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Finding Genealogical and Historical Societies
Information for state historical and genealogical societies are on state societies pages. Click the state below.

Genealogical Societies
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is an umbrella organization of over 450 genealogical societies. FGS does not do genealogical research. Their business office can identify local genealogical societies and supply their addresses and telephone numbers.

Federation of Genealogical Societies P.O. Box 200940 Austin, TX 78720-0940 Telephone: 1-888-FGS-1500 Fax: 1-866-FGS-1350 Website Email: use FGS contact form

You may also be interested in the activities and services of the National Genealogical Society. Founded in 1903, NGS is a nonprofit dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, and the preservation of genealogical records. It is the premier national society for everyone from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, and guidance in research. NGS sponsors research trips, an annual conferences and publishes the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and NGS Magazine. The address is: National Genealogical Society 6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 810 Falls Church, VA 22207 Telephone: 703-525-0050 Website

Historical Societies
American Association for State and Local History 1717 Church St Nashville TN 37203 AASLH

AASLH provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans.

Lineage and Hereditary Societies
Soon after the American Revolution, prominent citizens began to form exclusive social organizations and join hereditary and patriotic societies. Many societies were organized in the late 1880s and 1890s when membership in these organizations became very popular.

These societies are generally involved in educational, cultural, social, and other programs to preserve the documents and memory of the past. They often maintain libraries and museums that can help you in your research. Most publish a periodical or newsletter, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine.

One of your ancestors or relatives may have submitted application papers containing his pedigree in order to join a lineage society. These records often include multi-generation pedigrees and information from family Bibles, death records, or military documents. They may also lead you to someone else interested in your family. Unfortunately, these papers have not always been carefully documented, but they can provide excellent clues for further research. Some societies allow only members to use their records.

The Family History Library has over 2,000 microfilms and numerous books of society records. These include application papers, yearbooks, ancestor rolls, membership rosters, and publications of the societies. For example, the library has microfilm copies of a card index and 100,000 applications for membership in:


 * Sons of the American Revolution. Membership Information, 1776-1996

The library also has major collections from the following societies:


 * General Society of Colonial Wars
 * General Society of Mayflower Descendants
 * Holland Society of New York
 * National Society of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century
 * National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
 * Daughters of the Revolution of 1776 (DOR or DR) FHL has online index
 * National Society of New England Women
 * National Society, Sons of the American Revolution

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is the largest and most popular lineage society in the United States. It has had over 188,000 members and several chapters in each state. This society actively encourages members to locate and transcribe records useful to genealogists. An index to the Revolutionary ancestors of DAR applicants is:


 * Daughters of the American Revolution, Millennial Administration. DAR Patriot Index

Addresses, membership requirements, and information about most lineage and hereditary societies are in:


 * Register of U.S. Lineage Societies This register gives call numbers and describes many of the society records available at the Family History Library.
 * The Hereditary Register of the United States of America

Fraternal Organizations
Your ancestor or relative may have belonged to an association, lodge, or secret society whose membership is based on common interests, religion, or ethnicity. Many sources, such as local histories, biographies, obituaries, tombstones, family records, and artifacts may give you clues that an ancestor belonged to a fraternal society. Examples of these societies include:


 * Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (Freemasonry)
 * Ancient Order of Hibernians of America
 * Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
 * International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)
 * Knights of the Maccabees
 * Lithuanian Alliance of America
 * Loyal Order of Moose was organized in 1888, it is a fraternal organization focused on the needs of families, children in need, and seniors. The headquarters is in Mooseheart, Illinois.
 * Modern Woodmen of America was organized 1883 in Iowa, a fraternal benefit society. It offers financial services and fraternal member benefits throughout the US. The headquarters are in Rock Island, Illinois.
 * Order of The Eastern Star

These societies were involved in political, social, and financial activities. Around 1900, for example, there were over 2,000,000 members involved in fraternal insurance programs.

For more information about fraternal societies, see Alvin J. Schmidt, Fraternal Organizations. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1980.

The records of fraternal organizations may exist in a society or business archive. Some genealogical information may be obtained through correspondence. Family History Library has histories of fraternal societies but very few records. In the FamilySearch Catalog, find:

Most information about fraternal organizations in the Author/Title Search under the organization name.

Some organization histories are in the Place Search under the locality, then topics such as SOCIETIES, GENEALOGY, HISTORY, OCCUPATIONS, MINORITIES, and PUBLIC RECORDS.

Ethnic Societies
Chinese Historical Society of America

http://www.chsa.org/

"The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum opened in its landmark Julia Morgan-designed Chinatown YWCA building in 2001. Founded in 1963, CHSA is the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to the documentation, study, and presentation of Chinese American history. Through exhibitions, publications, and educational, public programming, CHSA promotes the contributions and legacy of Chinese America."