About Collin County Book Co.

Alice Ellison Pitts started publishing books about Collin County, Texas, in 1975, more than 30 years ago. Minnie Pitts Champ, her daughter, is carrying on that career through the company, Collin County Book Co.

On 15 November 2007, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alice Ellison Pitts was celebrated.  She was born in Collin County on 15 November 1907 to Zona & Minnie Colvin Ellison on their farm south of Princeton.  Zona & Minnie Ellison bought land which is still held by their Granddaughter Minnie Pitts Champ. 

Alice Ellison Pitts began her publishing career with Collin County, Texas, Cemetery Inscriptions. She personally copied Collin County cemetery markers (with two McKinney ladies) for six years in summers and in winters. This book contains all the public cemeteries in Collin County and has become the ‘Genealogy Bible’ for Collin County.

Pitts typed the collected information on a manual typewriter, sorted and prepared the surname index by hand and paid for the publication of the book out of her own personal funds. Until her death on September 27, 1983, she continued to publish and market the books developed from her passion for the history of her native Collin County. In early 1983 she started a new book on early Collin County families which was published in her memory in 1994 entitled Collin County, Texas, Families. 

Pitts was a member of several Collin County organizations and worked diligently to leave a heritage for future residents.