Comments on: Remembering Robert Clay

By: Abercrombie

Abercrombie — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:34:57 +0000

So many memories of Bob. He was one of my first contacts when I began doing genealogy. He always responded nicely when I requested to “pick his brain.” Looking back over the years – how absurd some of my questions must have been!!! Loved the way Bob said gen e al o gy. He was so informative as a speaker and a good friend of the VGS.

By: Susan Hamburger

Susan Hamburger — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:01:30 +0000

I worked with Bob from 1988 to 1993 when I was head of the Description Section. He was a really nice man but what I remember most about him is the way he slammed the phone down onto the receiver after a particular irksome call. It’s a good thing they made sturdy old phones because the new ones could not withstand a Bob Clay hang-up. RIP old friend.

By: Sharon Stine

Sharon Stine — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:05:47 +0000

I was researching my great grandmother’s pension papers in the Archives. My 5 year son came in while I was ordering a copy of the application. He explained to Mr Clay that that was information on his great great grandmother and he wanted to take the papers with him. Mr Clay very nicely explained that he would give him a copy. My son was not to happy but Mr Clay was so kind to explain why we couldn’t take the papers home with us. It took a little talking but my son finally agreed to the copy.

By: Tim Spradling

Tim Spradling — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:12:22 +0000

I met Bob in the early 1990s when I started coming to the State Archives in Richmond. We shared a common surname, as my Mother’s maiden name was CLAY. We connected, as Cousins, way up the line. Bob became my mentor on how to search the archives and document your sources. Bob and I would go out to eat one night every time I came to the archives, which was three weeks a year. We became good friends and discussed not only genealogy, but his painting and travel. I considered Bob to be one of my best friends and will deeply miss him. Sincerely, Tim Spradling