The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 456

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

members. Included in the publication is "A Message," dated
September 21, 1899, from Mrs. Anson Jones, first president of
the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, which gives some
eloquent details about the last president of the Republic.
Historians, genealogists, writers, and others owe a debt of thanks
to Mrs. Harry Joseph Morris, chairman, and her Lineage Book
Committee for accomplishing what must have been a tremen-
dous task. A work such as this requires much time, great patience,
and careful attention. This impressive publication indicates that
the Daughters chose exceedingly well in delegating the respon-
sibility of the book to Mrs. Morris. As history this book has
value in that the information given has been documented in most
instances from primary sources, and as genealogy it is valuable in
that it gives data on so many Texans.
The worth of the book was realized early and the first edition
of five hundred copies was sold out even before publication. A
second edition of five hundred copies is presently available for
sale at the Alamo in San Antonio.
DORMAN H. WINFREY
Texas State Library
Rev. John Haynie: Ancestry, Life & Descendants. By Loyce
Haynie Rossman. Fredericksburg (The Radio Post), 1963.
Pp. xiv-+6o. Illustrations, bibliography, index. $1o.oo.
One of the most difficult problems of historical research in the
realm of biographical writing is an orderly and accurate tracing
of family relationships. Necessary source material concerning
kinship data is often scant or entirely lacking. Obscure family
members introduce themselves prominently into the lives of
celebrated persons. Relatives with identical names play havoc
with carefully planned life histories. The lack of a complete
family tree in the initial stages of a biographical effort some-
times results in aggravating delays and even termination of the
projected enterprise. Some would-be Boswells, unacquainted with
the perplexing intricacies of genealogical research, quickly turn
aside into other phases of historical writing.
Thus it is with rejoicing and understandably ill-concealed glee
that seasoned biographers view literary accomplishments like
Rev. John Haynie: Ancestry, Life & Descendants, by Loyce

456