Using Historical and Genealogical Societies for Genealogy
Historical and genealogical societies come in all shapes and sizes. You'll find them at the local, county, state, and national levels. All of them offer a variety of activities and resources. This topic tells you how historical and genealogical societies may help you in your research. Click any of the topics listed in the last paragraph of this topic to see the addresses, phone numbers, and services offered by a variety of historical and genealogical societies.
During the course of your genealogical research, you may come into contact with one of these societies. Joining or working with a historical or genealogical society can be a real boost to your research, because it's nice to know and speak with people who have interests similar to your own. However, if you contact a historical or genealogical society, you'll find out that they often have much more to offer than just moral support.
A genealogical society represents years of genealogical research experience. If you're having trouble with a specific problem, the staff or members may be able to offer hints to help you out. It's likely that someone else in the group has already been through the same problem.
Many historical and genealogical societies work to preserve records and other materials of historical or genealogical interest in their location. Some maintain libraries of their own where you may do research, and others donate their work to local universities and libraries. Societies with their own libraries often have a good collection of local history and local family histories. Contacting a society in the area where your ancestors lived may lead you to a book about your family, and can be a good way to learn where important information may be stored.
Historical and genealogical societies also have newsletters that can be invaluable in genealogical research. While the newsletters serve to inform readers of the society's work and meetings, they also publish regional genealogical and historical information that has not been published elsewhere. This is often information that the society has collected itself, such as epitaphs from local cemeteries, or local records or documents that are thought to be of genealogical use. In addition, many people looking for relatives in a specific location put ads in the genealogical newsletter in that location. It is quite possible that you could see an ancestor's name in a society newsletter.
African-American Genealogy Group
Their archives and reference book collection will be available beginning in September of 1994. Please contact them for more information.
African-American Genealogy Group
P.O. Box 27356
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Telephone: (215) 572-6063
Web site: http://www.aagg.org/
Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society
The 14 chapters sponsor workshops and conferences. They also have a bi-monthly newsletter, AAHGS News, a journal, and can offer research referrals. Many of the local chapters are starting genealogy book collections.
P.O. Box 73067
Washington, D.C. 20056-3067
Telephone: (202) 234-5350
Web site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdaahgs/
American Family Records Association
Publishes Family Records Today and The Journal of American Family Records.
Genealogical assistance by the staff, genealogy conferences, queries answered, and a large reference collection.
P.O. Box 15505
Kansas City, MO 64106
Telephone: (816) 252-0950
E-mail: [email protected]
American Society of Genealogists
Publishes The Genealogist
American Society of Genealogists
P.O. Box 1515
Derry, NH 03038-1515
Web site: http://www.fasg.org/
Daughters of the American Revolution
Library, museum, scholarships, membership, and membership benefits.
Publishes Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine
The Daughters of the American Revolution Library is a private, non-circulating library with over 100,000 books and thousands of files relating to American history and genealogy. It was established in 1896 for DAR staff genealogists, but is now open to the public. Non-members must pay a small entrance fee.
The DAR Library collection includes books pertaining to genealogy and American and local history. Among their special collections are Genealogical Records Committee Reports from all 50 states, which contain selected Bible records, cemetery transcriptions, court record abstracts, censuses, military records, and vital records. They also have files which document DAR membership applications, 25,000 family histories, a collection of genealogical research notes and personal letters, a Native American collection, genealogical periodicals, and city directories. In addition, there is also special collection devoted to the history of the American Revolution, the formation of the Union, and the Constitution.
1776 D Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006-5303
Telephone: (202) 628-4780
Web site: http://dar.library.net/
Federation of Genealogical Societies
Seminars to help with genealogy research, conferences.
Publishes FGS Forum
P.O. Box 200940
Austin, TX 78720-0940
Telephone: 888-FGS-1500
Fax: 888-380-0500
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.fgs.org/
Genealogical Association of English Speaking Researchers in Europe
Publishes Family Finder
CMR 420, Box 142
APO AE 09063
Web site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~eurgaesr/
Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies
Most Jewish Genealogical Societies hold Beginner's Workshops, have monthly meetings, publish a newsletter, and have a collection of genealogical reference materials. They also have several special-interest groups, which focus on a particular region of the world, such as Lithuania or Romania. Each summer the Association co-sponsors a Summer Seminar either in a U.S. city or an overseas location.
Please note that there are over 60 Jewish Genealogical Societies (JGSs) throughout the world, fifty of which are in the U.S. and Canada. To find the Jewish Genealogical Society nearest you, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address above. You can also send a blank e-mail message to [email protected] or visit the following Web site: http://www.jewishgen.org/ajgs/ajgs-jgss.html
Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (AJGS)
P.O. Box 50245
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Telephone (415) 424-1622
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.jewishgen.org/ajgs/ajgs-jgss.html
The Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America
The Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America publishes books containing background information needed by family history researchers with an interest in Latin American countries, the colonial Hispanic United States, and Spain. Many of the books are available in both English and Spanish.
The Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America is also working on the Surname History Project. The main purpose of this project is to compile histories of common Hispanic surnames.
Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America
2191 S. 2200 E.
Mt. Springs, Utah 84757
Telephone (435) 652-1710
Fax (435) 674-5787
Email [email protected]
Website: www.kolobfamilyresearch.com
National Genealogical Society (NGS)
The collection of the National Genealogical Society includes family and local histories, Bible records, and genealogical periodicals. They also have U.S. census indexes and a collection of European and military history books.
A home study course, genealogical publications for purchase, library and library loan service, research service, conferences, and a computer interest group.
Publishes National Genealogical Society Quarterly, NGS Newsletter and NGS/CIG Digest
National Genealogical Society
Computer Interest Group (CIG)
4527 17th Street, North
Arlington, VA 22207-2399
Telephone (703) 525-0050
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/
The New England Historic Genealogical Society
NEHGS is the oldest and largest genealogical society in the United States. With the membership count currently at 16,500, and with 200 new members each month, they are also one of the fastest-growing!
The New England Historic Genealogical Society was founded in 1845 to collect, preserve, and publish family and local histories, mainly from New England. The collection has now grown to more than 180,000 books and microforms, and encompasses genealogies and local histories from the United States, Canada, and European and other countries throughout the world. In addition to their non-circulating collection, they also offer a circulating library of 20,000 volumes and an unparalleled collection of manuscripts.
The collection of the New England Historic Genealogical Society concentrates on New England. They have censuses, vital records, town histories, and church records for most New England States, and especially for Massachusetts. In addition, they have selected records for the remainder of the United States, as well as Canada, England, Ireland, and parts of Europe.
The New England Historic Genealogical Society
101 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116-3007
Telephone: (617) 536-5740
Web site: www.nehgs.org