Our History
On May 4, 1972, a group of seven women, brought together by a common
interest in family history decided there was a need in the Northwestern
Harris County area for a genealogical society. Since they all lived in
and around the Tomball area, this became home base for the group. The
name given to their new organization was the Labor of Love Genealogical
Society.
Within a few months, the Society was up and running. The first formal
Society meeting was held on September 18, 1972 at the Tomball Branch of
the Harris County Library. Individuals who joined prior to December 1,
1972 were given Charter Member status, of which there were forty-seven.
In September of 1974, the Society was renamed Chaparral Genealogical
Society. It was also during this time that the Society began publishing
its quarterly, named the Roadrunner. This quarterly records magazine was
published from 1974 to 1991; back-copies of these magazines are
available for review at the library. Chaparral has published many books
of records for the Tomball area including: The Klein Funeral Home
Records to 1900, Census and Marriage records of Northwest Harris and
Southwest Montgomery Counties.
On September 5, 1975, our Articles of Incorporation were approved by
then Secretary of State, Mark White. April 26, 1976 brought our Society
its 501 c 3 Non-profit status.
During the first year in operation, our Society was the proud owner of
forty books. Originally, these books were kept in members’ homes. When
this became too difficult, room was located on a lone bookshelf in a
backroom of the Tomball Public Library. The years 1975 and 1976 were
ones of continual growth. By this time, with close to five hundred
books, we desperately needed a new home. The City of Tomball, ever
supportive of our venture, allowed us the usage of a small, unused room
located in Tomball City Hall.
It soon became obvious that while this was a wonderful solution, we
desperately needed a home of our own. With that, the members of
Chaparral rolled up their collective sleeves and went to work on finding
a way to make this dream become a reality. The ensuing years brought
about many types of fund raising.
All the hard work paid off, in May of 1982, the Society was able to
purchase a small piece of land at 310 North Live Oak Street in Tomball.
While we were now proud land owners, we were also almost broke. Yet, we
still needed a building to house our growing collection of research
materials.
Providence stepped in with Society members, Harry and Iva Brenneman. The
Brenneman’s had built a small cabin which they used on weekends. Though
only 600 square feet, no plumbing, no air conditioning, nor heating, the
building was ours. The building, which had been flooded many times, was
moved to the land on Live Oak. The Brenneman’s also donated one thousand
dollars to bring the building up to snuff. During June and July of 1982,
volunteers were hard at work turning the weekend cabin into a library.
On Thursday, September 16, 1982, the Chaparral Genealogical Society was
formally opened to the public.
The ensuing years were not always good for our Library. At one point in
the late 1980’s, our members had to take up a collection each month to
simply keep the doors open. Through it all, our Members have persevered,
and we can proudly state that our Library has been open to our
Membership and the public, for over twenty-two years, free of charge.
The City of Tomball, ever supportive, once again stepped in and brought
us much needed help in the form of hotel/motel tax monies. Through their
support, we have not only been able to keep our beloved Library open,
but to purchase research materials for our library.
Society members, who are themselves genealogist experienced in the art
of researching their family trees, staff the Chaparral Genealogical
Library Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. They will be happy
to assist you in getting started!
Chaparral Genealogical Society, Inc.
310 North Live Oak, P.O. Box 606, Tomball, TX. 77377- 0606
Phone: 281 516-7417
Email: Chaparral8041@sbcglobal.net
Library Hours: Mon.- Wed. 10-2 Sat. 10-2
Closed 4th Sat. of every month
| Position | Name |
| President | Terri Little |
| Vice President | Mary Williams |
| Secretary | Anna Martin |
| Treasurer | Clora Heath |
| Librarian | Mary Wallace |
| Parliamentarian | Janis Duhe |
| At Large | Joyce Peterson |
| At Large | Peggy Wear |
| Date | Name |
| 2006 | Ms. Teri Hall Little |
| 2005 | Ms. Teri Hall Little |
| 2004 | Ms. Teri Hall Little |
| 2003 | Ms. Teri Hall Little |
| 2002 | Ms. Teri Hall Little |
| 2001 | Mr. Lynwood Peterson |
| 2000 | Mr. Lynwood Peterson |
| 1998 - 1999 | Ms. Pam Fendley |
| 1997 - 1998 | Ms. Caroline Costelloe |
| 1996 - 1997 | Ms. Caroline Costelloe |
| 1995 - 1996 | Ms. Delores Newman |
| 1994 - 1995 | Ms. Delores Newman |
| 1993 - 1994 | Ms. Delores Newman |
| 1992 - 1993 | Ms. Billie Brautigam Hardee |
| 1991 - 1992 | Ms. Jacabeth Johnston Scott |
| 1990 - 1991 | Ms. Jacabeth Johnston Scott |
| 1989 - 1990 | Ms. Joyce McCharque |
| 1988 - 1989 | Ms. Dixie McRee Streeter |
| 1987 - 1988 | Ms. Dixie McRee Streeter |
| 1986 - 1987 | Ms. Billie Brautigam Hardee |
| 1985 - 1986 | Ms. Ella Louise Berkhardt Hill |
| 1984 - 1985 | Ms. Billie Brautigam Hardee |
| 1983 - 1984 | Ms. Flossie Dement Bueckner |
| 1982 - 1983 | Ms. Jacabeth Johnston Scott |
| 1981 - 1982 | Ms. Audra Gray |
| 1980 - 1981 | Ms. Audra Gray |
| 1979 - 1980 | Ms. Annie M (Billie) Herring |
| 1978 - 1979 | Ms. Flossie Dement Bueckner |
| 1977 - 1978 | Ms. Rebecca Strack |
| 1976 - 1977 | Ms. Charlotte Magee Tucker |
| 1975 - 1976 | Ms. Jeanne Robey Felldin |
| 1975 - 1975 | Ms. Trevia W. Beverly |
| 1974 - 1975 | Ms. Rebecca Strack |
| 1973 - 1973 | Ms. Billie Brautigam Hardee |
| 1972 - 1973 | Ms. Billie Brautigam Hardee |