The Hidden Treasure In Our Midst

The Treasure Coast is aptly named, but the treasures extend far beyond those that went down with the Spanish galleons. We all appreciate the paradisiacal climate, the fascinating wildlife and the alluring cultural attractions. But there is another asset, more subtle but equally valuable, that deserves our attention – one that chronicles and preserves our heritage.

For the past quarter-century, the Archive Center and Genealogy Department at the Indian River County Main Library, under the leadership of Pamela Cooper, has served as a treasure trove of historical information.

The collection, which Cooper hails as one of the best local history collections she has seen, contains tens of thousands of documents, including newspapers, periodicals, photographs, maps, property records, census and military records, oral history tapes, ships’ manifests, and an astonishing array of other historical documents. The archive is made up of various media, including microfilm, microfiche, vertical files, bound items, digital data and boxed collections, all assembled with painstaking care.

Read the entire article in the March 2011 issue