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==Services== | ==Services== | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Genealogy Collection at the Seattle Public Library began 1926. The [https://seagensoc.org Seattle Genealogical Society] (founded in 1923), was seeking a location for the materials that they were collecting. Local lineage organizations soon joined the Society and Library in the efforts to develop the Genealogy Collection. | |||
In 1952, an agreement was reached between the [https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/ Washington State Library] and the Seattle Public Library resulting in the Seattle Public Library being designated as the State’s major resource library for the subject area of genealogy. The fact that the staff included a librarian, Carol Lind, who was knowledgeable about genealogy research, was a factor in this decision. Subsequently, the Washington State Library’s Genealogy Collection was transferred to the Seattle Public Library. A quick note about Carol Lind; she joined the Seattle Public Library’s Reference Department as a Reference Department Librarian in 1949 and was given the responsibility for working with the existing Genealogy Collection and providing service to the genealogists. | |||
Plans for a new central library in the late 1950s divided the collections into subject departments. The Genealogy Section became a subdivision of the History Department. Carol Lind became Seattle Public Library’s first Genealogy Librarian when the new building opened in 1960. During the 1960s a para-professional assistant was added to the Genealogy staff to assist in providing services to the growing community of genealogy researchers. | |||
Carol Lind’s expertise in genealogy was well known throughout the state. Thus, she was in demand as a speaker for genealogy programs. Whenever the opportunity arose she advocated for the Genealogy Collection of the Seattle Public Library. Carol Lind retired in May 1971, but her interest and support of the Library’s Genealogy Collection continued for many more years. | |||
Darlene Hamilton joined the Seattle Public Library staff in April 1971 as the successor to Carol Lind,who was retiring in May 1971. Interest in genealogy research, which had been increasing since the 1960s, exploded following the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration and the televising of Alex Haley’s story, Roots, in 1977. The Seattle Public Library’s Genealogy Collection and the expertise of the two Genealogy staff members were in high demand. Most of the smaller libraries in the State were not prepared to meet the increased demand for assistance with genealogy research. | |||
Subsequently, the Seattle Public Library submitted proposals to the Washington State Library in the late 1970s for three Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) grant projects, which would strengthen the Seattle Public Library’s Genealogy Collection and provide training and support to other libraries in the State. Darlene Hamilton administered these projects, which included selecting additional materials for the Genealogy Collection, preparing various bibliographies to be distributed to other libraries in the State, and presenting a four-hour training workshop for librarians in various locations throughout the State. This workshop was revised and presented again in 1991 for the Washington Library Association. In addition, Darlene presented programs to genealogy groups throughout the State. | |||
Darlene Hamilton developed classes and tours in the early 1980s in response to the continuing strong interest in genealogy research. Topics included beginning genealogy research, using the Internet and orientation to the Genealogy Collection. | |||
Access to the Internet and online databases was added to the resources that the Seattle Public Library offered to the genealogy community. A Genealogy Librarian, John LaMont, filled the second part-time Genealogy staff position in 1999 in order to meet the increasing demand for genealogy assistance and access to electronic resources. | |||
In 1998 the City of Seattle passed a bond measure that provided for the replacement of the Central Library building. The new building, which provides open stacks for most of the collections, known as the Books Spiral, opened in the spring of 2004. Darlene Hamilton was involved in the building program planning as it relates to the Genealogy Collection and reorganizing of that Collection in preparation for the move into this new facility. The opportunity to provide better access to the growing Collection in a new facility will fulfill one of Darlene’s dreams for the Genealogy Collection of the Seattle Public Library. | |||
Today, the Genealogy Collection is part of the library’s Special Collections department which includes the [https://www.spl.org/hours-and-locations/central-library/central-library-highlights/seattle-room Seattle Room]. There are two full-time Genealogy Librarians at the Seattle Public Library, John LaMont and Mahina Oshie (who joined the department in 2011). | |||
==Tips for Your Visit== | ==Tips for Your Visit== | ||
==Guides== | ==Guides== | ||