Benefits of Lineage/Heritage Societies

In her article, "Benefits of Lineage Societies," Melissa Slate observes, "Some people have the mistaken notion that these are little more than clubs for people who wish to claim bragging rights to famous ancestors; however, lineage societies provide many beneficial services." Lineage or heritage societies as they are sometimes called, represents one of those underutilized but potentially valuable resources. And if you don't know where to look for a lineage society or aren't sure what's available, the article directs to a useful listing of societies. You might be surprised at what you find.

The Worth of Genealogy Societies

Genealogy societies, historically, have been a real blessing to genealogy research; not only in direct services they provide, but in their original research and in their publications. With the advent of the web, local genealogy societies are struggling to retain membership and interest. In her article, "The Worth of Genealogy Societies," Gena Philibert-Ortega reviews the services of national and local genealogical societies, and provides links to genealogy societies for each state.

Palentines of America aids German research

A recent genealogy column in the TribStar introduces those who might not be familiar, to the Palentines of America and its usefulness to German research. The article reports, if you visit the Web site at www.palam.org you will learn that Palatines to America (Pal Am) is a “German genealogy society dedicated to the study of ancestors from all German-speaking lands. The society takes its name from the fact that some of the earliest German-speaking immigrants to the American colonies came from a region in present-day Germany known as the Palatinate (Pfälz) and were called Palatines (Pfälzers). The founding members of Pal Am all had ancestors from this area of Germany.” For information on the national society along with its state chapters, visit www.palam.org.

Society offers "virtual surname wall"

Here's a novel idea, the Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library has recently introduced a “virtual surname wall” on its Web site that is free and open to the public, as reported on TribStar.com, "Genealogy: 'Virtual surname wall' is handy online tool," According to Society's web site, www.scgsgenealogy.com, the wall “provides a worry-free way to post information about your ancestors online and find others who are researching your families.” So, far, more than 1,000 family researchers have contributed their information to the virtual surname wall. The site allows participants to post up to 10 names and posts a disclaimer regarding the accuracy of information posted. There is one more caveat, "Participation in the project is your authorization to include your surname information in any printed or searchable online databases that may be developed."

Utilizing Genealogy Societies

Most family history researchers appreciate the value of consulting genealogy societies in their quest for information. The business of genealogical societies is the preservation of historical records within the local area; thus, being on-site in your area of interest, genealogical societies are a valuable resource. In addition to conducting original research within the area and publishing indexes, compiliations, and periodic journals, genealogical societies also compile libraries of information related to the area. In her article, "Utilizing Genealogy Societies," Gena Philibert-Ortega provides information on contacting genealogy societies in your area of interest, as well as tips and hints for requesting information.

Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society

As reported in the Terre Haute Tribune Star, "Genealogy: Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society prepares for 29th annual conference," the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society Inc. was founded with the goal of preserving the family histories of those individuals with African ancestry. The organization promotes cultural diversity by its focus on genealogy and historical research. Its national headquarters are in Washington, D.C.

The Society plans to stage its 29th annual conference this year in the Boston area. Titled “What’s in a Name . . . The Voyage of Discovery,” the conference will be staged Oct. 25-28 in the Boston Marriott Burlington Hotel, Burlington, Mass. The conference will feature more than 30 sessions, six historical tours, and a workshop on National Archives records. More information and the registration brochure can be downloaded from the www.aahgs.org Web site.

Traditional genealogy societies struggle to survive

An article on About.com, "Save Your Genealogy Society - Become Involved!," explores the problems facing genealogical societies today and encourages participation. Learn more about this issue and what you can do to help support these institutions that we have relied on so heavily in the past.

Review of The National Genealogical Society

Most researchers are well aware of the National Genealogical Society and its contributions to the field. Some may not be aware of the early history and many services offered by the Society. In his article, "The National Genealogical Society," Alan Smith provides a brief history of its beginnings and holdings today, in addition to a review of its educational offerings.

The Genealogical Society of Utah, its function and services

In the article, The Genealogical Society of Utah, Donnie Boursaw attempts to clarify misinformation and help readers understand the function of the Genealogical Society of Utah and its services.