This first contact documents a meeting of genealogists. Terry Karkos, a Maine genealogist and former journalist, was already known through his early genealogy website, Karkos Kronicles, one of the first Slovak-focused resources consulted during Elcik research. The exchange reflects shared methodology, mutual assistance, and the fragile nature of digital genealogy when sites go offline.
At a Glance
- First Contact: September 26, 2017 (renewed 2018–2020)
- Primary Surname: Karkos
- Medium: Blog posts, email
- Role in Project: External genealogist; Slovak research source; connector between Elcik and Karkos families
Background: Karkos Kronicles
Terry Karkos created Karkos Kronicles as an online genealogy resource years before social media groups became common. When he was medically retired, the site went offline after being hosted on an employer-owned server. Fortunately, Terry retained backups of his research.
In later reflections, Terry described seven consecutive years of intensive genealogy work, followed by ongoing discoveries through cousins and online connections. His work emphasized memory-driven research—starting not with documents, but with stories passed down by his father.
Contact #1 — September 26, 2017 — Public Reflection
Terry L. Karkos:
Going to get my Karkos Kronicles genealogy site back online this year and get a printer so I can get the trees out to those who have asked for them. The site went down when I got medically retired. Thankfully, I have backup copies of everything.
He shared a family photograph from August 1963 and reflected on how artifacts passed through generations after the death of elders—an experience common to many genealogists.
Contact #2 — October 15, 2018 — Method & Philosophy
Terry L. Karkos:
For seven years straight, I did my family’s genealogy research in between work and volunteer work… And all I started with were memories of my Dad.
Terry emphasized filling gaps, understanding stories, and resisting simplistic conclusions—balancing humor with realism about shared ancestry.
Contact #3 — 2020 — Elcik–Karkos Connections
Editor’s note: Terry’s research confirmed early Elcik–Karkos intersections in Lisbon Falls, Maine.
Annie M. Elcik (1905–1982), daughter of John and Mary (Pelcarsky) Elcik, married George F. Karkos in Lisbon Falls on February 9, 1925. Annie had a twin sister, Elizabeth.
When asked whether Mary Pelcarsky (1875–1936) and Anna Pelcarsky Karkos (1877–1940?) were related, Terry clarified:
Terry Karkos:
No. I know Anna’s parents were Joseph Pelcarsky and Anna Belyan… Anna Pelcarsky was born September 17, 1877, in Parchovany, Slovakia. Joseph was 26 when he married 15-year-old Anna—possibly an arranged marriage.
Contact #4 — Peer Collaboration
The exchange evolved into collegial support: encouragement to relaunch Karkos Kronicles, discussion of hosting options, WordPress familiarity, family updates, and the shared realities of balancing genealogy with everyday life.
Why This Contact Mattered
Terry Karkos represents the generation of independent genealogists who built early online resources long before today’s platforms. His work helped surface Elcik–Karkos connections, introduced Slovak research pathways, and demonstrated the importance of redundancy and stewardship when digital history depends on fragile infrastructure. This contact reinforces a core MyCousins theme: genealogists do not work alone—we inherit each other’s work.