Updated: 5/2/2017 
The Butler County Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.
Greenville, Alabama
Description

The Butler County Historical & Genealogical Society, founded in 1964, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Butler County and its people. Our Research Room in the Greenville-Butler County Public Library is free to the public and open during regular library hours.

History

Butler County is a county older than the state of Alabama. We were created on December 13, 1819 -- one day before Alabama became a state. Our first county seat was at Fort Dale, where a large pioneer community grew into existence around the fort built by Capt. Sam Dale in spring 1818 near the Federal Road. Fort Dale was the site of Butler County's first school, first church and first Masonic lodge. It was one of our first voting precincts, and the first court session in the county was held under the trees around the fort. In 1822, the county seat was moved to Greenville (first called "Butlerville"), where it remains today.

The Butler County courthouse burned in April 1853, but our Historical Society has collected a vast amount of records to bridge the gap caused by this unfortunate occurrence. There ARE many surviving records before 1853 -- just ask us!

Founding members

Founding members worked hard on important preservation projects: surveying cemeteries, transcribing early county documents, censuses, family bibles, diaries and letters, visiting elderly residents and writing their stories, and more.

The community continues to benefit from these volunteer efforts today as The Butler County Historical and Genealogical Society provides information and research opportunities to members and the public. Visitors may explore their heritage at the BCHGS research room in Greenville or from a distance through the Society’s many publications.

Research Collections

Our genealogical and historical research collection includes vertical files (surnames, places, events, organizations, schools, churches, businesses, etc.), books, photographs, maps, family bibles, historical manuscripts and more.

Programs

We offer history presentations when requested for schools, civic organizations, and other groups.

Facilities

We maintain our Society's historical and genealogical collection in our Research Room in the local public library building, which has a meeting room, rest rooms, copy machines, computers, and other public library facilities.

Library

Access: General Public

Appointment required: False

Services
Research Fee

We offer research in our collection for a fee.

A Taste of Butler County, Alabama: Treasured Family Recipes

"A Taste of Butler County, Alabama: Treasured Family Recipes of the Butler County Historical Society" is our cookbook published to celebrate the Society's 40th anniversary. Reprinted again and again, it's filled with over 250 pages of wonderful family photos, heirloom recipes and priceless stories and memories. Only $12 plus $3 shipping per copy! Send your check or money order for $15 per book to:

BCHGS COOKBOOK, P. O. Box 561, Greenville, AL 36037

Hours of Operation

Our Research Room is open during public library hours at the Greenville-Butler County Public Library, Greenville, Alabama 36037

Admission

Free

DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

RECENT UPDATES

Museums

04/09 Museum of Man in the Sea

Panama City Beach, Florida

04/09 The Mariners' Museum and Park

Newport News, Virginia

04/08 Roundhouse Museum

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

04/08 Lake Wales History Museum

Lake Wales, Florida

04/04 Taylor Museum of Waco and McLennan County History

Waco, Texas

Museum Associations

04/03 Florida Association of Museums

Tallahassee, Florida