Inside the Pages of The Dragoo Family News

Our newsletter includes several recurring features, along with special articles and contributions from members. The contents vary from issue to issue depending on the news, research, and stories received.

Letter from the President

A message from the DFA President sharing the Association's priorities, ongoing initiatives, accomplishments, and plans for the future. This regular feature keeps members informed about the direction of the Association and encourages their participation in its continuing work.

Family History Articles

At the heart of The Dragoo Family News are the stories of our ancestors and the discoveries that bring their lives into focus. Members and family researchers contribute biographies, historical documents, photographs, vintage newspaper clippings, and personal recollections that enrich our shared family record.

From the DFA Library

News from some of our ten family-line libraries, including research discoveries, additions to the collections, preservation projects, and opportunities for members to contribute family records and historical materials.

Family Connections & Reunion News

Highlights from past DFA reunions and family gatherings, along with announcements of upcoming events. Photographs, personal recollections, and shared experiences celebrate the connections that bring relatives together across generations.

Celebrations & Memorials

Recognizing life's meaningful moments, including births, marriages, anniversaries, graduations, accomplishments, and remembrances of family members whose lives remain part of our shared heritage.

Queries

Questions submitted by members seeking information about ancestors, family relationships, unidentified photographs, historical documents, and other genealogical mysteries. Sharing a question may lead to a discovery—or reconnect relatives who hold different pieces of the same family story.

Letters to the Editor

A place for readers to share observations, respond to published articles, offer corrections, contribute additional historical information, and continue conversations begun in earlier issues.

Association News

Reports and announcements from DFA officers and committees, including membership information, ongoing projects, volunteer opportunities, leadership updates, and other activities supporting the Association's mission.

Share Your Story

You do not have to be a professional writer or genealogist to contribute to The Dragoo Family News. Everyone has a story worth sharing, and the editing team and other DFA volunteers are available to help you tell yours.

Perhaps you have discovered an ancestor's photograph, found a revealing newspaper article, identified a long-forgotten family connection, or remembered a story told by your grandparents. Perhaps you would like to introduce your branch of the family or share memories from a reunion.

We welcome family histories, personal recollections, photographs, genealogical findings, ancestor biographies, historical documents, reunion stories, family traditions, research questions, and other items of interest to Dragoo descendants.

You don't have to send a finished article. Share your memories, notes, photographs, or ideas, and members of our editorial team or other DFA volunteers can help you develop them into a story. Every submission will be reviewed and edited for clarity, readability, and consistency while preserving your meaning and personal voice. If substantial changes are needed, the editorial team will work with you before publication.

Even a short recollection or a single photograph with a meaningful caption can become a valuable contribution to our family's historical record.

Article Submission Guidelines

Our goal is to make contributing easy while maintaining a newsletter that is informative, accurate, readable, and respectful of the families whose stories we share.

• Length: Articles should fit within one newsletter page, including photographs. Longer articles may be considered with prior approval from the Newsletter Editor.

• Writing style: Write naturally, in your own voice. We welcome both personal storytelling and more formal historical or genealogical articles.

• Historical sources: When sharing genealogical research or historical findings, include the sources of your information whenever possible. Census records, letters, newspapers, family Bibles, photographs, and other documents help preserve the foundation of our shared history.

• Names and dates: Check the spelling of names, relationships, places, and dates before submitting.

• Original work: Please identify material written by someone else and provide publication or source information. 

• Author information: Include your name, contact information, and Dragoo family line, if known, so the newsletter team can contact you with questions and properly credit your contribution.

If you have an idea but are uncertain how to turn it into an article, contact the editor. We encourage all forms of participation.

Submitting Photographs and Images

Photographs, letters, family records, newspaper clippings, and other images often tell stories that words alone cannot.

To help us reproduce your images clearly:

• Send photographs as separate image files whenever possible, preferably in their original size and resolution. JPG and PNG files are welcome.

• Avoid reducing image sizes or sending screenshots when a full-resolution original is available.

• When scanning photographs or documents, use a high-resolution scan, preferably 300 dpi or higher.

• Identify the people pictured, their relationships, the location, the occasion, and the approximate date whenever known.

• Include the photographer, original owner, collection, or other source when available.

Please don't hesitate to submit an older photograph simply because it is faded, damaged, or imperfect. Historical images are valuable records of our family's past.

Every Story Gets a Helping Hand

The Dragoo Family News is published by a volunteer editorial team dedicated to preserving family stories and presenting them clearly and respectfully.

Submitted material may be reviewed for spelling, grammar, clarity, length, formatting, and historical accuracy. The editorial team may suggest improvements, request clarification, or recommend supporting sources for historical information.

Our guiding principle is to preserve the contributor's meaning and voice (writing style and terminology). Routine editorial changes may be made for readability and consistency. When proposed changes would substantially affect an article's content, interpretation, or personal recollections, the editor will consult with the contributor before publication.

Articles may be held for a future issue when space is limited. Contributors will be credited for their published work, and photographs will be attributed when source information is provided.

The newsletter is a shared family record. Corrections, additional information, and thoughtful contributions are always welcome.

Submission Deadlines

The Dragoo Family News is published quarterly.

The regular submission deadlines are:

• March 15

• June 15

• September 15

• December 15

Submitting materials before the deadline allows time for review, editing, and layout.

Send Your Contribution

Please email articles, photographs, historical materials, and questions to:

Michael Dragoo, Lead Newsletter Editor

We look forward to hearing from you.