Baker County Historical Society

10/13/2026

Tuesday Tip: Your Ancestors May Have Stayed Put, But the Boundaries Didn't!

Have you ever searched for an ancestor in a particular county or state, only to discover there's no record of them living there? The answer might be hiding in a little geography lesson!

Throughout American history, county lines, state borders, and territorial boundaries have changed countless times. A family could have lived in the same home for generations, yet appeared in records from several different jurisdictions!

🔎 Here's a genealogy research trick: When you hit a dead end, pull out a historical map! Compare the boundaries from the time your ancestors lived there with today's maps. You might discover that the records you're searching for are actually filed in a completely different county or state.

And don't forget about Baker County! Our own county was established in 1861 from a portion of New River County. If you're researching Baker County ancestors who lived here before 1861, you may need to explore records from New River County or earlier jurisdictions.

Sometimes finding your ancestors isn't about searching harder—it's about knowing WHERE to look!

📚 Visit the Baker County Historical Society Genealogy Library on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

🏛️ Admission Information

💲 Non-Members: $5 per person — Admission includes building tours (guided or self-guided), library use, or general visits.

💚 BCHS Members: FREE Admission!

Your admission helps support our mission to protect and preserve the rich history of Baker County for future generations.

📍 Historic Old Jail
42 W. McIver Avenue, Macclenny, FL

🌳 Every family has a story. Let us help you discover yours!

10/12/2026

🚨 YOU’RE WANTED… at the Baker County Fair! 🚨

The Baker County Historical Society is bringing a little law and disorder to the fair with our JAIL-N-BAIL Fundraiser, October 20–25! 🤠🔒

For just $5, you can have a friend, family member—or maybe someone who’s been getting on your nerves lately 😏—“ARRESTED” and thrown in the BCHS jail! Once behind bars, our inmates will have 20 minutes to raise $20 in bail to earn their freedom.

And nobody is safe! We already have a few familiar faces willing to do some time, including Sheriff Scotty Rhoden, Chamber Director Dillon Pullen, and Fire Chief Don Blanton. And don’t forget about the BCHS Board of Directors… they may need some help making bail, too! 😂

👮 Have someone arrested!
🔐 Help bail someone out!
💰 Support a great cause!
😂 And have some fun while doing it!

Every arrest and every dollar raised helps support the Baker County Historical Society’s mission to preserve and share the rich history of Baker County for future generations.

So, start thinking about it now…WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE BEHIND BARS? 👀🚔

Come find us at our booth at the Baker County Fair, October 20–25!
It’s all in fun—and it’s all for Baker County history! ❤️

10/08/2026

10/05/2026

Make plans to join us Thursday night for our monthly membership meeting. Meeting starts at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

10/01/2026

Happy Birthday to our members! We hope you have a wonderful day!

09/30/2026

Make plans to join us on Saturday!

09/29/2026

Sometimes a missing record can be just as important as the one you find. When an ancestor doesn’t appear where you expect, understanding when a record was created, who was included, and who may have been excluded can help explain the gap and point your research in a new direction.

Social Security records can be especially useful in genealogy because they may help confirm important details about an ancestor’s identity and family connections. When researching 20th-century relatives, they’re another valuable resource to keep in your genealogy toolbox.

Remember—a research roadblock doesn’t always mean the record doesn’t exist. Sometimes you just need to know where else to look!

09/22/2026

Family treasures are more than just objects—they are tangible connections to the people who came before us. A piece of jewelry, a handmade quilt, an old Bible, a military keepsake, or even an everyday household item can carry memories and stories that no official record can capture.

As family possessions are passed from one generation to the next, consider documenting who owned them, when they were used, and the stories associated with them. Years from now, that information may be just as valuable as the heirloom itself.

Preserving family history means preserving both the story and the things that help tell it.

💲 Admission
• Members: FREE
• Nonmembers: $5

Bring your genealogy questions and come discover more ways to preserve your family's history for generations to come.