What Happens To My Research When I'm Gone - Part 2

In the last article, I shared one way to make sure that your research doesn't die when you do. In the genealogical codicil there is a place for you to indicate which repository you would like your research to go.

If you don't have a place for your research to live on, have I got great news for you!

A woman named Arlene Eakle is here to save the day. Arlene is dedicated to saving things that might otherwise be lost--so much is gone already. The life-work of a genealogist, who has taken raw data and compiled it into families, must be preserved. Why does Arlene do this? She tells it like this:

"Several years ago, after speaking at the Southern California Genealogical Jamboree, my 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 - a handwritten diary, family letters, original photographs, family history notes. I felt a cold shiver! Over many years of seminar travel, 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, I was almost in heaven. 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 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."




The Genealogy Library Center, Inc. is a non-profit library established by Arlene H. Eakle and her husband Alma D. Eakle, Jr. in Tremonton, Utah to preserve genealogy materials that might other wise be thrown away and lost forever. At this time the library is supported entirely by her research activities. Materials donated may qualify for a tax benefit. Current tax number: 01-0812471. 501(c)3 approval is pending.

Renovation of a portion of the building which will house the library has been completed. And they have moved into this part that is furnished with file cabinets, book shelves, work counters, and research tables. They have a new copy machine/printer and a new computer. Volunteers come on Monday and Friday afternoons to process and preserve the collections.

If you have a genealogy research collection that needs a permanent home, please consider donating your collection to the Genealogy Library Center, Inc. They can give you a tax benefit for the donation of your precious genealogy research and other holdings and you will have the secure feeling that all your devoted work will be protected and preserved. Your work will benefit future generations.

Visit http://www.genealogylibrarycenter.com for a current list of collections already donated.

When ever possible, Arlene personally goes to pick up these genealogy sources in her 3/4 ton pick up truck. Going east of the Mississippi is usually prohibitive because of the distance and the expense. So it is recommended that materials be boxed securely and shipped:

I. via UPS to Arlene Eakle, 875 N 300 E. (Rear), Tremonton UT 84337

II. Or by USPS to Genealogy Library Center, Inc., PO Box 40, Garland UT 84312

It is always a good idea to notify her by calling 435-579-1743 or email arlene@arleneeakle.com that your shipment is on its way so she can watch for it.