LAKE HAVASU CITY – Have you ever wondered where your ancestors are originally from? The Lake Havasu Genealogical Society (LHGS) has a library right here in Lake Havasu City that can help. LHGS is a nonprofit organization that is committed to saving genealogical and factual information.
Their goal is to inspire and help others in collecting their ancestral roots. In 1987, residents Dale and Corinne Wise, taught genealogical classes to a group of students in their garage. Enthusiastic about their new activity, the LHGS was created.
More people along with tourists began to take interest in the organization and the society grew. Funds were raised with raffles, bake sales, and garage sales with hopes to someday obtain a public home for their resource library. By 2001, the group’s hard work paid off, and LHGS moved to Shambles Village.
The society gave many thanks to Don Foust. Foust had the copyright for the McCulloch booklet, the main source of profits for the society.
The library has over 200 surnames that were collected through the Surname Book Contest. Foust also brought the library’s Centurion Club award’s program as well as many other contributions to the society. LHGS offers genealogy classes that were formed to create more diversity in research activities.
Their classes and assistance cover everything from starting your research all the way to the very end. Advance registration is required since class sizes are limited.
LHGS monthly meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. The meetings will usually have a program or an informative speaker. Visitors are always welcome.
The library has a variety of accessible links that can help you locate your ancestry such as the Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens, Ellis Island Record Search, Birth Date Calculator, Ancestry.com, and many more.
The group accepts a suggested donation of $5 to use their services. Aside from cash donations, the organization also accepts genealogical books and library supplies.
President Grove Bancroft knows that the community continues to take a great interest in the library, but it only seems like a certain age range. “Many of our visitors and members are usually between the ages of 50 to 80. We would love to see more young people getting involved in these researches,” said Bancroft.
LHGS is open Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Any other visits can be done by appointment only.
For more information about the Lake Havasu Genealogical Society visit Lake Havasu Genealogical Society, Inc. – Lake Havasu Genealogical Society, Inc (weebly.com) or to become a member call 928-854-5447.
Phaedra Veronique
