Van Zandt County accepts historical commission report; group seeks climate‑controlled space and volunteers

Susie Bass, a member of the Van Zandt County Historical Commission, presented the commission's 2025 annual report to the commissioners court and asked for help expanding storage and volunteer capacity.

"We ended our budget here... with $6,983.79," Bass said, adding that the commission relies entirely on volunteers and has logged "over 4,000" volunteer hours. She described a major scanning effort to make photographs and records searchable online, outreach through Facebook and Instagram, book sales and an oral‑history project intended to preserve residents' recollections for future research.

Bass also said the commission is organizing a working group with the county's 11 small museums to coordinate programming and increase impact. She encouraged residents to volunteer and visit the genealogy library during posted hours.

Commissioners asked about specific needs. Bass cited three priorities: money, volunteer time and larger, climate‑controlled storage for fragile collections. A member of the court suggested that space in the renovated old courthouse could serve as room for expanded collections and public access, and staff said they would consider how departments will be allocated between the courthouse and a new annex.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to accept the historical commission's annual report. The motion was seconded, put to a voice vote and carried.

The court did not set a specific funding commitment during the meeting but directed staff to continue discussions about space allocation and preservation requirements.