Eakle Genealogical Library - Dedicated to the memory of Alma Eakle
Genealogy Library Center, Inc.
A non-profit genealogical library established by Arlene H. Eakle:
1) to help you preserve your personal manuscript genealogy files and supporting
books, maps, and other genealogy materials
2) to make these precious and valuable data available to genealogists who share
common genealogy ancestry
Several years ago, after speaking at the Southern California Genealogical
Jamboree, my associate Afton Reintjes and I stopped at a Safeway Store along
Van Nuys Boulevard to get some food for lunch. Instead of re-entering traffic
on such a busy street, we drove around the back of the store to use a side
street. In the middle of the alley in front of the dumpster, there was a
large plastic bag. I stopped to move it out of the way rather than drive
over it. The bag was full of someone’s genealogy manuscripts and family
records - a handwritten diary, family letters, original photographs, family
history notes. I felt a cold shiver!
Over many years of seminar travel, I stayed as a guest in genealogists’ homes.
Often, my bed was located in the “genealogy room.” Surrounded
by genealogy books and personal family history manuscripts, I was almost
in heaven. And to my question, “What will happen to these precious
materials when you are no longer here?” the answer usually was “I
don’t know. My children are not interested in any of it.” Or, “My
children are interested but they have no room to house my stuff.”
Each time, I felt the same shiver.
I could not ignore my inner promptings to do something about it. The arrival
of the Sherwood Collection from England - 6 1/2 tons of professional genealogy
files - in a cross-country moving van, demanded action. So we bought a large
building on Main Street, in Tremonton Utah, that had housed a furniture store
and sportswear knitting factory. When the remodeling is completed, this newly
restored facility will house the 6 1/2 tons, the large plastic bag, and numerous
unique and equally valuable collections donated by individuals and families.
(Click
here for a list of current collections available)
If you have a genealogy research collection that needs a permanent home,
please consider donating your collection to the Genealogy Library Center,
Inc. We can give you a tax benefit for the donation of your precious genealogy
stuff and you will have the secure feeling that all your devoted work will
be protected and preserved. Your work will benefit future generations.
Arlene H. Eakle, Phd
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