library will benefit from Kim’s hard work at the institute.
