Everton’s Family History Company is No More

Sadly, one of the oldest names in the genealogy business has folded. Years ago many of us eagerly awaited the arrival of Everton's Genealogical Helper magazine in the mail. The producing company hit hard times and Lee Everton lost control of the magazine and the company some time ago. Now the new owners also have given up.

There is a bright note, however: the birth of a new publication. The following is a message sent to many people by Kristin Brandt:

My name is Kristin Brandt. Some of you may recognize my name as the former editor of Everton’s Newsline. I would like to inform you that the assets of Everton’s Family History Company were donated last month to the city of Logan, Utah. This has many implications, but for me it means that Everton’s Newsline is no more.

The Newsline was a labor of love. I did it because I love family history and I love helping people to discover their roots. As such, I hated seeing the Newsline die. However, before the assets of the company were donated, my partner and I were given permission to continue on with our own "Newsline", but under a different name. As such, we are pleased to announce the creation of GenWeekly. You can find us on the web at http://www.genweekly.com.

GenWeekly will pick up where Everton’s Newsline left off...and then some. It will be sent out once a week. It will contain multiple articles, news items, and event announcements to help you find your family’s history. In fact, you will find it contains more articles and more news than the Newsline did. We really think you will like it.

Because we no longer have Everton’s Family History Company to subsidize us, we must charge a small fee for the service…averaging about 20 cents a week. However, we realize you will want to see it first. So, this email is to inform you that you will be receiving our first edition for free. It should arrive in your email box on Friday 9 July, 2004. Please look for it and, if you like it, consider a subscription a subscription to GenWeekly. If you do find yourself interested in subscribing, you will find several reasonably priced subscription plans.

Thank you for your time.

Yours truly,

Kristin Brandt
Editor, GenWeekly.com

Comments

[Holly T. Hansen]

Hello Dick,

You should be aware that there is false information circulating through the genealogical community as well as the subscription list of Everton's Family History Magazine (formerly the Genealogical Helper) that the company has closed. The truth is, the company is going through reorganization, with new ownership and management who are dedicated to returning the Genealogical Helper and company to its rightful place as an icon within the genealogical community.

The city of Logan, Utah, has secured the donation of the Everton Genealogical Library, and will soon be making the contents of the 60,000 + volume collection available to the public in a variety of formats. This is very exciting news, as the Library is one of the largest private genealogical collections in the US and contains invaluable resources for all those interested in family history research. As the former Editor of Everton's Genealogical Helper, I have been involved in discussions with a group of individuals who have worked tirelessly to save the Everton Library and bring this collection to the city of Logan, including Bobbie Coray, Verne Bray, Walter Fuller, and Scott Jackson.

There are plans to immediately bring back the design, format, and content of the Genealogical Helper, which for decades provided the most effective educational information, tools and research material of any industry magazine. Cutting edge technology in online research will become a prominent feature of the magazine. All current subscriptions will be honored.

This is a very positive development for the genealogical community. Stay tuned for announcements from the City of Logan within the next couple of days.

Sincerely,
Holly T. Hansen

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[Dick Eastman]

Thank you for that update/clarification, Holly. I hope that you will report any news here as well.

Thanks.

- Dick Eastman

[Holly Hansen]

There was a very nice press conference Wednesday at the Logan Library conducted by the Mayor, Doug Thompson. (Logan, Utah)

This is the text of his press release:

"The City of Logan Library is very pleased to announce the receipt of a collection of more than 80,000 genealogical books, documents, and microform with an appraised value of $1.7 million. the everton collection, accumulated over the past 57 years by the Everton Publishers, is regarded as one of the world's finest privately held genealogical libraries. this major genealogy collection will now be entering the public library arena allowing everyone access to its extensive resources.

William Schjelderup of Salt lake City, who acquired the Everton Publishers Company and the genealogy library, is making the gift. Mr. Schjelderup is owner of COMpanion Corporation of Salt Lake City, developer of alexandria Library Automation software, a leader in the K-12 education market.

Bobbie Coray, President and CEO of the Cache chamber of Commerce facilitated the gift. Coray, an avid amateur genealogist, learned of the library being available as a donation and brought City and company officials together in order to keep this significant locally developed collection in Cache Valley.

The collection will be temporarily housed in city buildings and will not be immediately available for research. The collection catalog will be added to the Logan Library's existing catalog and wiull be searchable through the Internet. For more information please contact Ronald Jenkins, city of Logan Librarian, 1 435 716 9130."

[Ruth Lilian]

Can anyone tell us how to access the Everton databases, including in my case, that of family members submitted to Everton years ago?
Thank you.

[Barbara Williams]

My daughter ordered a subscription to Family History in late April for my birthday and I have never received anything or any explainations about why I haven't received anything yet her credit card was billed in early May for something I am not getting. What do we do now? I was really looking forward to this magazine as it had be highly recommended to me my genealogy instructors as well as researchers. Please tell me what to do.