Charles C. Chaney's
Dameron-Dameron Family Association Page
An unofficial site relating to the Dameron-Damron Family Association

Helen Foster Snow's
The Dameron-Damron Genealogy

The Dameron-Damron Genealogy by Helen Foster Snow (1907-1997.) is frequently mentioned in the newsletter and appears as a source in most genealogical reports concerning Damerons and Damrons. The original work appeared, with an index, in 1954 and sold for $25.00. It is not the usual expected printed book but one that has the appearance of being typewritten. That is because it was typed on a stencil then produced a page at a time on a hand operated Mimeograph machine.

The Mimeo graphic process has been largely replaced by photocopy or xerography methods. The Mimeograph process involves a duplicating machine that uses a stencil consisting of a coated fiber sheet through which ink is pressed. The stencil is made by typing, without a ribbon, on the stencil sheet. The keys cut the coating on the stencil exposing the fiber base that permits ink to pass through it. Signatures and drawings may be done by hand using a stylus. The stencil is then mounted on the cylinder of a machine that forces ink through the stencil and onto the paper as the cylinder rolls over the sheet of paper. The stencils were reusable up to about 5000 copies and could be stored for long periods of time.

The book originally consisted of three parts covering different branches of the family. Rather than continually creating new stencils to accommodate changes Mrs. Snow used the original ones but produced new pages numbered with the original page number plus a letter. These would be inserted in the proper places. Thus, a page and its supplements would be numbered 17, 17a, 17b, etc. Copies of the book were circulated at various times so that many copies may have additions that earlier copies lacked.

Reportedly some bound copies of the book were published early on. It is probable that copies were bound by individuals or a library rather than by Mrs. Snow.  Most copies she subsequently circulated were unbound with additional later pages inserted. This resulted in many copies that are not identical. Also, it appears that the three sections may have been circulated individually.  So, the work was a growing, ever-changing record. Thus, when a copy is located in a library it must be remembered that that particular copy may well be unique. One wonders if there is a copy in existence that contains all of the pages.

The material Mrs. Snow personally studied seems to have been well researched and documented. However, she accepted material, often letters, from many contributors and some of this information is inconsistent and/or erroneous. In some cases letters were possibly in error. She generally presented the material at face value. A reader must be alert to this and use judgment in assessing the material.

Years later she eliminated parts two and three because there was little interest in them. She used many of the original stencils but did rewrite some and add new ones. She added the Damrons of West Virginia and Kentucky but these pages are not numbered. Curiously, she eliminated the section on her own line, that of Capt. John Damron and Anna Ladd.

Most copies seem to exist as loose-leaf pages that have been put into three-ring binders of various sorts. Tables of contents and indices exist but can be confusing if they are not with the “version” for which they were prepared. It is an exciting if sometimes frustrating work. It is immensely valuable rather like the Dameron-Damron family genealogy “bible.” But, it is intriguing! There is perhaps not a definitive “copy” of the total work. The major “revision” Mrs. Snow performed later stripped out many sections. On top of it all is the question of legal status. Although she evidently gave many people permission to use the work as they saw fit, there is still the question of copyright. In 1998 Brigham Young University acquired Helen's archive including over 2000 photographs taken during her years in China (1931-1940). Whether her genealogical work is included in this archive is not known.

It must again be stressed that when using THE DAMERON-DAMRON GENEALOGY the reader must keep in mind that it is dated.  Some conclusions made at that time may have been subsequently found to be incorrect, often due to later research.  Some have dismissed the work because of its age and inaccuracies, however, it does contain of a wealth of valid material that should not be summarily dismissed.  In general, the work is good starting point with a wealth of information but one must consider how and when it was compiled and "published."

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Last updated 12 September 2009

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