About Us

Our mission is to bring the people of the Lockport, IL area together to  preserve and share our family histories and our local heritage.

 "Preserving the past is our present to the future." 

The Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society is a volunteer staffed, 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in January  2002. 

In 2000, lifelong resident of Lockport, Dr. Reno G. Caneva, noticed a  sign on the new stone entrance to the parking lot at the South Public  Landing: "Lockport, an I & M Canal Town, 1830." Calculating that the  175th Anniversary of the area's first settler loomed not too far in the  distant future, Reno called friends with an idea about how to  commemorate the date. 

Reno proposed that an anniversary book be  produced.

Informal meetings eventually developed into a formal society  of individuals with bylaws and articles of incorporation as a  not-for-profit organization. The Society's Mission Statement has evolved  to include the collection, preservation and sharing of the family  histories and local heritage of the Lockport area. 

- We collect, preserve, and make accessible relevant information on the Lockport area.
The Archive committee is comprised of the Archivist, Genealogist,  Historian, and Librarian. The committee and its volunteers conduct oral  histories and catalogue family genealogies and local history.

- We promote an interest in the genealogy and history of the Lockport area.
The Membership's Outreach Committee and volunteers share local history and genealogy at Old Canal Days.

- We publish a Society newsletter and to issue other publications related to genealogy and history.  The Society publishes at least 10 newsletters each year.

- We foster high standards of research and professional ethics.
All officers and directors observe ethics, standards, and practices as set forth in the LAGHS Society Management Handbook.

- We work in cooperation with other organizations for the furtherance of these stated objectives.

The Society maintains the following: reciprocal newsletter exchanges;  joint event participation; memberships in the Lockport Chamber of  Commerce, National Genealogical  Society, Illinois State Genealogical Society, Illinois State Historical  Society, and Illinois Association of Museums. LAGHS special interest is  Dellwood Park and the preservation its history as a famous amusement  park of the early 1900s.