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THE HISTORY OF THE IMPERIAL POLK COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

 

We are a 501c non-profit organization that fosters Genealogical research. The Imperial Polk County Genealogical Society (IPGS) convened its inaugural meeting at the residence of its first president, Alvie Davidson, on September 30, 1981. Fifteen attendees were recognized as charter members, and the initial roster listed forty-three members. Open to all with an interest in genealogical research, the society welcomed both annual and lifetime memberships. Officially chartered in January 1983, IPGS reported a membership of seventy-one individuals.

Under strong leadership and a clear mission, the Society flourished into a structured non-profit entity. Regular monthly meetings featured business sessions, educational programs with renowned speakers, research support, and community project involvement. Members organized annual seminars with notable speakers like Judy G. Russell and Lisa Louise Cooke, drawing attendees from across Florida.

The Society's members had amassed a resource library housed at Contractor’s Way in Lakeland. Following the sale of the building in 2011, the collection was gifted to the Quintilla Geer Burton Archives Center, managed by the East Hillsborough Historical Society in Plant City, Hillsborough County, approximately fifteen miles from downtown Lakeland.

Over time, IPGS's membership has spanned across Polk County, encompassing Auburndale, Bartow, Bradley Junction, Davenport, Ft. Meade, Frostproof, Highland City, Kathleen, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Polk City, and Winter Haven.

The Society's reach extended to nearby regions, including Bradley and Brandon in Hillsborough County, Dade City, Land O’ Lakes, Lithia, Plant City, and Valrico, and even out-of-state, with members hailing from North Carolina and Texas.

Members' research interests have been diverse, covering surnames and locales across the United States and beyond, fostering collaborative efforts internationally.

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