Introduction
The Ball Family Association gratefully recognizes the genealogists, historians, archivists, and researchers whose dedication has preserved, documented, and expanded the history of the Ball family. Their scholarship has provided the foundation for much of what is known today and continues to guide future generations of family historians.
Susan Sloan
A new star that is shining on our Family is Susan Sloan, Susan holds a B.S. in Psychology and a M. Ed. degree, both from Georgia State University. She is a member of the Georgia Professional Genealogists, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and several state and local genealogical societies and lineage societies. She serves on the Board of the Georgia Genealogical Society and on the Advisory Committee for the R. J. Taylor Foundation that provides funding for books useful to Georgia genealogists.
Contact
jandssloan@mindspring.com
Leon S. Hollingsworth
The Leon S. Hollingsworth Genealogical Card File.
(I was once critical of his work having grown up with cell phones, laptops, and DNA testing. I now realize they did what they did with pen, paper, and travel.)
Contact
Hollinsworth Tomball Letter (PDF)
DAR Letter (PDF)
Joseph L. Druse
Joseph L. Druse was born on December 23, 1915 in Racine, Wisconsin. He first came to Michigan in 1954 as an instructor in the Humanities at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University). He received his Ph.D. in the History of Culture from the University of Chicago in 1955. Druse spent the next 26 years as a professor of History and Humanities. While at Michigan State University, Druse participated in the Nigeria Project. Beginning in 1957, MSU became involved in this project which helped establish a university in Nigeria. MSU would provide assistance through faculty and staff in developing a university rooted in African life. MSU advisors each served two-year assignments in Nigeria. Druse spent the years 1962-1964 in Nigeria working on this project.
Druse was very active in genealogy research and published widely in this field. He was the co-founder and first president of the Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society. He was also a founding member of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society and the Greater Lansing Historical Society. He died October 22, 2004.
Contact
https://archive.lib.msu.edu/uahc/FindingAids/ua17-230.html
Dr. Robert Scott Davis
His work has been invaluable to the Ball family.
Robert Scott “Bob” Davis Jr. is the ultimate history geek. He created the genealogy assets of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, including an extensive genealogical collection and a college-level genealogy program. In 2006, his efforts were recognized with the Award for Outstanding Leadership in History from the American Association for State and Local History. He has since retired.
Many scholars devote their careers to a single subject or a limited range of historical interests. Professor Davis has produced more than 2,000 publications in genealogy, history, and records, including numerous projects that would have represented the life’s work of a single researcher. He has conducted research in archives and libraries throughout the United States, England, and Scotland. In addition to his work in history, genealogy, and public records, he has written books and articles on research methods and source materials and has spoken at hundreds of conferences and meetings across the nation, many of which are now available as Zoom presentations.
A retired senior professor of history, Bob continues his genealogical and historical research because he enjoys doing work that few others undertake. He is also a private-practice historian in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes—a consulting detective of the historical record.
Contact
genws@hiwaay.net
https://www.georgiatrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Robert-S.-Davis-Biography-and-Bibliography.pdf
Brent H. Holcomb
THE SOUTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE OF ANCESTRAL RESEARCH
His understanding of South Carolina the Best
The name “Brent Holcomb” is practically synonymous with South Carolina genealogy – his passion, no doubt, stemming from the fact he was born in Clinton, South Carolina. With both parents deceased, and a brother in North Carolina, Brent Holcomb calls Columbia, South Carolina, his “home.” In addition to his involvement in genealogy research and related publications, Mr. Holcomb has been the organist-choirmaster at Our Saviour Lutheran Church for the past 37 years. He was an organ major in college, and graduated with a degree in musicology from the University of North Carolina. He also plays duplicate bridge, and is a silver life master.
Contact
scmar@juno.com
http://www.scmar.com/
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Extensive researcher on Ball family and a “Breland cousin”
Contact
Website
http://www.historicpathways.com/download/uby.pdf
eshown@comcast.net
WorldCat
http://www.worldcat.org/title/chronology-of-william-ball-of-st-johns-par…
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book is dedicated to those of this family who have gone on before, who passed down to their children the stories that are so rich in family history and genealogy as well as legend. The paths they traveled in the long ago, obscured by the erosion of time and dimmed memories have become clear and bright by the written records kept by the family and shared, public records filed in our city libraries, county courthouses, state and national archives.
This book is a clear challenge to all of the family of this present day and all of those who will follow after, to use this book as a foundation to build on; to complete this history and genealogy; for yours is a wonderful family; a family to be proud of.
My heartfelt thanks to Thomas I. Ball of Louisville, KY for his sharing and co-operation in my research. He wanted the truth to be known.
I am forever grateful to Mrs. Elizabeth Shown Mills CGFASG of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Without her vast knowledge of genealogical re-search this search would not have been completed nor would this book have been written.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to Margaret Ball Miller for her encouragement, interest and hard work. She has been a real trooper and she deserves full credit.
I wish to thank every member of the BALL FAMILY REUNION for just being there. You helped and didn’t know it.
R.C. (Pat) Ball
Ball, R. C., Ball, J. M., & Ball, H. B. (2011). A chronology of William Ball of St. Johns Parish Berkeley County, South Carolina and some of his descendants. Houston, Tex.?: William Ball Family Association. p,9