The Thomas Tolman Family was formally organized April 8, 1903 in Bountiful, Utah at the home of Judson Tolman. Judson had called together his sons and daughters along with the sons and daughters of his two deceased brothers, Cyrus and Benjamin Hewitt Tolman. The minutes of that meeting are preserved in Thomas Tolman Family Organization: A One-Hundred Year History

We do not have a record of the original name of the organization, but in 1935 it was called and reconfirmed in 1951 as the Nathan Tolman Family Organization after the father of the three brothers: Cyrus, Judson, and Benjamin Tolman.

Picture: Judson’s home in Bountiful, Utah

At the semi-annual April 8, 1962, it became known as the Thomas Tolman Family Organization, named after the immigrant ancestor of the Tolman family who was born in 1608 in England and arrived in America in the 1630s to settle in Dorchester, Massachusetts. As far as we know, all Tolmans in America descend from this Thomas Tolman.

In 1968, discussion began in family executive meetings about the need for a building where the numerous family records could be housed. At the April semi-annual meeting, Robert S. Tolman was appointed as chairman of a committee to investigate properties. The first members of the committee were William O. Tolman, Harold Hofhine, Stan Jones, and Eldon M. Tolman. By the October meeting, Robert Tolman had moved to Las Vegas for employment and LeVirl E. Tolman was asked to serve as chairman of the building committee. His brother L. Dean Tolman and L. DeVon Mecham joined the committee.

Picture: These six cousins spent a lot of time “hanging out” together in meetings, left to right: Harold L. Hofhine, LeVirl E. Tolman, Wilford H. Tolman, William O. Tolman, Eldon M. Tolman, and President Bion Tolman.

In the April 1969 semi-annual meeting LeVirl Tolman reported that the old Judson Tolman home had about 2 acres in Bountiful and 7 acres in Davis County and was to be sold between $47,000 and $58,000. LeVirl was asked to follow through on any leads. LeVirl E. Tolman reported at the October 1970 semi-annual meeting that the Judson Tolman property, which the family have been interested in acquiring, had been sold. Other properties were considered and in April of 1973 it was announced that property was purchased at 2937 South Orchard Drive in Bountiful. William O. Tolman was offered a house at no cost if the family would move it. A foundation basement was poured and the house was moved on top of it to provide the framework for the upstairs apartment of the family center. The building committee then consisted of brothers: LeVirl E. Tolman, L. Dean Tolman, and Cyrus Marshall Tolman with secretary JoAnn E. Curtis.

The October 1975 semi-annual meeting was held in the new family center, even though there was still much work to finish on the inside. It was decided in late October of 1976 that William O. Tolman, the family genealogist, would live in the family center, so he could better oversee the genealogical research. He, his wife and one daughter moved into the upstairs apartment in early 1977. To facilitate finishing the construction of the home, in August of 1977, L. DeVon Mecham called on cousins to honor or pay tribute to our ancestors by making a financial contribution to the home in their name.

Picture: A work room and vault being added to the main home to secure and safeguard family’s records.

When the Tolman Genealogy Center was dedicated July 7, 1978 it was completely finished and paid for. It was estimated that over 21,600 hours in volunteer labor and nearly $70,000 in donations from the family had been contributed (the equivalent of over $255,000 in 2016 dollars). Six hundred and forty-six attended the dedication service of the new family genealogy center, a very unique holding for a family organization.

Picture: Thomas Tolman Family Genealogy Center, 1978.

For nearly forty years, the family home  safeguarded and preserved the organization’s genealogy records and family histories in the large downstairs workroom and fireproof vault.  Cousins from all over the United States and Canada were invited to visit the genealogy center and contribute to the family’s genealogy efforts.  There were regular family work days and many were able to take advantage of the downstairs accommodations for overnight or longer-term stays. The downstairs apartment included two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, and a living room. Over the years, painstaking efforts yielded hundreds and thousands of names in the Thomas Tolman Family Tree for temple ordinances along with thousands of inspiring family histories.

With rapid advancements in family history technology, the need for a family organization genealogy center has declined in recent years. In May 2016, the family home was sold.  Proceeds from the home went to establishing a Tolman family exhibit in the Bountiful Museum and a modest endowment to help preserve the mission of the family organization. The Tolman family genealogy records and the corresponding family histories are now safeguarded and preserved on FamilySearch.org and thomastolmanfamily.org. The Thomas Tolman Family Genealogy Center will forever be a symbol of the sacrifice, commitment, and integrity of our ancestors who were dedicated to the value of family organizations, the preservation of genealogy and family history records, and the saving ordinances of the temple. This continues to be the mission of the organization.