Local procrastinators have a short reprieve.

Anyone who wanted to have their family history included in a book that will be published by the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center, but who ran out of time, will still have the opportunity to do so.

Gayle Berry, the coordinator of the book for the cultural center, has announced the deadline for submissions will be extended until Feb. 28.

Berry said she has received more than 300 family histories and 200 photos so far “and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, really.”

“So many people are thinking about it, but they procrastinate and put it off and they’re still working on it,” she said.

Many may think a published family history is not that important to them, but Berry said their descendants may feel differently.

“It may not affect and may not be as important to people ... right now,” she said. “But think about our great-grandchildren going back and looking up and finding a picture of their great-grandparents or even three generations back in a book ... written by them telling family stories.”

Genealogists today use an illustrated history book of Kentucky from 1886 by W.H. Perrin and G.C. Kniffin. Berry pointed out several family names in Barren County in that book that are still prominent today – Botts, Childress, Duvall, Gorin and Fant.

“That’s what they did (in Perrin & Kniffin). They did all these biographies and it’s a wealth of information, so I’m hoping that this book that we’re going to do will be another one of those just for Barren County,” she said.

Anyone who has lived in Barren County may be included in the book. Some families have been here for generations, while others may have only lived in the area for a matter of years. Everyone has a story to tell though, according to Berry.

“A wonderful example of a family that doesn’t live here anymore, but still has ties and they feel they are still a part of (the community) ... is the Muckler family,” she said. “Excerpts of (their family history) are absolutely priceless.”

Bill Muckler brought his English war bride Barbara to Glasgow in 1953. They raised eight children here before they moved away.

At the other end of the spectrum are members of the Wade family who were in Metcalfe County when it was still part of Barren County back in the 1700s and still live locally today, Berry added.

“They (both) made an impact in Barren County,” she said.

Berry wishes more local families would send in their histories. She said the majority of submissions have come from outside Barren County and she’s afraid local histories may be lost in the future if they are not recorded now.

“To think that Dick Ropp and Carroll Ream came to Barren County to play professional baseball and look what an impact they made on Barren County and their family is still here,” she said. “That’s history that needs to be preserved and we need to tell it in a story. And it may not be anything as elaborate or as exciting as being a baseball player, but yet there are so many people who have moved here that were here until (their) later years.”

She said volunteer Marcia Perkins has been going to retirement homes to talk to people such as Ted Winbigler and Clorine Lawson to make sure their stories are told and recorded.

When will the book be available?

“It takes time,” she said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll have these books in before Christmas this year. ... This is not a book that you can just go to a computer and find the information to put in it.”

The family histories are just the beginning of what they’re going to do with this book, Berry said. They’re going to try to extend some of the things that were in the Barren County heritage book, which came out years ago and that people still love and buy. The cultural center also has copies of that book.

Along with the family histories, there will be sections on businesses, communities, churches, schools and military personnel. Berry said she has received several submissions on communities such as Finney, Rocky Hill and Goodnight with the help of Larry Calhoun.

“We’re fortunate to be adding the military section to it, which will make it much better,” she added.

People who had submitted information for the Glasgow Daily Times book on military personnel, which was canceled, can include that information for this publication in the same format, she said.

Local churches that have 25 or more families submitting histories will receive a personalized copy for their church libraries from the publisher, according to Berry.

She wants everyone to understand they don’t have to buy a copy of the book to have their stories published. They just need to type a family history in 500 words or less. Submissions may include one family photograph, identifying all family members in the photo on the back and may be sent, along with an order form, to the Barren County History Book Committee at the cultural center. Forms are available at the center. Professional editors will proof and correct stories for grammar and spelling.

The hardback, collector’s quality, 8 1/2” by 11” edition will be bound in swirl-grained leatherette with gold lettering. Its archive-quality pages will be smyth-sewn for durability. The book will be in libraries and offices across the county, state and United States, according to information from the committee. “It will be a family heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation.”

The book is available on a pre-sale basis only for $49.95.

Only those who order now before publication will be assured a copy of this limited-edition printing. Send check or money order along with the family history to the book committee no later than Feb. 28.

For more information, call Gayle Berry at (270) 651-9792, e-mail sckculturalcenter@glasgow-ky.com or stop by the cultural center.