Regional History and Genealogy Information:  Regional History and Genealogy Center

 

The mission of the Regional History and Genealogy Center (RHGC) is to preserve and share across generations the wisdom, culture and history of the South.  The Regional History and Genealogy Center, the special collections division of the Germantown Community Library, serves as a repository and research center for historic materials related to regional history and genealogy. The Tennessee Genealogical Society is also located in the Center.  Information about their products, publications, membership, programming, events and services is available at www.tngs.org.

 

Germantown Community Library

Regional History and Genealogy Center

7779 Poplar Pike

Germantown, TN 38138


Phone: (901) 757-8480

Tennessee Genealogical Society (901) 754-4300


Hours:
Mondays 10 - 2
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 - 4
Saturdays 9 - 5

 

General Description

 

The collections of the Regional History and Genealogy Center consist of non-circulating, research level collections of books, ephemera, microforms, computer-based files, photographs, maps, slides, postcards, and vertical files on the cultural, geological, architectural and historical heritage of the South, with emphasis on the State of Tennessee.  Some records may be available in multiple formats.  Duplicate copies may be available at Germantown Community Library and do circulate.

 

Descriptions of Individual Collections

 

Tennesseana Collection

The Tennesseana Collection consists of books, periodicals, atlases, maps, online databases and visual materials on local history, genealogy, archaeology, flora and fauna, geology, politics and government, family histories, personal papers, and microforms related to southern history.

 

·        Local and Tennessee Websites

·        Databases

 

Genealogy Collection

 

The Genealogy Collection consists of a core collection of materials donated to the City of Germantown by the Tennessee Genealogical Society.  The Genealogy Collection includes books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, microforms, computer-based files, oral history interviews and lectures on audio- cassette, printed and microform census schedules related to family history.  Items of interest include:

 

·        Bibliographies

·        Cemetery Records

·        Census Records

·        Church or Religious Group Records

·        City Directories

·        Court Records

·        European Heraldry

·        Family Histories

·        Immigration Records

·        Land and Tax Records

·        Maps

·        Military Records

·        Newspapers

·        Oral Histories and Interviews

·        Periodicals

·        Historical Photographs

·        Vital Records

·        Research and Study Guides for Genealogical Research

·        Non-Tennessee Genealogical Abstracts and Indices

·        Local and State Websites

·        Search the Web

·        Recommended Websites

·        Resources on CD

·        Databases

·        Tennessee Genealogical Society Articles Online

www.tngs.org

 

 

 

Vertical File

 

The Vertical File Collection consists of clippings and loose papers related to the following topics:

 

·        Artists

·        Biography

·        Buildings

·        Businesses

·        Cemeteries

·        Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship

·        Civic organizations

·        Clubs

·        Forts

·        Historic Homes

·        Obituaries

·        Parks

·        Tennessee History

·        Germantown Government

 

 

Ephemera

 

The Ephemera Collection is related to the collection development areas of emphasis and consists of the following formats:

 

·        Programs

·        Reports

·        Brochures

·        Manuscripts

·        Records

·        Invitations

·        Memorabilia

·        Scrapbooks

·        Recorded lectures

 

Map Collection

 

The Map Collection includes maps from the following categories:

·        Geologic

·        Topographical

·        Street

·        Historical state and local maps

 

 

Tennessee Authors Collection

The Tennessee Authors Collection contains works by regional authors on documented historical topics.  Signed, donated copies are welcome. Circulating copies of books by Tennessee authors are located at the Germantown Community Library at 1925 Exeter. 

 

 

The Performing Arts Collection

This collection consists of history and memorabilia.  Items of interest include:

 

·        Music

·        Playbills

·        Programs

·        Published histories of the performing arts

·        Scrapbooks

 

Historical Photograph Collection

Photographs related to the collection development areas of emphasis are found in this collection.  Formats include photographic prints, negatives, and digital images.

 

Microforms Collection

 

Periodicals Collection

 

Oral History Collections

The Oral History Collection consists of interviews with local and regional persons of note.

 

·        Germantown Oral History Collection

·        Regional Oral History Collection

·        Tennessee Bar Foundation Oral History Collection

 

Realia Collection

Recognizing that the curatorial and conservation skills and techniques of museum administration lie outside of the library’s areas of expertise, art objects and museum pieces, with the exception of items used to decorate the area housing the collections, are not collected.  Items in this category may be borrowed by the Center for exhibit purposes only.  If you have collections of historical interest, and would be interested in working with the Center to create an exhibit for display in either library location, contact the Director of the Germantown Community Library at 901-757-7323, extension 24 or at sloper@readgermantown.org.

 

 

Collection Development Areas of Emphasis

 

The staff or the Review Committee, prior to acquisition, will carefully evaluate individual items or groups of items.  Established collections will be expanded by donation or purchase in the following areas:

 

·        Architecture

·        Cemetery Records

·        Church history and the history of other local religious institutions

·        Biographical Information

·        Civil Rights Movement

·        Club and Civic Organizations

·        Family Histories

·        Festivals

·        Folklore and Folk Life

·        Published histories and information about significant businesses and industries

·        Railroads

·        Sports History

·        Theatre and other performing arts

·        Manuscripts, diaries, journals, and personal papers of historical interest about the Southeast and especially citizens of Tennessee

·        Heraldry

·        Genealogical information for people of African, Native American, and European descent

·        Tennessee Genealogical Society History

·        Official governmental records and publications are collected by the Regional History and Genealogy Center.  Papers, both public and private, of city, town, or county officials. Significant court records are also collected.

·        Business and church records, which are primary sources, as opposed to written histories, are also collected.

·        High school yearbooks or other academic yearbooks

·        Genealogical information from family Bibles

 

 

 

Exclusions

 

Material outside of the scope or mission of the collections are excluded from the collections.  Assistance in locating material, not included in the Regional History and Genealogy Center, is available from staff and volunteers at the Center.