Genealogy group will hold history, book fair

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society will hold "Homecoming" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The event is open to the public. This history and book fair will showcase the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial this year.

The event was started three years ago by the Perry County Missouri Historical Society and has been held twice before in Perryville. Historical and genealogical societies, families with history in the area, cemetery associations and other organizations with interest in regional history from Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and western Kentucky have been invited to set up displays and make their publications available.

This year's event will feature guest speaker Jane Randol Jackson, director of the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, a genealogist and expert on the Randol family (early settlers of Cape Girardeau County) and head of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial committee in Cape Girardeau. Her topic will be "Some Came Back to the Cape Girardeau District," which will summarize what is known about members of the Corps of Discovery who appeared in the area after the return of the expedition. The program will begin at 11 a.m. at the Show Me Center.

Historical and genealogical groups, families, crafters and others interested in local history or family history are welcomed to request table space at the event. Tables are free. The deadline for table reservations has been extended until May 24. Interested groups or individuals may contact the chairman of the event, Bill Eddleman, at 335-1507 or e-mail eddleman@ clas.net.