By Haley Mitchell Godwin 

The Alabama Room, located inside the Hayneville/Lowndes County Public Library, is a not-for-profit organization that provides genealogical research books and materials to help trace family history as well as preserve that history. The project relies solely on donations and fundraisers to survive.

This year’s fundraising project for the self-funded research room is the  Alabama Room Cookbook-priceless treasures of today and yesteryear. A request for people to send in their recipes was made via the group’s Facebook page and many members of the community and surrounding areas sent in their old and new family recipes. One area of the book is dedicated to the old recipes of ancestors and friends that have passed on. The books are now on sale for $25.00 each. 

“This research room was created because you had to go to other places to get information about Lowndes County and now, we have information not only from our county, but also surrounding counties here in the Alabama Room 02,” said Helen Phillips, a member of the Alabama Room committee. “We also have books and things from other southern states since folks came from other areas to settle here.  Research papers that were completed many years ago, via the old fashion way with no computers, only trips to court houses and lots of foot work, are available for viewing. The library is very gracious to let us have this space, However, we are an independent group and rely on fundraisers like this and donations only. We purchase historical books, family histories-things of that nature. We also buy supplies. We use a lot of copy paper to make copies at .25 each  and a lot of ink to provide visitors to the Alabama room copies of various things that they can take with them.”

Brenda Bodiford-Waldrip of Brantley has ancestral ties to Lowndes County and is looking forward to getting her hands on the Alabama Room cookbook. 

“I am excited about visiting the Alabama Room and buying a cookbook filled with old recipes,” Bodiford-Waldrip said. “It will be an interesting addition to my cookbook collection. Members in my family tree lived in Lowndes County in the 1800s before they moved to Coffee and Pike Counties eventually making their way to Crenshaw County. The Alabama Room Facebook group is very interactive with its followers and provides great information. Access to knowledgeable and friendly people who enjoy sharing this history will make the short drive to Hayneville to get a copy of the cookbook a joy.”

The Alabama Room Cookbook has around 800 scrumptious recipes inside with close to 150 of those in the Yesteryear category. This tried and true recipe collection from dozens of great cooks from Lowndes and surrounding counties are available to purchase for o$25.00 at the Hayneville/Lowndes County Public Library or by requesting through email to hlnphi55@gmail.com .

To make a donation, or inquire about open volunteer opportunities, please send and email to hlnphi55@gmail.com .