Hi all:

I was finally able to visit this library, which is about 35 minutes from
San Jose during the non-commute hours.

This resource has 560 1" to 3" three ring binders with 169 family
folders. Also, the genealogy society there will do 30 minute look-ups
for a donation of $10.  The society has indexed the whole collection, so
if you do have a chance to visit the library, the collection can be
searched rapidly.  For example, my search with negative results on three
of my families only took 25 minutes to scan and make a few notes.

This database is named "The Brayton Library Collection".  Tina Brayton,
was the owner/manager of the GENEALOGY CLEARING HOUSE from 1959 TO
1981.  It was first located in Oakland, CA. and later moved to Felton,
CA, in Santa Cruz County.  Tina was a charter member of the Genealogy
Society of Santa Cruz County, and upon her death in 1991, the Society
became the repository of the collection.  Now the Society has a
permanent section in the Santa Cruz main Library for the collection and
other genealogy books.

THE CLEARING HOUSE was formed to serve three purposes:  help eliminate
duplication of effort, correct data errors, and assist Tina with her own
family research.  As her ancestors had at one time resided in Kentucky,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, records to be
accepted were to include at least one actual or approximate, date of
birth, marriage, death, or residency in one of those states.  Many
records that had no reference to any Southern State, however, were
accepted and included in the collection.

How it worked:  For a low annual fee ($2 and later $6), and submitting
Group Family Sheets per Tina's format, a member would receive
information then on file, and in the future, updated information on the
desired family.  Addresses of other members researching the same family
were not included with the reply correspondence.  Tina did not want
members writing to each other and failing to keep The Clearing House
informed of new materials and proof of records.

In addition to the 560 binders, there are 8 - 2 1/2" binders of Pedigree
Charts.  In all there were 1,890 member correspondents over the
existence of the business/service.

Contact or visit:


Santa Cruz Public Library
224 Church St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831-429-5600)
<http://www.santacruzpl.org>

Written look-up requests should be:  Attention: Sara Bunnett

Visiting Hours 10AM - 9PM

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