Tazewell County
Photo of the Month

The Founding of
Tazewell County
Genealogical & Historical Society

After the Roots mini-series appeared on American TV in the 1970’s, the pursuit of one’s genealogy increased in popularity. It was at this time that Carol Taylor (then Halze) and her friends David and Connie Perkins became interested in tracing their families. They would discuss research finds and strategies and began jokingly calling themselves “the Tazewell County Genealogical Society”. After a while, they thought, “Why not?”

They contacted Home Extension Advisor Mary Fouts after seeing a notice of a workshop she offered. They asked if she would be interested in helping form a genealogical group. She was, and the first organizational meeting was held at the county Ag Center on September 14, 1978. And the Society’s been on the move ever since!

First Board of Directors
Tazewell County Genealogical Society
October 12, 1978

Back Row (L-R):
Carol E. Halze, President; David Perkins, Treasurer;
Betty Burlingame, Recording Secretary
Front row (L-R):
K. Lee Wilder, Corresponding Secretary; Tom Midlam, Vice-President;
Wilbur L. Dooley & Charlotte Jibben, Board Members
Board Members James Hatcher, Karus Hall, and Marie Summers
were not present for the photo

At first, the TCGHS library collection was housed in the Pekin Public library, on one shelf. But the rapidly growing collection caused a space problem. That, plus the proposed library policy of circulating the collection through inter-library loan, maintaining complete ownership of the books and records, and having the option of disposing of any material, precipitated the finding of other space.

This came about through the generosity of the Pekin Chamber of Commerce, which offered a small office space in its building. The Chamber also assisted in the printing of the Society’s first cemetery records book. After outgrowing the allotted space there, the library collection was moved up to the second floor into a three-room suite.

But later the sale of the building forced a move into a large classroom in the old Franklin School building. This larger space enabled the Society to hold its monthly meetings in the library. Before this time, the meetings had been held at Pekin’s Parkway Christian Church.

As the years went by, the society found itself naturally involved in preserving the county's general history in addition to just the area's genealogy.  In 1995, the term "and Historical" was legally added to the society's name to better reflect the activities of the organization.

In 1997, TCGHS was given the opportunity to purchase its own building through the generosity of a member. Thus, the library moved off of Broadway St. for the first time and became the Ehrlicher Research Center, where it’s currently housed as the Society celebrates its 25th Anniversary.

Other generous donations and fund-raising efforts have made various improvements and projects possible. Many tireless volunteers have provided hours and hours of work throughout the entire history of the Society. The success of all of the Society’s many projects rests upon the shoulders of its members as it begins its second quarter-century of SERVICE!!

Charter Members Present at 25th Anniversary Meeting
September 9, 2003

(L-R): Carolyn Durdle, Mary Fouts, John Durdle, Connie Perkins, David Perkins, Carol Taylor

Left: Charter Member Loree Bergerhouse also attended the anniversary meeting but had to leave before the photo was taken Other charter members who still belong to the society include: Glen Bergerhouse Carl Dalcher Florence Elliot L Sidney Eslinger Charlotte Jibben Lois Kline Carolyn Knipfel Wilfred Mateer Emily McElhaney Donald Nieukirk Marie Pemberton Selma Voorhees K Lee Wilder

1978 Photos & Clippings are from
Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society
Archives

2003 Photos contributed by
Betty Robinson

Text contributed by
Charter Member Connie Perkins
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Copyright 2003©
Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society

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