Chamber preparing to publish new Gentry history book

GENTRY -- Gentry Chamber of Commerce has announced plans for publication of a new 120-year community history book and is seeking photos and family history submissions for inclusion.

For those who remember the 100-year history of Gentry, published in 1994, this will be similar but with more family histories and photos of Gentry and the surrounding community.

"We expect the book to contain 200-300 pages or more and include 600-800 pictures, depending on the number of families, churches and organizations ... that submit their stories and pictures," wrote Bev Saunders, executive director for the Gentry Chamber of Commerce, in a brochure announcing the new book.

The Chamber is seeking family histories, stories and photographs for the new publication and asks that items be submitted no later than Oct. 31. Items can be mailed, emailed or dropped by the Gentry City Hall or Gentry Public Library on Main Street.

Saunders recommends the stories be about 300 words per household and asks that digital images be save in tagged image file format (TIFF) at 300 dots per inch and large enough for printing in the community history book. She asked that story submissions conclude with "Submitted by (name of submitter)."

Items can be mailed to Gentry Chamber of Commerce, Attn: History Book Committee, P.O. Box 642, Gentry, AR 72734 or emailed to [email protected].

To guarantee receiving a copy of the new history books, Saunders suggests people order their copies now at the early bird price of $55 (plus shipping if mailed rather than picked up). She said the price would cost more after the books are printed and the presales would guide the history book committee in knowing how many books to print.

Saunders said many people did not receive the last centennial history book because they waited until the books were published and then the books sold out quickly.

More information on the books, submission guidelines, memorial dedications, advertising space and how to order copies is available at the Gentry Chamber of Commerce, 212 East Main Street, or at City Hall or the Public Library.

General News on 08/27/2014