Fifth Annual 3S Genealogy Symposium- Solutions...Support...Success

The Fifth Annual 3S “Solutions…Support…Success” Genealogy Symposium was held Saturday May 21, 2011. The topic was "In Their Own Words" . Scheduled Speakers were: Eric Ames of Baylor University, Kevin Klaus with Texas General Land Office, and Charles Spurlin a former Chair at Victoria College . Mark your calendar for the third Saturday in May and join us in 2012 for the next Symposium @ the Library.

This symposium is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Lincke Fisseler at magnolia@cmaaccess.com or call 361-798-3243. 

Brenda's Links

If you have questions regarding the genealogy collection please email
Brenda Lincke-Fisseler at magnolia@cmaaccess.com

Resources Available at the Library

• Microfilm Holdings

• Family Files Surname Index
  A-D
  E-H
  I-L
  M-P
  Q-T
  U-Z

• Lavaca County History Books

• Texas Birth-1903-20003
  available on microfiche

• Texas Deaths- 1903-2003
  available on microfiche

• Photograph Index

Lay down your research, take a break and enjoy a little fiction written for people just like you! Every title on the list is available at the Library.

About Our Local History Collection

The Friench Simpson Memorial Library is the repository of the most extensive collection of material on the history and inhabitants of Lavaca County, Texas which was established in 1846.  The book collection includes community histories, immigration records, church histories, cemetery records, military histories and family histories along with a complete set of the well known and out of print Lavaca County history books written by the late Judge Paul C. Boethel.

 The microfilm collection includes census records, Lavaca County records, military records, church records and the mainstay of the collection our historic newspaper microfilm including English and foreign language newspapers.

 The Historic Photography Collection is comprised of over 900 photographs of people, places and events in Lavaca County history.  The collection also includes the largest collection of photographs by the late H.J. Braunig and his partner Pius Fey.  Together and separately, Fey and Braunig used their camera lens to capture the history of Hallettsville and Lavaca County for over 50 years.   Also available are rural school photographs and historic postcards. 

 Historic maps are also available.  The map collection includes appraisal maps, Sanborn fire maps on microfilm, topography maps, and copies of historic Lavaca County maps from the collection of the Texas General Land office in Austin, Texas.

 Our extensive vertical file collection includes family surname files, church and fraternal records, obituaries, cemetery records and funeral notices, scrapbooks and miscellaneous materials.