Genealogical Society of Utah

The Genealogical Society of Utah was organized on November 13,1894, in the Church Historian's Office. The founding members of the organization included: Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, John Nicholson, James H. Anderson, Amos Milton Musser, Lorenzo Snow,Franklin D. Richards, James B. Walkley, Abraham H. Cannon, George Reynolds, John Jaques, and Duncan McAllister.

Organizational Purposes in 1894
 * "Benevolent in collecting, compiling, establishing and maintaining a genealogical library for the use and benefit of its members and others'
 * "Educational in disseminating information regarding genealogical matters'
 * "Religious in acquiring records for deceased persons in connection with ordinances of the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as that religion is understood in the doctrines and discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and set forth in the revelations of God"

The GSU is an incorporated, nonprofit educational institution entirely funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA with local representatives in all parts of the world.The Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) is dedicated to gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical information throughout the world.

Microfilm
In 1938 the GSU began microfilming records in the United States of America. After the end of World War II the GSU began microfilming projects internationally.
 * Kahile B. Mehr. Preserving the source : early microfilming efforts of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1938-1950.Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University, 1985. FHL 369.1 M474p

FamilySearch International
In the 1990's, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expanded the Genealogical Society of Utah and it eventually became known as FamilySearch. During the 1990's, Monte J. Brough, a General Authority and Executive Director of the Family History Department and president of the Genealogical Society of Utah, conceived of an Internet genealogy service which he proposed to church leaders. His ideas eventually developed into what today is known as FamilySearch.org. In 1999, the new website, FamilySearch.org, went live, providing an online medium for making genealogical records easily available to the public anywhere in the world at no cost. In 2005 the Genealogical Society of Utah began operating as FamilySearch International.

Presidents of the Genealogical Society of Utah
Franklin D. Richards, 1894-1899 Anthon H. Lund, 1900-1921 Charles W. Penrose, 1921-1925 Anthony W. Ivins, 1925-1934 Joseph Fielding Smith, 1934-1961 Junius Jackson, 1961-1962 N. Eldon Tanner, 1963 Howard W. Hunter, 1964-1972 Theodore M. Burton, 1972-1978 J. Thomas Fyans, 1978 Royden G. Derrick, 1979-1984 Richard G. Scott, 1984-1988 J. Richard Clarke, 1988-1993 Monte J. Brough, 1993-1998 Richard E. Turley, Jr., 2000-2008

LDS Church and Family History page gives more details.

Websites

 * Genealogical Society of Utah

Reference Sources - FamilySearch Catalog

 * James B. Allen, Jesse L. Embry, Kahlile B. Mehr. Hearts turned to the fathers : a history of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994. Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, 1995
 * Merrill S. Lofthouse. A brief history of the Genealogical Society of Utah typescript, 1966
 * Articles of association and by-laws of the Genealogical Society of Utah
 * Harry H. Russell. Move of the Genealogical Society to the Joseph F. Smith Memorial Building, 1933 [S.l. : s.n., 1941? FHL film 25546