[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 93 (Monday, July 18, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  TRIBUTE TO ARCHIBALD FOWLER BENNETT

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I would like to recognize the late Mr. 
Archibald Fowler Bennett for the contributions he made to genealogical 
research. Recently Mr. Bennett was the one distinguished genealogist 
recognized annually and elected to the National Genealogy Hall of Fame. 
Mr. Bennett's work toward genealogical education, records preservation, 
and distribution has had a worldwide effect on the circulation and 
promotion of sound principles of genealogical research.
  Mr. Bennett served as the head librarian at the family history 
library of the Genealogical Society of Utah [GSU], for more than 30 
years. He built the GSU's collection of 10,000 volumes into over 70,000 
volumes and 300,000 reels of microfilm, the largest collection in the 
country.
  Not only has Mr. Bennett been a pivotal asset to the accessibility of 
genealogical records in Utah, he also negotiated filming contracts for 
microfilm in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North 
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia. By 1948, he had 
negotiated filming contracts in numerous European countries as well.
  In 1964, Mr. Bennett developed a system of branch libraries, known 
today as family history centers. This institution, along with the GSU 
has helped make the research acquired through the efforts of Mr. 
Bennett and others, available to researchers. Mr. Bennett organized and 
administered the program and was appointed to be the first manager of 
these branch libraries.
  Mr. Bennett researched many families in New England. Much of his work 
remains in manuscript form in family history files. He is also the 
author of four highly acclaimed textbooks, ``A guide For Genealogical 
Research,'' ``Finding Your Forefathers in America,'' ``Advanced 
Genealogical Research,'' and ``Searching With Success.''
  Most genealogists researching in the more than 2,000 family history 
centers worldwide today may not have heard of Archibald Fowler Bennett, 
but they are deeply influenced by him. Family history centers, pedigree 
charts, family group records, and microfilm, are used by most 
genealogists today and were all developed by Mr. Bennett. In this, the 
centennial year of the Genealogical Society of Utah, it is most fitting 
that this unique man, who gave so much to the entire genealogical 
community, has been elected to be honored in the National Genealogy 
Hall of Fame.

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