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Bobbie Jones McLane Bobbie Jones McLane is a legend in Arkansas genealogy. Here's her bio sketch from The Record 2007 (annual publication of Garland County Historical Society): Bobbie Jones McLane was born in the family home in Hot Springs. As a descendant of southwest Arkansas pioneers, her roots grow deeply in the state’s soil, and concern for her state’s history and heritage led to consecutive appointments to the Arkansas History Commission, where she served as chairman. She was appointed to the seven-member board in 1967 by Governor Dale Bumpers and reappointed by Governor Bill Clinton. Affectionately known as “Bobbie,” she has mixed her love for history with a career in the U.S. Postal Service. In 1974, she became the first woman to serve in a supervisory capacity at the Hot Springs National Park Post Office. During her career, she received a record nine awards for superior performance of duties. Bobbie established records not only in her vocation but also in her avocation—genealogy and historical writing. An enthusiastic researcher, Bobbie published over twenty-five volumes of Arkansas historical records, including compilations of census, marriage data, and tombstone inscriptions. Her first publication, The McClellans of Alabama and Arkansas, was proclaimed “the best family history yet written in Arkansas,” by the late Walter J. Lemke, professor emeritus of journalism, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. In 1960, she helped organize the Garland County Historical Society and used her special talent as either co-editor or associate editor of The Record, now [2007] in its forty-eighth year. In 1967 she was the only Arkansan awarded a fellowship to the Institute on Historical Agency and Historical Museum Publications at Vanderbilt University. She was the only Arkansan recognized at the 1967 annual meeting of the American Association for State and Local History in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is a past president of Arkansas Genealogical Society and served on the board of directors. She was certified for professional genealogical research and writing by the Board of Certification of Genealogists, and is a member of National Genealogical Society. Bobbie had careers with the United States government—the War, Price and Ration Board, the Office of Rent Control, the Wisconsin Military District—and as a writer for KWFC Radio. She resumed government work with the U.S. Forest Service. In 1956, Bobbie transferred to the Postal Service where she served as director of employee and labor relations. She served as director of finance section at Hot Springs Post Office and served as acting postmaster at Arkadelphia. She also served on the Women’s Program Advisory Board for the Postal Service’s southern region. In 1980, she was promoted to Director of Human Resources, Fort Smith, commuting to Hot Springs on the weekends. She retired in 1986 and received the Superior Achievement Award from USPS. Bobbie is a charter member of the Hot Springs Community Players, which she helped organize in 1948. She starred in and directed a number of shows in the 1950s, but her longest-running role was as the partner of the late Gerald B. “Sonny” McLane, whom she married in 1954. Sunrise usually finds Bobbie sitting at her desk at home; that is, unless she is at 328 Quapaw Avenue [Garland County archives]. Bobbie’s enthusiasm for and dedication to the preservation of history have inspired countless associates. When Bobbie announced retirement (she most recently served as Executive Director) the void was so deep that the title “Executive Director” was permanently retired. No one can take Bobbie Jones McLane’s place—yesterday, today or tomorrow. [Written by Isabel Burton Anthony] Bobbie's books are scattered throughout this website. We co-authored the Arkansas land patent series and the 1850 Arkansas census project. Contact us: Arkansas Research, Inc., PO Box 303, Conway, AR 72033
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