Timothy Field Beard

This compiler had the pleasure of numerous communications with Mr. Beard.

Timothy Field "Tim" Beard, one of our nation's foremost genealogists, died on Feb. 13, 2015, in Roxbury, Conn. He was stricken by a heart attack at the Minor Memorial Library, which he helped found and where he later served as chairman. He was 84 years old. His great kindness, booming singing voice and raucous stories will be missed by the hundreds of people whose lives he touched. Since early childhood, Tim had a fascination with his family history, which led him to a lifetime commitment to libraries, genealogy and historical preservation.

Born the son of Stuart Menteth-Beard and Natalie Sudler (Turner) Beard in 1930, Tim grew up in Sheffield, Mass., where his parents owned the Sheffield Inn. Tim grew up in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains with his two older brothers, Stuart Menteth-Beard III and Henry Sudler Beard, and other family relatives who visited and had summer jobs at the Sheffield Inn.

From early days, Tim showed a love for animals as well as people. Tim was educated at Indian Mountain School and Berkshire School before attending Williams College, where he graduated in 1953 with a B.A. in history. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as first lieutenant in Bordeaux, France, from 1954 to 1956, Tim went on to Columbia University where he graduated with a master's in library science in 1962. He subsequently joined the New York Public Library's local history and genealogy division that same year.

In all, Tim spent 21 years at the New York Public Library working in the local history and genealogy division. In an article written by Kathryn Boughton for the Register-Citizen Newspaper in 2010, Tim confessed "From the time I was 4, I started asking my parents questions about the family. My parents were exhausted by the questions, and would say 'Why did we give them (family members) all these historic names?"

Tim Beard was named for his great-great-great-grandfather, Timothy Field, a 1799 graduate of Yale. When Tim was ten, his grandmother gave him a Field genealogy, and he never looked back after that. A cousin, Philadelphia Stuart-Menteth Vines, taught him how to explore records, while another cousin took young Tim to explore cemeteries. What started out as a childhood interest grew into a global commitment to genealogy, friendships with hundreds of families around the world, and publication in 1977 (McGraw Hill) of "How to Find Your Family Roots," a comprehensive 1,000-page global genealogical guide with case studies and reference texts coauthored with Denise Demong.

In 1963, Tim married Annette Knowles Huddleston, herself from a prominent family in Tuskegee, Ala. Together they bought a brick townhome at 38 Barrow St. in the West Village where they took in numerous cats and threw unforgettable brunches and cocktail parties for their New York friends. Family members who stayed at 38 Barrow St. have vivid memories of Tim and Ann surrounded on every side by their beloved cats. Later, they took up breeding the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels which gradually displaced all other pets in their home. During these years, Tim and Annette became an indispensable part of the lives of their nieces, nephews and cousins, several of whom had apartments in the upper floors of 38 Barrow St.

Tim retired from the New York Public Library in the early 1980s, and moved to Roxbury where he and Annette relished socializing in this historic New England town. Although they sought a quieter life after New York, Tim and Annette quickly joined many organizations in Roxbury. Tim cooked at Christ Episcopal Church suppers in Roxbury and raised money for the Minor Memorial Library, where he soon became head librarian. During this time, Tim continued leading a number of genealogical and historical organizations, travelling across the U.S. giving talks, doing research, and attending meetings at not-for profits and societies.

Tim never retired; he continued genealogical research up to his last days. While Tim had a delightful, sunny nature, he was serious about raising money for and dispensing millions to historic houses, museums and research projects. Tim was particularly committed to helping historic homes, museums and projects which were less well funded and more directly affected by U.S. economic downturns. A few of his many causes include the Glebe House Museum and Gertrude Jekyll Garden, the Order of Colonial Lords of the Manor in America, the Saint Nicholas Society, the Historic House Trust, the Maryland Historical Society, the Van Cortlandt House Museum, and many others too numerous to review here.

Tim's family and friends know he is irreplaceable. Tim was a master storyteller, loved family foibles, and seemed to have a network that included almost everyone. He is survived by his nieces, Sarah Beard and Philadelphia Beard; nephews Walter, Stuart Menteth-Beard IV and James Beard; a great niece and nephew, Emily and Stuart Beard; and numerous cousins and their children. Everyone comments on the joyful life Tim led. Those who know Tim well understand he had strong beliefs and was a practicing Christian.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Christ Episcopal Church, 4 Weller's Bridge Road, P.O. Box 4, Roxbury 06783; or Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St., Roxbury 06783.

Mr. Beard's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 14, 2015, at Christ Episcopal Church, Roxbury. A reception will follow at the Roxbury Town Hall. The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., is in charge of arrangements
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Married at Christ Church Methodist in New York City, September 12, 1963 to the former Annette Knowles Huddleston, who died in New York City January 28, 1995. She was the daughter of the late William E. Huddleston, Jr., of Clanton, Alabama and Alma F. Robinson of Gadsden, Alabama.