Alexander to Zenas: A Clearfield County ABC Celebration of the New Genealogical Center

May 3,  2015
was the grand opening
of the Clearfield County Historical Society's
William B. Alexander V Research Center.
 It was a wonderful day!
After two years of fund-raising
with generous people,
the new building is now available
for genealogical research
on Thursdays
and Sundays
from 1:30-4:30.

If you were not able to attend the grand opening
you may enjoy perusing the following pictures arranged
in ABC order.
If you were able to attend,
perhaps you will see yourself in a picture.

A is for the generous Alexander family. William B. Alexander VI, left, requested that the new facility be named for his father, William B. Alexander V.

A is also for advice.  Trained genealogists are available to offer advice.

B is for books. Many local books are available for purchase.

C is for Clearfield County Historical Society.

C is also for cemeteries, catalogued,

and conversations

and the crazy coconut that reminds us not to accept every donation.

D is for dirt which appears during construction projects.

E is for empty. The room is empty....

F is for full. Now the room is full.  Full is better!

F is also for family files

and food

and free magnets and pens

and friends who are like family.

F is also for flags. Turn left to get to the research center.

G is for gravestone. This Aux grave marker was the first in the county.

H is for historical humor.

I is for Indians of Clearfield County

and Italian Immigrants, both books available for sale at the research center.

J is for jobs. Teamwork makes all things easier.

K is for kitchen

...and the wonderful Kurtz family.  Robert Kurtz was the honorary chairman of the capital campaign.

L is for looking. Many people came to look at the new facilities and peruse the desserts.

M is for microfilm machines

and many marvelous sources of family history available in the Kurtz Room.

N is for nine pictures of neighbors and friends. One...

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

...nine!

O is for obituaries.

P is for press and The Progress, a source of great articles.

P is also for pies.

Q is for Quarries...

...and Quehanna, more books available at the research center.

R is for ribbon cutting to officially open the Alexander Research Center.

S is for scissors, huge scissors used in the ribbon cutting.

S is also for storage. There are many books in storage.

T is for tables.

U is for unearthed carriage stone, discovered under the old sidewalk the week that the research center opened.

V is for Van Valzah Avenue, named for the Van Valzah family who lived in the area. The Van Valzahs at one time held the national record for the family with the most physicians.

W is for Woodmobile. The Woodmobile helped celebrate the opening of the research center.

X is for Xerox, though this machine is actually a Sharp. Researchers often make many copies of their findings.

Y is for young visitors.

Z is for Zenas Leonard, a Clearfielder who left for a grand adventure in the west.

Zenas had grand adventures
and an interesting life.
If you are interested in learning about your ancestors' interesting lives,
perhaps some answers are waiting for you
at the Clearfield County Historical Society's
William B. Alexander V Research Center.

PS. Interested in a memory challenge?
How many terms from this ABC presentation can you remember?