About Us

The Transylvania Genealogical Society is a program of the Transylvania Heritage Coalition, Inc., and is designed to meet the following:

Goal

"The Transylvania Heritage Coalition, Inc. will provide programs and events that stimulate an interest in local history and stage high quality and diverse exhibits available to the community."

Objective
 
"Engage people in local heritage and history through programs that encourage participation."

Our Vision

Heritage is about who we are and where we came from. It is about those who carved out communities in untamed lands, built our county, our homes, our businesses, and our cities. It is about those who lived in our communities, farmed our lands, and are buried in the cemetery of the church where we worship. It isn’t just about "History", with events and names and dates-—Heritage is personal and full of people with personalities and stories and wisdom that deserve to be shared in as many ways as possible.

Heritage isn’t dead--it is a living thing that changes and grows with each person and each generation that comes onto the scene. It connects us with those who went before us and those who come after us. It connects each one of us in this special place, at this particular time. Heritage is a gift and a responsibility. To preserve this gift, we must be passionate about it, dedicated to pursue it, and committed to sharing it with others.

Our History

During the 125th anniversary celebration of Transylvania County, NC in 1986, hundreds of people signed a petition encouraging the formation of a county museum. The Jim Bob Tinsley Museum, a non-profit organization, was opened in May 1994 in Brevard, NC. Bill Tinsley, Jim Bob's nephew, expanded the concept of the museum to include a Family Research Center.

In 2003, Tony Morrow, Director of the Jim Bob Tinsley Museum, convened a group of interested individuals and representatives from organizations in Transylvania County, and the Transylvania Heritage Coalition, Inc. (THC) was formed. The THC, now the ruling body of the Transylvania Heritage Museum, was incorporated by the State of NC and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was received from the IRS. This means donations and other gifts are tax deductible.

On December 23, 2007, the Jim Bob Tinsley Museum closed, making the space and many assets available for the Transylvania Heritage Museum (THM). Thanks to volunteers as well as Exhibit Planner Anna Fariello of Curatorial Insight, the THM opened in May 2008. It now houses temporary and permanent displays of heirlooms, artifacts, genealogical exhibits, vintage photographs, and other exhibits reflective of the history and heritage of the county.

On August 20, 2009, the Board of the Transylvania Heritage Coalition, Inc., approved a proposal for a new program: "Transylvania Genealogical Society to be organized as a self-supporting branch of the Coalition." This step would fulfill another of the Coalition's Goals, as stated above.

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