Western Carolina University\u2019s Mountain Heritage Awards for 2012 were presented Saturday (Sept. 29) to Rob Tiger, a Hayesville community leader who has led numerous efforts to preserve that town\u2019s historic and cultural heritage, and the Jackson County Genealogical Society, whose members have been working for more than two decades to advance genealogical research in Jackson County and across the region.<\/span><\/p>\n The awards were presented by Susan Belcher, wife of WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher, as part of activities at the university\u2019s 38th annual\u00a0Mountain Heritage Day\u00a0festival.<\/p>\n The university bestows Mountain Heritage Awards each year on one individual and one organization in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the preservation or interpretation of the history and culture of Southern Appalachia, or for outstanding contributions to research on, or interpretation of, Southern Appalachian issues. Award recipients are chosen by a special university committee following guidelines set when the award was established in 1976.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Officers from the Jackson County Genealogical Society accept a 2012 Mountain Heritage Award from Scott Philyaw (far left), director of WCU\u2019s Mountain Heritage Center, and Susan Belcher (far right), wife of WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher. Representing the society are (from left) Kenny Nicholson, president; Ruth Shuler, office manager; and Bud Cantrell and Bill Crawford, vice presidents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Jackson County Genealogical Society<\/strong><\/p>\n The members of the Jackson County Genealogical Society have worked since the organization\u2019s founding in 1991 to bring together individuals interested in genealogy; to discover, research and exchange materials related to Jackson County genealogy; to provide for the preservation of those materials The organization began with 15 charter members, but it now includes about 245 individuals hailing from almost every North Carolina county, 22 other states and one foreign country.<\/p>\n Members of the JCGS meet monthly, with attendance ranging from 20 to more than 100 people. In addition, the focusing on genealogical topics, the gatherings have included programs on mountain music, old Cherokee trails, and other topics related to traditional mountain culture.<\/p>\n The JCGS maintains a research library of more than 1,800 volumes, the largest library of its kind west of Asheville. Since the organization\u2019s founding, its journal \u201cJourneys Through Jackson\u201d has been published on a regular schedule. It contains submissions of official records, family research, old photographs and other items of interest, providing a vehicle for members to publish and preserve genealogical and historical information.<\/p>\n The JCGS has published numerous volumes over the past two decades, including volumes 1 and 2 of \u201cJackson County Heritage.\u201d The society website was begun in 1998 and makes available documents such as Civil War information, old photographs and articles of general interest.<\/p>\n Because of its dedication to the preservation of family history and the families of Jackson County, the JCGS was chosen to be a partner in the Jackson County Public Library Complex in downtown Sylva. The organization moved into its permanent quarters in the historic Jackson County Courthouse in June 2011, with offices open 45 hours each week with a volunteer staff that is available to provide genealogical assistance.<\/p>\n The JCGS has been For more information about WCU\u2019s Mountain Heritage Awards, and how to nominate an individual or organization for the award, contact Scott Philyaw, director of WCU\u2019s Mountain Heritage Center, at 828-227-7129 or\u00a0philyaw@wcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Officers](\"http:\/\/dh.wcu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/JacksonCountyGenealogicalSociety-small.jpg\" "\\"JacksonCountyGenealogicalSociety")
<\/a><\/p>\n