Welcome to the Hopkins County Genealogical Society!
Sulphur Springs, Texas

On behalf of our board and members, we are delighted to have you visit our site, where history comes alive through our extensive resources and community of passionate genealogists. Whether you are just beginning your family history journey or have years of research experience, our society offers valuable tools, including access to a vast library, unique archival materials, and expert guidance. We invite you to explore our online records, participate in our events, and consider joining our society to connect with fellow researchers and support the preservation of Hopkins County’s rich heritage. Membership brings exclusive benefits, and we look forward to welcoming you to our growing community!

HCGS is proud to be a Partner Society of the Texas State Genealogical Society.
TIGR 2025 is June 16-20.

Holiday Closure

Our library will be closed Monday to honor those who served and died and to celebrate the beginning of summer.
We will reopen on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.


Join us for Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, May 28, 2025. More info. . .

     If You’ve Got People in Peerless,
You’d Best Be Here!

Saturday, June 21, 2025 with Patti Huff Williams

Ready to dig up the past (without getting your hands dirty)? Join us for the 2025 HCGS Summer Seminar on Saturday, June 21, either in person at our library in Sulphur Springs or online via Zoom. Our guest speaker, the brilliant and bold Patti Huff Williams, will guide you through the twists, turns, and tantalizing trails of your family tree.

Whether your great-granny hailed from Hopkins County or your cousins are scattered across the nation, this seminar will arm you with fresh research tips and inspiration to help you uncover the stories waiting in your branches. Brick walls beware!

Registration is open now, so grab your seat before the cousins beat you to it.

For more details and registration information, visit our Genealogy Seminars page.

Because honestly – your ancestors aren’t going to trace themselves.


SUMMER BOOK SALE

Now Through Aug 31st 

Three books by Bobby McDonald – normally $15 each – are now specially priced at
$10 each or all three for just $25.

And don’t miss June Tuck’s definitive local historyCivil War Shadows in Hopkins County — available now for $40.

👉 Shop the Sale
Stock up before summer fades!

All purchases support the non-profit mission of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society. Your purchase won’t just be appreciated — it’ll help preserve our local history, too.

Browse the full collection now on our Bookshop page.


From Hopkins County History

Thursday, June 19, 1924, page 1 of 4

Sulphur Bluff Plans To Erect School Building
Sulphur Bluff is to have a new and modern, up to date school building in time for the next opening of school, if plans that are now in action do not fail to carry.
Some weeks ago Prof. O.L. guy made a trip to Austin to work out plans for a new building and he secured the promise of Prof. G.T. Bloodsworth of the rural school department to come to Sulphur Bluff in the interest of a new school building. Prof. Bloodsworth fulfilled that promise and Thursday night spoke to the people there on the subject. He had a large and enthusiastic audience. Before the meeting adjourned, signatures had been secured and a petition presented to the school board asking for a $7,000 bond election for the purpose of building a new building. The trustees met that night and ordered the election for the earliest possible time, July 19. The sentiment of the entire community seems to be strong for the bonds and it is predicted that they will carry. Besides the bond money, the old school building will be salvaged and used in the erection of a large, modern building.

While the plans have not yet been settled, it is proposed to erect a single-story building, with eight rooms and a large auditorium.


Back Issues of Hopkins County Heritage

We are now offering for sale  ALL of the Hopkins County Heritage back issues on a single flash drive!! (Includes every issue from the beginning in 1984 to June 2017). Each flash drive contains two folders – one folder contains individual issue PDFs and one folder contains a single PDF of the complete set. It is word searchable so that you can easily locate surnames or search terms in any single issue or in the complete set! And travels with you easily to libraries or on research trips!

The cost is $50 (plus $4 for shipping and handling) and can be purchased by contacting  the HCGS library.


About The HCGS Research Library

Over 8,000 Titles

The HCGS Research Library houses original county records, maps, family collections, scrapbooks, 1000’s of photographs, and numerous original materials. Note, current Saturday hoursopen 2nd Saturday of each month from 9:30am to 1:00pm.

Click here for more details about the HCGS Research Library.

 

FamilySearch.org Affiliate Library

The HCGS Research Library is an affiliate library of the LDS in Salt Lake City, Utah, which houses millions of digitized restricted records covering most counties in the US as well as worldwide. These restricted images, viewable from our computers, allow our patrons to travel to locations and view many records including court house records such as deeds, wills, probate cases, etc. from the convenience of our HCGS library. Use their catalog to discover what records might be of interest. (FamilySearch Help Center topic 55954 helps to explain how to use their catalog.) And if your county/country of interest has not yet been digitized you can contact FamilySearch to request that they digitize specific films. You may request up to 5 rolls of films in one interaction. For specific details on how to do this by phone, chat, or email go to FamilySearch’s Help Center and view help topic 469883.


Hopkins County Texas Research Guide

Professional genealogist and former Hopkins County resident Cyndi Harlin has graciously shared her Hopkins County Texas Research Guide. This expertly created guide gives numerous tips  and areas to explore to help aid your  research in Hopkins County. Check out this useful and  beautiful booklet by clicking here.


Rescue Mission

“Genealogy is a kind of rescue mission, one that often remains hidden. Not everyone can see that our ancestors need to be rescued. Not everyone has the ability or desire to rescue them. But we, as genealogists, see the need and set off on the mission, sure of the merit of our goal. We give voice to our ancestors buried in the silent archives of history. . .”[1]

[1] Margaret R. Fortier and Mary Kircher Roddy, “Editors’ Corner,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 112 (Dec 2024).

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