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| Carl Forrest Greenway (1917-1974) |
Carl
Forrest Greenway died in 1974, but I feel as if I have been collaborating with
him about the Hairston family for the last fifteen years. Some of his letters,
found in the Georgia State Archives were sent to me in 1999. On a visit to the New York Public Library in 2000, I copied some of his letters and notes found in four
very large binders. That same year, another researcher sent a copy of a letter found in the Bassett Historical Center.
Carl F. Greenway researched the early Hairstons of Virginia and pointed out information in other
research that did and did not make sense. He did not have the advantage of the
Internet so traveled throughout the south and to Salt Lake City to find family.
He often spent time talking to and writing to distant cousins. From those
interviews and letters about his mother's Hairston family, I found clues to
help me further my research.
I know that I need to go back to the NYPL and maybe to the Bassett Historical Center and the Georgia State Archives. At the New York Pubic Library, I only copied what I thought was pertinent. However, I now know so much more about this branch of the Hairston family. Names such as McBurnett, McKain, Stallings, Simonton, White, and McCauley meant nothing to me in 2000. Did I miss something? I need to know.
Carl's letters indicate that he sent research to the North Carolina State Archives. Recently, I found one item in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. That's two additional places to search. Were there more documents to find? Did he spread his research around
according to state and family? Or, did he make copies to send to various
repositories? Did those binders at the NYPL contain all of his research?

