Purcell Family of America

An association to help those trace the Purcell family line

Passion

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

“Passion”

When I sat down to write this quarter’s President’s Message, I realized that the word ‘Passion’ has been bouncing around my head, so I thought, “Why not use it for the my theme?” I remember my father Thomas A. indicating that what I did for a living was less important than “being happy at what you do” and “having a passion for what you do.” I have been fortunate to enjoy my career in advertising sales.

On the personal side, I’ve always loved history. I’ve always wondered why something happened the way it did and who was responsible. And I, like you, wondered about my family history. This interest in family history did not come early in life. I believe this ‘timing’ is similar for most of us. When ?rst married in 1976, I had done some research on Purcell Family history at the NY Public Library, but the initial research in the 1970s sort of went fallow with the needs of a growing family, my demanding career, plus an avocational interest in photography.

I must admit that my interest grew in the early 1990s as the ‘next generation’ thoughts really came into my head when our sons were about nine and thirteen years old. Little by little my interest in genealogy increased when I received a copy of the Purcell Family of America Journal from my Aunt Ce and Uncle Jack. Things took off when in 1992 I read the “Murder of the Thousand Clues” submitted by a then unknown cousin James Purcell now of Lake Geneva, WI. Following up on that story, I found a resource at the Newberry Library in Chicago but, aside from a several-hour visit while attending a trade show there in the early 90s, I didn’t have the opportunity to return. It was after the befriending by James Purcell and a tour of the northwest Illinois graveyard where my great grandfather Purcell was buried that I realized my passion for family history. My membership in the Purcell Family of America in the early 90s lead to my becoming secretary in 1998, secretary/treasurer in 2000, vice president in 2003 and President in 2006. The rest as they say is history.

Passion for Purcell Family History by Todd & June Purcell

What was it that led Todd Purcell and his wife June to found the Purcell Family of America in 1972? What led them to contact hundreds of ‘Purcells, Persells, etc.’ via letter and even personal visits? Passion for family history had to be an inspiration
for both of them. One of the reasons we selected Salt Lake City for this coming year’s PFofA Family Reunion June 19th-22nd, 2010, was the hope to have the opportunity to meet PFofA Founders Todd and June Purcell. (See Reunion information in this issue.) I have contacted Todd’s grandson, our webmaster Daniel Purcell, to see if we can begin a video-recording of the history of the PFofA prior to our Reunion, beginning with his grandparents. Then we will hopefully have a video set-up at our Reunion to capture other members and their remembrances of the PFofA and their individual families as well.

We must also be grateful for the nearly two decades that Tony Marostica served the Association as President. He too shared their passion!

Ken Burns is the Video Storyteller of our Time

Many of you may have seen Ken Burns’ and Dayton Duncan’s series “The National Parks”. Other Burns’ historical ?lms include “Baseball”, “Jazz”, “Ellis Island” and “The American West”. He and Duncan share a ‘passion for and the preservation of our nation’s history.’ Their efforts have undoubtedly helped further our nation’s consciousness of history and preservation of nature and heritage and probably many family histories along the way. During an interview on his PBS show, Charlie Rose complimented Burns, saying: “Burns is a remarkable archivist for who we are, and what we are to be.”

Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt, the leader of the Roughriders and President of the United States, was a naturalist and one of our ?rst preservationists? He was instrumental in creating our National Park System, doubling the number of national parks during his administration and creating the Antiquities Act, which allows historic sites to be preserved as national monuments. Today we see the NPS as belonging to all Americans and as a legacy to the world. Theodore Roosevelt is the seventh cousin of Diane Fox Purcell, wife of James Purcell, who is mentioned above.

Whatever your passion in life, celebrate it in your career and more importantly in your daily life. Hopefully, part of that passion will be for research and enjoyment of family history. With that in mind, take out your 2010 calendar and plan on joining
the extended Purcell Family of America Reunion in Salt Lake City next June. There at the Family History Library you will have the opportunity to explore your own family history with the resources of the world’s largest genealogical library. Circle June
19th-22nd on your calendar now and watch for the form coming soon in your membership dues reminder and by separate email to request your informational packet.

Many thanks are in order to long-time member Aloa Dereta and her daughter Cherie for their diligence and patience in planning the 2010 Reunion in Salt Lake City.
J.F. Purcell, President

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