Wallace State Community College and the City of Cullman (Alabama) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will transfer the college’s Genealogy Collection to the Cullman County Museum, where it will be more available to those who wish to research family history, local and Cullman-area history.
Ownership of the collection will remain with Wallace State, however, the partnership with the Cullman County Museum is a natural fit and fully supports both the college’s and museum’s missions. In addition to being located in the heart of Cullman, the move will also place the collection next to the Cullman County Public Library, which will allow researchers and the general public alike to access the City of Cullman’s extensive library resources.
“This is a great opportunity to share our genealogy collection with the public and help preserve the history of Cullman County families and communities,” said Wallace State Community College President Dr. Vicki Karolewics. “We are excited to house this important collection in the center of our community.”
Over the years, the Genealogy Collection has been carefully built by generations of librarians who have focused on gathering family histories, local records, photographs, books and periodicals, and other unique and rare materials in both printed and microfilm formats. The collection is a critical component in learning about the history and ancestry of Cullman County and the surrounding area. The partnership with the Cullman County Museum will be mutually beneficial, and by partnering with the Cullman County Public Library, the genealogy collection and rare documents will be easily accessible to anyone interested in family history and the local area.
“The City of Cullman is excited to welcome the Wallace State genealogy collection to the Cullman County Museum,” said Mayor Woody Jacobs. “This collection is a wonderful resource that will help us all learn more about Cullman’s history and better understand the rich history of families and communities that live in and around Cullman.”
As part of the MOU, the Cullman County Museum will act as the repository for the Genealogy Collection and ensure access to the public. Museum staff will be available to assist researchers and visitors in finding the materials they need, and Wallace State will provide guidance and curation of the collection. The Wallace State Library will remain open to the public until the collection is relocated, which is scheduled to take place during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Hours of operation for the collection will be the same as the museum’s, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.