The following is a condensed version of Ms Crocker’s obituary that appeared in the Post Journal.
Elizabeth L. Crocker………..was the county’s first historian, and continued to serve in that capacity for more than 30 years after her appointment in 1965. ………. Through the years, she also served as secretary and president of the New York Association of County Historians.
As both a historian and genealogist, she spent many hours assisting teachers and others engaged in historical research. She committed time and energy to helping place historic buildings and areas on the National Register of Historic Places. She also worked to remark the graves of more than 60 Revolutionary War soldiers from Chautauqua County.
She was very proud of the cooperation and accomplishments of the 38 municipal historians who are appointed by municipal governments across the county. The local historians meet twice a year and are responsible to their state and local governments for annual reports.
She was extremely active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, having served as the New York state librarian and New York state chair of public relations. Before her death, she was the registrar of the local Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the DAR, where she had spent considerable time assisting members with genealogical research.
She was the author of a series of books called Yesterday in and around Pomfret, and wrote numerous articles to assist others researching local history and genealogy.
Before becoming county historian, Miss Crocker also served as Pomfret town historian. Her colleagues in the community recognized her many times and declared Nov. 11, 1975 as “Elizabeth Crocker Day.” , The Zonta Club of the Dunkirk Fredonia had honored her as “Woman of the Year.” She also was presented with the American Legion’ , “Americanism Medal” and a certificate of commendation from the American associations for state and local history.
A life member of the Chautauqua County Historical Society since 1948, she devoted many hours of research at the historical society’s McClurg Museum in Westfield. She spent many of her
evenings and weekends assisting researchers and genealogists by escorting them through cemeteries and directing them to repositories of historic records throughout the county
