22nd Annual Meeting
GANN HISTORICAL SOCIETY & LIBRARY
JUNE 17 - 19, 2010
HILTON Garden Inn
19677 E. Jackson Dr.
INDEPENDENCE, MO 64057
816.350.3000
HOTEL INFORMATION:
Call 1.877.STAY HGI(877.782.9444) or 816.350.3000 to book your room reservation.
You must mention that this is a group booking for the Gann Historical Society in order to
get our special rate of $95 plus tax. This rate includes breakfast. The deadline for making room reservations at this low rate is June 1st.
For RESERVATION
INFORMATION SEE Hilton Garden Inn.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY RESERVED YOUR ROOM, PLEASE DO SO NOW!
DIRECTIONS BY AIR:
Fly into Kansas City (MCI) and either rent a car or take the Super Shuttle to the hotel.
DIRECTIONS BY AUTO:
If coming on I-435, Loop 470 or M-291, turn East on I-70 and follow the directions below.
From I-70, coming from either direction, take Exit 17 and go North on Little Blue Parkway; then turn left on Jackson Drive to the hotel. Note: You can see the hotel from the interstate.
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
We have an exceptional program this year, organized by GHS&L founding members, William R. (Bill) Gann and Gary Toms, of Independence, Missouri.
Friday morning we will be welcomed to Missouri, by Harry S Truman, the ‘Man from Independence’. Former Archivist of the Harry S Truman Presidential Library of Independence, Missouri, Dr. Niel Johnson, Ph.D., will fascinate and amuse us; talking about the 33rd U.S. President, his early life as farmer and politician, and his years in the White House. This promises to be one of the highlights of the annual meeting! Photos are permitted with President Truman, however, Secret Service agents may be watching!
Also on Friday morning, we will have an exciting presentation by family members of S/Sgt. Howard Gann, USMC, sharing the life of a rural Missouri native when he was caught up in WWII. Howard served in the “China Marines” in Shanghai, evacuated to Bataan and Corregidor, was captured and experienced the horrific Bataan Death March, surviving forty months in a Japanese POW camp. Be prepared to laugh and cry! Be prepared to be very surprised! Friday afternoon includes the business meeting followed by ‘Medicine in the Civil War: Missouri Gann Veterans and their Medical Problems.’ An experienced researcher of medical practices prevalent during the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War will weave into his remarks details of Missouri Gann veterans of the Civil War. Come hear about your ancestor’s medical and physical disabilities.At 3:30 on Friday afternoon we will have a tour of America’s largest, free-standing public genealogy library - the Midwest Genealogy Center. Partake in the highly informational and visual tour of America’s largest, free-standing genealogy library collection, located in Independence, where over 10,000 visitors from 25 to 30 U.S. states, Canada, and Australia came for research in August through October, 2009. Plan to spend individual time for research before and after the annual meeting in this amazing new, hi-end facility. Meet our new professional archivist on the Center’s staff who is caring for the Gann Archival Collection. Your elusive ancestor is just waiting to be ‘found’.
At 4:30 on Friday afternoon, we will have a Gann reception at the library. Come sit and sip, visit and view. Guests will enjoy a private collection of oil paintings and etchings by famous Missouri artist, George Caleb Bingham, American genre painter of the 19th Century. This historic collection is on loan. Even in a museum, it is not often that viewers can get this up-close look at nationally famous paintings.
Saturday morning brings a discussion of ‘Missouri Gann Families: Who were they and where did they come from?’ Never before has anyone done an overall analysis of the migration of Gann families into the state of Missouri, beginning in the early 1830’s. Some of these Ganns came from brothers Ignatious Nathan, Adam C., and Thomas; all from East Tennessee. And, who were the others? And who was the very first Gann female who came to Missouri by 1821, looking for a husband?? And, come meet one of the oldest living Ganns in Missouri -- a direct descendant from one of these families… he is terrific!
Also Saturday morning there will be a talk on ‘The History, Myths and Impact of America’s Western Trails.’ The talk briefly explores the history of the three major trails out of western Missouri – the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails. It also takes a humorous look at the myths perpetuated about those trails, and concludes with the amazing impact they have had on American History. Ganns from the above group were on wagon trains to California in 1847 and 1857. Many of today’s Ganns in California are direct descendants from these pioneer families. Who present will be able to stand up and proudly proclaim that they descend from one of America’s fearless pioneers of the overland trek?
Saturday afternoon GHS&L member, Chon Gann, will present exciting proposals for moving our web site into the 21st Century and getting the word out about GHS&L to the whole world of Ganns and Gann descendants through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. He will talk about new methods to reach Ganns, methods that most of us never even dreamed about!
The last Saturday afternoon session is still to be announced…and we may opt for an early adjournment to get ready for the Saturday evening Farewell Banquet. Our entertainment for the banquet celebrates 2010 as the 100th anniversary of the genre of Southern Gospel Music. The Ninth Hour, a quartet of college-aged young men who are leaders in southwestern Missouri in promoting the art of Southern Gospel music, will lift our hearts with traditional and contemporary Southern Gospel music. The Ninth Hour is the sole sponsor of “The Gospel Greats”, the #1 nationally–syndicated Southern Gospel radio program in the nation. This should be a banquet to remember.
Click here for REGISTRATION FORM.
!This will be a
meeting not to be missed!
If you have questions, contact Benegene Kring at 281.679.6206 or Chris Johnson at 303.771.1688.