Jen Rickards will present on the GAR in Franklin County, a fraternal organization that was open to veterans of the Civil War who fought in the Union and preceded the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Not much
has been known about the activity and impact of the GAR in Franklin Co. Building on historical research on the GAR as it related to her family, she will take a deep dive into the documents, newspaper articles, members, and history to share details about the organization in Franklin Co., with many details new to local residents.
Jen Rickards has been a genealogist and family historian since 2012, has written and published a biography about her great-great grandma, been interviewed on the radio show, Extreme Genes, produced a small documentary video on the 1973 National Archives Fire, and has written many articles and blog posts about local history and research tips. Jen is a board member of the Franklin County Historical Society and has lived in the county since 2011. She continues to expand her knowledge of the history of Franklin Co.