In 1933 the Crowley's Ridge Historical Society was formed to preserve the history of eight northeastern Arkansas counties. J.M. Futrell was president, H.I. Ponder, vice president and George M. Moreland, historian. No records have survived.
In 1964, the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society was organized. Mrs. W.L. "Dot" Skaggs, Mrs. R.P. Calvert and Mrs. Pearl Morrow, natives of Greene County, played pivotal parts in the organization of the society. The first officers were: Raymond Frey, president; Alfred Holland, vice president; Mrs. W.L. Skaggs, secretary; and J.W. Thompson, treasurer. The membership committee included Mrs. Pearl Morrow and J. Sam Thompson. Lack of interest and dwindling membership forced the Society to disband.
The Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society was reorganized on September 14, 1987. Officers were: Dr. Bennie Mitchell, president; Dr. Omer E. Bradsher, vice president; Mary Esther Herget, second vice president; Dawn Linden, secretary; and Barbara Hazzard, treasurer.
In 2005 the Society was granted non-profit status by the IRS. Therefore, all donations are tax deductible.
At the present time, 2007, we have over 250 members and publish nine newsletters and four quarterlies each year. The officers for 2008 are: Norma Addison, president; Kaye Holmes, first vice-president; Lynda White, second vice president; Deronda Wood, recording secretary; Cynthia Starling, treasurer; and Betty Clatyton, corresponding secretary.
Our society continues to grow and members are continually working on projects that make more of the history and genealogy of Greene County available to the public.
Research Room
In April 2006, we were very fortunate to move into our own research center, thanks to an anonymous donor. We decided to call it the G.C.H.&G.S Research Center. Here we can carry out our functions and provide materials and an environment for those who are doing family and historical research. In fact, that is why we exist: to preserve, publish, educate and make available to anyone this information.
During the past 20 years about 26 Greene Co. Books have been published due in a large part to volunteers like Charles and Helen Wood who catalogued all Greene County cemeteries. Currently we have over 150 books about Greene County as well as 500+ books that cover other Arkansas counties and states. We have over 180 CDs, numerous rolls of microfilm, microfiche and many periodicals. New to our place are 44 rolls of Greene Co. probate records, which are indexed. In addition to the Volume II Book, future publications include gleanings from the Paragould Soliphone newspaper, and a Greene County church directory, among others.
Our volunteers speak at clubs and organizations and we also conduct programs on Greene County history at our schools so that children might learn about our/their history. The Society has nine monthly programs during the year that are open to the public.
For a city/county of our size, we think we might possibly be a first in this area, if not Arkansas, to have our own Research Center. All functions of the Society and the Research Center are carried out solely by volunteers. Our only source of income is from membership dues, gifts and sale of publications. All monies are used to purchase additional research material and equipment. We solicit old photos, programs, newspapers, annuals, books, journals and other materials for the Research Center. We also run queries and both family and school reunions in our newsletter.
Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm
Closed for County Holidays and for bad weather.