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In 1893, James Francis and Virginia Lee Greer accepted positions at Baylor University. Professor James Francis Greer took the helm as VP and professor of Latin Studies. Virginia assumed the duties of girls’s dormitory matron at Georgia Burleson Hall. The massive three-story hall was one of the two original buildings and a mirror image of “Old Main” next door. Virginia had the monumental task of managing the lives of the female students, all of whom lived in the dormitory — fr

An attempt to organize the stacks. In 2024, I discovered that my great-grandmother Lillian Bedichek was a prolific writer, researcher, thinker and ponderer. At some time in my early adulthood, I learned that she had published a Spanish Language textbook utilized by the Austin public schools and that her retelling of the Persephone myth explaining the seasons had been published in a children's magazine. But after inheriting a treasure trove of her unpublished works from my aun

Historic family items as symbols of hope.

Here is a recap of my matrilineal line. my mother: Jane Logan Carroll (1942- still living!) Jane's parents: Mary Virginia Bedichek (1911-1995) + Gay Vaughn Carroll (1907-1983) my grandmother: Mary Virginia Bedichek (1911-1995) Mary's parents: Lillian Lee Greer (1885-1971) + Roy Bedichek (1878-1959) my great-grandmother: Lillian Lee Greer (1885-1971) Lillian's parents: Virginia LeStrappes Lee (1859-1955) + James Frances Greer (1858-1907) my 2nd great-grandmother: Virginia Le

Tombigbee River, Alabama A note about names. I use the women's maiden names, for simplicity and to keep everyone straight in my head (the name remains the same throughout her lifetime, rather than changing depending on whether she is married or not). Sarah “Sallie” Elizabeth Rivers Harwell born January 13, 1824 was the seventh of Sarah "Sally" Mason Alston's nine children, all except the eldest were born in Clarke County, Alabama. Before Sallie's birth, her father, Robert Riv

We have launched another Adventure with Ancestors! On this trip, my husband, dog and I are following my matrilineal line back through time (I wish!) and eastward across the southern US. I am not sure when my interest in my mother’s mother’s mothers began. Maybe it was when I learned about a silver spoon that has been passed down in my family from oldest daughter to oldest daughter. I thought it was so cool and I was disappointed that I was not in the line of succession, thoug