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Welcome to the Home ofFresno County Genealogical Society(FCGS) |
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HOME ABOUT US FCGS Calendar Mission By Laws Officers MEMBERSHIP THE JOTTED LINE GENEALOGY LINKS LIBRARY RESOURCES CA DAR LIBRARY CONTACT US |
Overview Recorded here is a glimpse into the history of the Society and how it has become such an integral part of the Fresno County Library, as well as Fresno County itself. The Society and Library have a longstanding written Agreement attesting to the fact that they have a symbiotic relationship which benefits both County and Society. We are pleased to share the following information, and pictures of the Society Library as it is today in 2012. Books In the Trunk of a Car? The Society was established in 1965 as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with the Society library in the trunk of Charter Member, Bobbie Badger's, car. The library traveled to hospitality rooms of businesses, school auditoriums, the Family History Center on Echo Street, and to members' homes—wherever meetings were being held. Space of Our Own By 1968, the Society had secured a space in the basement of the Main Branch of the Fresno County Public Library for Society books and monthly meetings. Members continued to work diligently, and everyone hoped to eventually obtain more space. Finally, in 1993, the California History and Genealogy Room opened on the second floor as a cooperative effort of the Fresno County Public Library and the Fresno County Genealogical Society. Since moving upstairs in 1993, the Society's holdings have grown from about 60 books to over 12,000. The Society also has periodicals, CDs, microfiche, microfilm, computer, printer, Obituary file, and much more. A partial list can be seen on the Library Resources Page 
The California History & Genealogy Room is staffed by County employees and Fresno County Genealogy Society Volunteers. We have been very fortunate to have had a dedicated Society Librarian by the name of Mary Lou Talens since we moved upstairs in 1993. Due to her diligence, the Society Library has thrived and increased in size. There has always been an Associate Librarian to help her, and Kay Brimhall held that position between 2003 and the end of 2010. In 2011, Kathleen Coleman stepped in as Associate Librarian. Zelda Dubel has been in charge of the periodicals for many years and has done a fantastic job, as have so many other dedicated Society Volunteers who have worked in the California History & Genealogy Room. Linda Sitterding was the first Librarian in charge of the California History & Genealogy Room. She was succeeded by Ray Silvia in 1999; and he, in turn, was succeeded by Historian/Author, William B. Secrest, Jr. in 2005. Nance Espinosa became the current Librarian in charge in August 2011. Senior Library Assistant, Melissa Scroggins, has been on staff and a great asset in the California Room since 2000; and Chris Her, Senior Library Assistant, began work in the California Room in 2011. The Genealogy Collection is well organized in sections:
This is part of the Mayflower section. The Society Library has all 23 Volumes which are a record of the Descendants of Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, MA in December 1620. They are referred to as the "Silver Books." 
This Vital Records section has numerous volumes containing Births, Marriages, and Deaths up to 1850 which have been published according to Towns in Massachusetts. 
The Military Section is comprised of Volumes and Sets of Civil War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, WWI, and WWII. Depicted here are just a few of the Civil War volumes. There are also many volumes on the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in the Military Section. 
The Society's extensive Obituary File is only partially shown here, and it holds approximately 254,000 obituaries. Filling the drawers in alphabetical order are index cards on which Society Volunteers have diligently cut and pasted the obituaries for many years. The California History and Genealogy Room on the second floor of the Fresno County Central Library is considered to be the best Genealogy Library between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Its holdings include Genealogy books, related history books covering all the States and many countries, and local and California history—all providing a broad research experience for customers using the room. The large Genealogy collection belonging to the Fresno County Genealogical Society is complemented by two other genealogy collections: that of the Fresno County Public Library; and the California State Daughters' of the American Revolution Library which was donated to the County in 2009. Overall, there are approximately 21,000 books and periodicals in the California Room, and there is always someone there to help. We encourage you to stop by to browse and do a little research whenever you have time.
Updated June 2012 by Lois S. Bakar, President |
MONTHLY EVENT ASH TREE ECHO ANNUAL SEMINAR DNA PROJECT WHAT'S NEW FRESNO COUNTY CALIFORNIA USA |
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FCGS web administrator Copyright © 1998-2003, Fresno County Genealogical Society, All rights reserved |
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