Message Board - Tampico Area Historical Society, Tampico, Illinois

Message Board > TAHS Family History Library Petition

TAHS Family History Library Petition
The Tampico Area Historical Society encompasses parts of Whiteside County and Bureau County in Illinois. Focus is on Tampico, Hume Twp., Hahnaman/Deer Grove, & Prophetstown in Whiteside County & Yorktown & Thomas in Bureau County.

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Administrator Denise 90 posts Aug 11, 2004 8:20 AM	Hello All, For almost four years I have been working on setting up a Family History Library at the Tampico Area Historical Society & Museum. It has been a very labor-intensive project, but one that I feel is well worth it. For some reason, I am having difficulty getting the "powers-that-be" to give an official "O.K." to get this set up. I need your help! I have sent a letter to the new president of the TAHS to be presented to the board of directors. However, it is unknown as to when they will meet again. If you support this agenda, could you please send a word of encouragement to the president, Ann Martin? Perhaps if the board sees how many people are in favor of this, the FHL can be initiated. Thank you for all of your support through the years! Denise Ann Martin President of TAHS martin@thewisp.net c/o TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 119 South Main Street P.O. Box 154 Tampico, IL 61283 Letter sent to president, Ann Martin, on Aug. 3, 2004 TAHS FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY & RESEARCH CENTER PURPOSE: Set up a “Research Library” to archive Family histories, including gedcoms, newspaper articles, photos, etc. in an organized filing system, located in one area of museum. The area should be large enough to provide table(s) and chair(s) to accommodate researchers’ needs. Other reference materials in this area should include Tampico Tornado, funeral & cemetery books, and Farm Owner’s Platt maps.. GOALS: To acquire a computer, peripherals, I-net service, Indexing software and micro-film reader. There is a strong possibility that most of the above, including FREE wireless I-net service, may be donated to the Historical Society if/when the Research Library is set up. I have a micro-film reader from a University that is coin-operated that I would be happy to put on loan to the museum. I would like to work in tandem with the TAHS Membership committee, offering this as one of the “perks” of joining the TAHS. I would also like to develop a program to offer to area schools for various age groups for class field trips to the Family History Library/Research Center. Not only does the above offer a greater opportunity to give us public awareness, it embraces and fulfills the mission of the TAHS as stated in the by-laws: Objectives: The purposes for which this Society is organized are exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as well as to promote research, exploration and discovery into and of the history of the villages of Tampico, Deer Grove and Yorktown, IL and of the early inhabitants of the land upon which the villages are located and to educate the citizens and future generations of this area of this history. This is a huge undertaking; one of which I have been working on for almost 4 years. The TAHS website is a cyber-extension of this FHL/Research center and many have written to me supporting the development of the Library. There are photos and family histories on the website that are not in the museum. These have been submitted electronically to me. In-turn, I can electronically place them on the web site. However, to place them in the museum requires time and expense on my part to print them out. I have been paying out-of-pocket for many years with the hopes of launching this Library. If this is not a do-able program to incorporate into the TAHS, then I see no reason for me to continue footing the bill for it! Please let me know at your earliest convenience if Library/Research Center can be initiated so that I may evaluate my time & labor investments in the TAHS. Thank You. Respectfully, Denise McLoughlin ---------- Denise, Tampico Area Historical Society Last Edited by Administrator on Aug 14, 2004 5:05 PM
Sandi Hartnell Guest Aug 14, 2004 8:09 AM	I strongly support the proposal as stated in the letter sent to the Tampico Area Historical Society. As a budding genealogist I have been researching my grandmother's family, Lyon, for several years and have received invaluable information, mostly from the Sterling Public Library. My great-grandfather, Marcus Lyon, was a well known farmer in Tampico, and he raised a large family there. It certainly would be nice if Tampico had information about its own residents. I would happily contribute my Lyon history to such an endeavor, and have already submitted photographs I've taken of headstones in the local cemetery and some other photographs from our family album. I hope others will support this effort as well. I will personaly send a letter to the persident.
Anonymous Guest Aug 14, 2004 10:48 AM	This would be such a wonderful thing for Tampico! It would help make information available to those who are searching for their Tampico relatives much more efficient . I have tried to search for information at the THS but find it very difficult and, this library very possibly would bring more revenue to Tampico and it's surrounding areas. My family's roots have been in the Tampico/Yorktown area since the mid 1800's I would like to be able to find out more about them and to have the information ready available to future members of my family. A big thumbs up for the proposal!!! Debra L. Peterson
digsie 2 posts Aug 14, 2004 1:09 PM	I'm so pleased to learn that the TAHS FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY & RESEARCH CENTER is so close to becoming a reality. Knowing What you've put into it, Denise,I know it will launch great things great things for others as your support has launched for me. How can I help? With gratitude, ---------- Dianne Glassburn Sandau
twhmm32 Guest Aug 14, 2004 4:55 PM	I am in total support and favor of a TAHS Family History Archive and Library. Denise should be supported 100% in her efforts. The history of Tampico and its' early settlers is of vital importance to those researching their family linage. There is, I am sure, a vast amount of uncovered history from the area that needs to be discovered, organized and cataloged. There are many things that we can leave to our children and their children's children, but is there anything that could possibly be more valuable then "Their Heritage"?
M Glassburn Greenly Guest Aug 14, 2004 5:12 PM	Denise, I think you have done marvelous work, and your idea is definitely worth supporting. The early Glassburns were surely not the only large families. There must be hundreds of descendants scattered throughout this country, and with the increasing interest in genealogy, I'm sure your library would benefit the Tampico Area Historical Society. I wish you luck! Consideration might be given to charging a small fee for use of the material by outsiders like me. SIncerely, Mary G. Greenly, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Administrator Denise 92 posts Aug 15, 2004 5:52 AM	To Ann Halvorsen, Thank you for your suggestions. You will note that in the proposal I mentioned that all the items listed in my goals would be DONATED. As I also mentioned, I have been working on this for almost 4 years. Many people are willing to help with time and/or donations. Most of what I listed has already been offered IF/WHEN the library/research center becomes a reality. I am not asking for anything monitarily from the Society! Merely permission to provide space and allow me/committee to ORGANIZE what is already in the Museum! Also as stated in the proposal, this library will offer greater public awareness, which leads to (potentially) more revenue for the Society. I hope we NEVER have to resort to charging for our services (I will divorce myself from the project if we do!), however, clients would of course pay "copy fees" if they need to copy anything. Also stated in the proposal was the expenses I would incurr if I printed out everyone's GEDCOMs, Histories, etc. that are sent to me. If we had the library, these can be placed on CD's, disks, floppies, etc. and archived with family file. Clients wanting copies can print them out at their expense. I appreciate you bringing these issues to light. I hope I have clarified them for all. ---------- Denise, Tampico Area Historical Society Last Edited by Administrator on Aug 15, 2004 6:05 AM
tahs Guest Aug 15, 2004 7:21 PM	As a descendant of the GRAHAM family, I have a great interest in preserving the geneaolical records and promoting the use of resources as suggested by Denise.
Administrator Denise 140 posts Dec 16, 2004 7:23 AM	It's been a looong four months since I submitted the "official" proposal (Aug. 3, 2004) for a Family History Library and Research Center to be implemented at the museum. However, on Nov. 23, 2004, it was presented (in a watered-down version) to the general membership. It was voted on and agreed that it "was a good idea" but would be put on hold until further analysis could be done and the back room could be finished. Needless to say, this was quite disheartening. However, Bob Johnson was instrumental in pushing to get it started NOW, by utilizing the brand new room upstairs. This is so exciting and I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Johnson for his insight and ability to realize the importance of this program and persevering to get it going. He spent many hours "cleaning" out the miscellaneous items stored upstairs so that I may get started on the FHL/RC set up. To all of those who wrote in support of the FHL/RC, I thank you! May I push the envelope a little more and ask if anyone knows of businesses or anyone of a philanthropic nature to consider donating any of the following, please let me know: Building materials such as wood for shelving, drywall,flooring supplies (tiles, etc.), area carpeting (Note: some of this will be used to finish the back room downstairs which will give us more room upstairs!) Computer Printer Copier Scanner Archive-safe materials (photo sleeves), pendoflex, file folders, etc. Monetary donations for miscellaneous items/supplies We have some volunteers to help "build" the shelves for the library, drywall the back room downstairs and lay the flooring, but we need the materials to do it. Does anyone have any "pull" with a Menards?????? :>) THANK YOU ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS VENTURE!!!! ---------- Denise Family History Co-ordinator Tampico Area Historical Society
Debra L. Peterson 1 post Dec 19, 2004 7:34 PM	That's great Denise- I am sure it will lead to more info for a lot of people that visit this website.

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TAMPICO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY - MUSEUM - FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY/RESEARCH CENTER 119 Main St., P. O. Box 154, Tampico, IL 61283 www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com tampicoareahistory@gmail.com We are an all-volunteer organization so your donations are always appreciated! Sign up to receive our e-newsletter. Thank you! Visit us on FACEBOOK.