Genealogical Societies

What was the first genealogical society you joined? Why did you join it? What societies are you a member of?

These are the questions for this week’s Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. Since me genealogical journey started 30 years ago, I’m unsure which was the first society I joined.

I’m guessing it was the Kansas Genealogical Society – which sounds like a statewide society but is actually a society focusing on Dodge City, Ford County and Southwest Kansas. Since my research began in Dodge City, this society was a great resource. This was pre-internet times where research involved traveling to libraries and courthouses or getting information in the mail. Their Treesearcher publication would arrive every three months full of valuable transcripts of information. When I would visit my grandmother in Dodge City, I would visit their library to do research.

During those early days of my genealogy journey, the mail was my primary connection to records, other researchers and learning opportunities. I was a subscriber to Everton’s Genealogical Helper and would pour thru each issue looking for potential cousins to contact.

It was thru the mail that I received some of my best genealogical education. The National Genealogical Society, of which I was (and am) a member, offered a course thru the mail. This course forced me to learn to use a variety of records and to learn about records available locally.

Thru the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies, I was able to travel to Salt Lake City and spend a week researching in the Family History Library. During that week, I was there when the doors opened and usually leaving the library as they were closing for the night. I came home with a pile of copies of records – primarily land records that helped me make tremendous strides with my research.

Over the years, my memberships have varied – but all have been selected to support my research or genealogical education.

Today, one of the societies I belong to is the Topeka Genealogical Society. Even though this society publishes a great journal, it is the educational opportunities that I find the most valuable. Each year they have a conference with a nationally recognized speaker. During this past year they helped sponsor a DNA conference. About once a month, I participate in two study groups hosted by the society. I thoroughly enjoy getting together with other researchers and learning from them.

With the abundance of resources available on the Internet, it would be easy to isolate myself in my office to research my family history. However, I think my research and my skills would become stagnant if I isolated myself in that way. Thus, I will continue to join societies so I can connect with other researchers and learn how to be a better family historian.