Collections

State-Wide 2019 Genealogy Lock-In Program

State-Wide 2019 Genealogy Lock-In Program

In celebration of October, as Family History Month, the Smith County Historical Society ­­­­will join the Genealogy Network of Texas (GNT) for a collaborative event on October 18, 2019 from 10 am – 8:30 pm. The GNT is a state-wide initiative to connect libraries and provide educational and research opportunities and is spearheaded by the Genealogy Center of the Waco-McLennan County Library.  ...[Read More]

Alliene Gaston Coker, The First Woman Elected as an Officer of a Tyler Bank

Alliene Gaston Coker, The First Woman Elected as an Officer of a Tyler Bank

At our April 2019 monthly meeting, Kathy Gaston, a Smith County Historical Society Board member, spoke about Alliene Gaston Coker, the first woman elected as an officer of a Tyler bank.   Alliene Gaston Coker was born in 1891 to a prominent Tyler dentist, Finis Ewing Gaston, and his wife, Bessie Clarinda James. A lifelong resident of Tyler, Alliene was proud of her family and her city. She wa ...[Read More]

Yearbooks Added

This Is a listing of new acquisitions for our collection of yearbooks. We have been very fortunate to receive the yearbooks listed below through the generosity of our members and others. We have received elementary, junior high, middle school, high school, college and even one military yearbooks. These help us add to our ancestors’ stories.   If the year that you are interested in is no ...[Read More]

Robert Lee Falkner and the R.L. Falkner Collection

Robert Lee Falkner and the R.L. Falkner Collection

Robert Lee Falkner was born Nov. 10, 1911, in Garden Valley in Smith County, Texas to Eugene L. Falkner and wife, Eunice Jackson Neill. He attended Tyler Public Schools and lived in Tyler most of his life. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was an award-winning photographer for the Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph for four years. He was owner of R. L. Falkner Photography Shop in Tyler for ...[Read More]