History of the Nims Family Association

The current Nims Family Association was founded in 1979 although groups in New Hampshire organized in the early 1900's and began holding reunions annually through the 1930s.

The first meeting notice went out August 15, 1979 but the seeds of the current association had been sown about 1959 when Mary Merriam and Frank Nims agreed, “When we have time, let’s get together to publish a history of the Nims family.” Mary’s family obligations and Frank’s Air Force service intervened and it wasn’t until twenty years later that they agreed “now is the time.” From telephone conversations and visits, as well as encouragement from K. Godfrey Nims of Fort Mill, SC and others, the current Nims Family Association had its beginning.

The first meeting notice, dated August 15, 1979, was signed by Mary Merriam of Conway, MA; Mary Haglund of Kanosh, UT, and Frank Nims of Cove, OR. With help from her mother, Ellen Nims McDonald, and friends. Mary mailed it to any Nims found in telephone books from across the country. The response was great and on October 27, 1979, 50 descendants of Godfrey Nims met at the White Church in Deerfield, MA to establish the second Nims Family Association. The group elected officers that day and laid the groundwork for researching and publishing a history of the first seven generations of the Nims family.

Officers elected at this organizational meeting were Frank L. Nims, president; William Schoeffler of Brookline, MA, vice president; Lucius Nims of Greenfield, MA, treasurer; Mary M. Merriam, secretary; and Ellen Mary Nims, Greenfield, MA, historian. Also elected was a finance committee consisting of Stuart and Carlton Nims of Keene, NH, and Marshall Nims and John Schultz of North Tonawanda, NY.

The Nims family, with its roots in Deerfield, Massachusetts, can now be found across nearly all fifty states in the U.S. and several other countries as well. Informal gatherings of family members have occurred in many settings over many years.

The Nims Family: Seven Generations of Descendants from Godfrey Nims.

The Association published a history of Godfrey and his family. Work on the history progressed for nearly a decade, under direction from presidents: Frank Nims, Dr. Robert Nims, K. Godfrey Nims, and Arthur Nims Phillips. Also heavily involved were historians Ellen Mary Nims, Elizabeth Suddaby, who acted as editor, John Schultz and Susan Oathout, culminating in 1990 with a 941-page publication. The book is currently out of print but the work continues in our online databases. Click for more info on our online effort.