The Genealogical Library Center, Inc.
(A Utah non-profit center for record preservation and genealogy research)
Location: 60 West Main Street, Tremonton UT 84337
Mailing: P.O. Box 40, Garland UT 84312
Temp. Phone: 435-257-6649; Arlene H. Eakle PhD, Acting Director
Dedicated to the memory of Alma D. Eakle, Jr. This private, non-profit library was established by Arlene H. Eakle and her husband Alma D. Eakle, Jr. to preserve genealogy materials that might otherwise be thrown away and lost forever. At this time the library is supported entirely by client research activities. Current tax number: 01-0812471. (501(c)(3) approval is underway).
Mission:
1) to preserve personal genealogy manuscript files, supporting books, maps, and other genealogy materials
2) to make these precious and valuable data available to other genealogists who share common ancestry
Several years ago, after speaking at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree, my research 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 including a handwritten diary, family letters, original photographs, family history notes. I felt a cold shiver!
Over many years of speaking at seminars and conferences, 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. 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 Genealogy Research 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. This facility now houses the 6 1/2 tons, the large plastic bag, and numerous unique and equally valuable collections donated by individuals and families. It also houses the Conner-Bishop Genealogical and Historical Library Collection.
If you have genealogy and history stuff that needs a secure home, consider donating your precious materials to the Genealogy Library Center, Inc. In the coming months and years, other genealogists looking for their own hard-to-find-ancestors can benefit from your work–it won’t all be lost to posterity. Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://arleneeakle.com
PS Master List of donated collections can be supplied upon request—in print via postal mail or in digital format by email.