History Resource Center
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History of the Groveland Genealogy CHAT Group and the
establishment of the History Resource Center
About 8-9 people attended the first Groveland Genealogy CHAT meeting held in January, 2001. By late 2002 the group was faced with the need for: 1) shelf space for the CHAT groups expanding library of genealogy related “how-to” books, CDs, & VHS tapes; and 2) liability insurance and non-profit status should the group decide to undertake fund-raising activities.
On April 28, 2003, the CHAT group affiliated as a sub-group of the Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS). As part of that agreement, the CHAT group has assumed responsibility for archiving historical material relative to the history of Tuolumne County “south of the river” and staffing the History Resource Center (HRC). In turn, STCHS procured shelving, work stations, computers and software for the HRC (located on the 3rd floor of the museum/library building).
Local citizens and organizations are encouraged to use the History Resource Center as a storage facility for copies of their records of local historical interest. Records might consist of membership rosters, minutes of meetings, newspaper clippings, photographs, diaries, stories, letters, oral histories, etc.These records are made available conditionally to the public for genealogical and historical research.
Go to Top of the PageGroveland Genealogy CHAT Group Mission Statement:
- Promote genealogical research and share resources for the Southern Tuolumne County residents.
- Maintain and collect histories of Southern Tuolumne County families.Some of the most recent activities of the CHAT group include:
1) entering records of the 3rd & 4th District Judicial Court into the HRC database;
2) researching burials at the Divide Cemetery (abt 900);
3) linking Divide Cemetery grave marker photographs to the HRC database;
4) updating burial records of the Mt. Carmel Cemetery;
5) locating obituaries and/or brief biographies of each burial “south of the river” and entering them into the HRC database;
6) presenting Beginning Genealogical and Historical research workshops to various groups in the community (PML Computer Users Group and Soroptimist International of Groveland).CHAT meetings are held on the 4th Friday of each month January through October and each consists of a discussion (generally led by a member of the group) on a specific topic of genealogical interest. On occasion, arrangements are made to car pool to various classes and workshops in the surrounding area.
There is a wide range of expertise among the group (from beginners to those with 40+ years of research experience. We even have a ‘certified’ genealogist (Bonnie Stevens). There are currently 17 active members and 10-12 can be expected to be in attendance at any meeting. Annual dues are $10 per individual or $12 per family. Membership in Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS) is encouraged but not mandatory. Guests are always welcome.
For additional information, please contact Karen Davis at karen@grovelandmuseum.org
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