Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Andalusia Public Library received a generous donation of titles and research equipment from the family of Wyley D. Ward.

A native of Covington County, Ward served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1956. Later, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and had a successful career as an analytical engineer and supervisor for NASA. Upon retirement, Ward returned to Covington County to pursue his passion of researching and sharing his knowledge of local history.

Through his research, Ward amassed a wealth of information about the beginnings of Covington County, its families, politics, and early industry. The topics of Wyley Ward’s publications include the ancestries of several families in Covington and surrounding counties, the early industries of the area, Alabama politics, and even his time at NASA.

Library director Sara Mixson said Ward’s titles “Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County,” and “The Folks from Pea Ridge” along with other titles have long served as a valuable part of the reference collection of the Andalusia Public Library.

“We are thankful that the Ward family shared the remainder of this collection with us so that Mr. Ward’s vast knowledge can continue to benefit academic researchers and local history buffs for years to come,” Mixson said. In addition to his publications, the family also donated Mr. Ward’s microfilm reader to allow in-house access to the existing collection of census and local newspapers on microfilm.

While these books will not be available for checkout, they may be used in an area dedicated to study and research located upstairs in the genealogy department.

For more information, call 334-222-6612 or visit andalusiapl.booksys.net/opac/apl/index.html.