The 2018 Genealogy Lock-In Program is a cooperative effort to bring genealogical topics and speakers to a wider audience using modern technology through the Genealogy Network of Texas. There will be 8 one hour to one and a half hour sessions featuring some of the nation’s best known genealogical speakers. This live webinar will be shown on a projection screen in the Smith County Historical Society ...[Read More]
2018 Genealogy Lock-In Program
First African American Board Member, Mr. Larry D. Wade, Sr.
The Smith County Historical Society would like to introduce our first African American Board member Mr. Larry D. Wade, Sr. Larry Wade has been a member of our Society for 20 years. He has been involved in our Society Archives on many levels, including the research of African American historical data for Smith County Texas. We are honored to have Mr. Wade represent our Society as a Board mem ...[Read More]
Missing Page from African American Life Book
While I was preparing the index for the book African American Life in Tyler, Texas compiled by Rodney Lamar Atkins, I discovered that the edition published in 2007 and the one published in 2008 had a one page difference. The 2008 edition was missing the information from page 159 in the 2007 edition featuring a profile of Pearlie Henderson. I transcribed the 2007 edition page so that the owners of ...[Read More]
Tyler Star Safety Books
Do you recognize these books from Tyler, TX? “If it causes just one of you to go through life more thoughtfully, and with more consideration for others, then all the work and cost involved in its publication will have been fully justified. If it saves just one of you from a broken arm, or a smashed leg, or a mutilated hand; then it will have been worthwhile.” This introduction in the ...[Read More]
Website and Blog Updates – 2018-06-29
If you follow our blog and website, you will have noticed a new office manager, Carla Lacy, who started about several months ago. She replaced the departing Savannah Brantley Cortes, who has moved to the Dallas area. Savannah worked hard on preparing our newest exhibit about World War I and the removal of the old exhibits from the main exhibit space on the first floor. We know that she will do wel ...[Read More]
Down Town Tyler – Three Historic Buildings on College Avenue
There are three historic buildings in Down Town Tyler on College Avenue, and all within walking distance of each. SMITH COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is located in one of these buildings. We invite you to come for a walk through our neighborhood! First, park your vehicle in the Fair Plaza Parking Garage at Broadway and Elm. Parking is Free. This beautiful parking garage opened in 2014. While it is not ...[Read More]
FUN AT THE MUSEUM
History Mystery Fun at the Museum – in Tyler, TX! Smith County Historical Society has a way of continuing the learning process children need through their Summer, Fall, and Winter breaks. Fun At The Museum Studies show that student’s achievement scores decline over summer break. This decline is referred to as Summer Learning Loss. In response to this issue, the Smith County Histor ...[Read More]
Brothers Meet on WW1 French Battlefield
Brothers Meet on French Battlefield Extracts from a World War 1 letter from Lieut. Charles N. McClendon to his father in which he tells of meeting his brother, Lieut. S. S. McClendon, Jr., on the Western Battle front in France: Oct. 23rd, 1918 “Dear Father: “I received your “beaucoup letters from home. You can imagine how greatly I appreciated them. The letters from you I carried to Sidney as he ...[Read More]
Charles Newcomb McClendon – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018
Charles Newcomb McClendon – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018 Sponsored by Daye Collins Life Before WW1 When Charles Newcomb McClendon was born on September 2, 1892, in Tyler, Texas, his father, Sidney Smith McClendon, was 27 and his mother, Annie Rebecca (Bonner) McClendon, was 24. He was the second child born of nine children. He married Norma McClendon on December 12, 1916, in Morris Coun ...[Read More]
Joseph Favre Baldwin – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorships 2018
Joseph Favre Baldwin (1892–1918) Sponsored by Wanda Barber and Tiffany Wright Life Before WW1 Joseph Favre Baldwin was born on August 3, 1892, in Tyler, Texas. His father, Aaron, a doctor and his mother, Clara, a concert pianist. He had one brother, Fredrick. He attended Tyler High School. He was a senior Medical School student in 1915, attending Tulane Univer ...[Read More]