Building Fund for Expansion

                                     "Save Our Heritage"

Dear Community Supporter:
Broad River Genealogical Society (BRGS) is currently engaged in an $85,000 “Save Our Heritage” fund-raising campaign.  Donations will support the building of a new facility behind our present building on County Home Road, Shelby, NC.  The new facility will increase floor space for research, meetings, training and expand the archive library to better serve our citizens and increase public accessibility.  Our current home (since 2001) has limited parking, poor visibility and access, and cramped storage for books, archives and other documents and our meetings are conducted at the Senior Center instead of at BRGS.

BRGS, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit (#58-1420605), was organized by a group of dedicated genealogists headed by historian Virginia DePriest and chartered in January, 1980.  It gathers, catalogues, and preserves the historical and genealogical records pertinent to our locale and citizens focusing on all the counties within and surrounding the Broad River Basin in North and South Carolina. BRGS is the only entity in Cleveland County dedicated exclusively to preserving local historic records and genealogical information.  

BRGS archives and library contain a large collection of local newspapers dating back to 1900, land grants, personal files and family histories, maps, bulletins from various states, as well as hundreds of publications on census, marriages, military and church records.  Membership excesses 300 and includes individuals, families, other genealogy societies, non-profit organizations and public libraries. 

Our staff and organization is operated exclusively by volunteers.  Volunteers open and staff our facility for public use twice weekly and additional hours upon request.  Volunteers assist individuals conducting research plus provide group training sessions to help the public in their quest for family information.  Our volunteers publish quarterly bulletins, “Eswau Huppeday” (Catawba) containing over 250 pages of historical and genealogical information each year.  Additionally, BRGS schedules a monthly meeting (2nd Sunday) with guest speakers for members and the public, free of charge, on topics relevant to local history.  
We are asking for your help.  We have just completed the  purchase of 1.7 acres of land behind our present location.    Please help us “Save Our Heritage” with a generous tax deductible donation as allowed by the laws.   On behalf of all the citizens of Cleveland County and genealogical researchers – THANK YOU!!