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Between 1926 and 1976 a father and son
team held the office of DeKalb County Clerk. Earl Joiner from
1926-1956 and Ralph Joiner from 1956-1976. It was Ralph's dream
that the old records and other memorabilia scattered throughout the
Courthouse could find a new, permanent home. He tagged numerous
items with notes to "save for museum".
In the early 1980s, under the direction
of DeKalb County Clerk Terry Desmond, Phyllis Kelley spent 18 months
cataloging and indexing the contents of the old vaults, which comprise
the bulk of materials in the Joiner History Room. As plans
progressed for the renovation of the Courthouse, new hope emerged that
some space might at last be found for a historical repository.
Negotiations with the proper county officials were successful.
Following the conclusion of the DeKalb County Sesquicentennial
celebration, which generated funds to pay for it, work began in 1988
to transform 400 square feet in the basement of the Courthouse into
the Joiner History Room. Dedicated to Ralph Joiner and his wife
Bertha for their efforts in preserving the county's historical
documents, and in memory of the late Earl Joiner, the room opened to
the public on May 4, 1989.
In 1998 negotiations between the
DeKalb County Board and the Sycamore Library Board arranged for the
collection to be transferred to space in the Library building. The move was made
in June 1998.
The Joiner History Room is staffed
by volunteers under the direction of County Historian Phyllis Kelley
and funded by donations and grants.
The Joiner History Rom is a
cooperative effort of the DeKalb County Board, DeKalb County
Judiciary, DeKalb County Finance Office, DeKalb County Central Plant
and DeKalb County citizens concerned with safeguarding their heritage
represented by the historical documents in our collection. |
