How Do I Search for My Roots with Debra Basham

Come join us in-person or online to hear about How Do I Search for My Roots from Debra Basham. Introduced by Vic Grigoraci
Debra Basham has been employed by the West Virginia State Archives since 1984. A graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, MS with a BA in History and the University of Delaware with a MA in History and a certificate in Museum Studies, she has been working as the staff archivist and more recently as assistant director and library manager. She has worked on processing and preparing to find aids for various types of collections including manuscripts, photographs, special collections, and county and state records. She has also assisted with various exhibits, worked on the vital records project on the website, and has participated in History Bowl for many years.

She is also an active member of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral and served as a den leader for 4 years for Cub Scout Park 28 and a committee member and Charter Organization Representative for Boy Scout Troop 2 for 18 years. She and her husband, Richard Fauss, the audiovisual archivist for the West Virginia State Archives, have 2 grown sons and reside in Elkview.

In his course, Discovering Your Roots:  An Introduction to Genealogy,  John Phillip Colletta, Ph.D., opened with the following comments:
“Genealogy is an enjoyable avocation, but it’s much more than that.  It’s a journey of self-discovery.  The more you learn about who your ancestors were, the more you learn about who you are.  Few activities are as personally rewarding and exciting.  Unraveling the past – your own personal past – from scraps of evidence in old written records, maps, newspapers, and photographs is enthralling detective work … and a considerable challenge.”