It started with a flower garden.
 

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lively of McMinnville, TN made a lily pool in their garden. They ordered a number of lily bulbs of a good variety from a nursery. The proprietor of the nursery requested a picture of their lily pool when the lilies were in bloom, if they did well. The lilies grew and bloomed profusely. Mr. Lee Lively, who was a photographer, made a picture of the pool for the nursery. It was published in the nurseryman's magazine with the name of the owner of the garden.
 

Rev. James M. Lively of Mattoon, IL had a nephew living in Nebraska who saw the picture in the magazine and was attracted by the name Lively. The nephew sent the name and address to his uncle.
 

Rev. James Lively wrote Lee Lively in TN, who referred the letter to his father William Spencer Lively, known as "Dad" Lively, who lived in McMinnville, TN.
 

Judge Alonzo Lively, who lived in Lebanon, VA, was known to both of them.
 

They contacted Judge Lively, and the three Livelys - one from IL, one from TN and one from VA - decided to have a family Reunion. The first meeting was held in McMinnville, TN on the weekend of September 23, 1937. Judge Lively of VA did not get to attend, but Judge John L. Lively came from Chattanooga and Prof. E. L. Lively from Beckley, WV. About 65 Livelys were present. Judge John L. Lively of Chattanooga acted as temporary chairman. "Dad" Lively was elected honorary President for Life. E. L. Lively was elected president and James M. Lively was elected secretary.
 

The organization was to be known as the National Association of Lively Families (NALF). There would be an annual meeting in some area that was of easy access and where a number of Livelys were living. The secretary was to publish a Newsletter three or four times a year containing things of interest about the Livelys. The dues were one dollar a year. The purpose of the organization was to develop fellowship among the Livelys, and eventually to compile a history of the Lively Families.
 

In 1965, a Lively descendant, Dr. John F. Vallentine of North Platte, NE and now of Brigham University, Provo, UT, wrote the Association offering his services, without charge, in compiling the Lively Family History. In 1966, the Association accepted his offer. "Livelys of America" was the result of this work. The Association has now published three books: "Livelys of America" covers the period from 1690 to 1968 and contains 893 pages. "Livelys of America First Supplement" covers the period from 1968 to 1972 and contains updates, additional information and corrections and contains 178 pages. This volume is out of print. Unbound copies of this volume are available. "Livelys of America Second Supplement" covers from 1972 to 1982 and contains updates, additional information and corrections. This book also contains a complete index of names from all three books and contains 928 pages.
 

A gentle reminder that all text and graphics on this site are the sole property of the National Association of Lively Families and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the NALF.  Most of the material has been taken from the LIVELY books which are copyrighted and all have all rights registered and reserved. Order a copy of the Lively Books.