British Columbia Genealogical Society

The British Columbia Genealogical Society, Canada

British Columbia Genealogical Society Website

Benefits

 * Members receive the Society's quarterly journal and all newsletters and email updates.
 * Members may attend Society meetings, events and other activities for free, or for certain seminars and events, at reduced fees.
 * Only members have borrowing privileges at the Society's Walter Draycott Library.
 * The Society has arranged certain discounts and privileges for members.
 * Non-members interested in genealogy and family history are welcome to attend meetings and most events and activities, either free or at a nominal cost. They may use the free resources on the Society's website, including the 1901 British Columbia census index and the resources for British Columbia obituary, cemetery and newspaper research. Research services and other assistance is available at a nominal cost.

History of the society

 * The Society began in 1971, and is incorporated in British Columbia and recognized with charitable status by the Canada Revenue Agency. The Society is a member of the British Columbia Historical Federation, the Canadian Historical Association and the Federation of Family History Societies.

Society Officers

 * A full list of current Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs is on the Society's website.

Current Society Projects

 * on-going indexing of British Columbia obituaries and newspaper clippings.
 * on-going indexing of British Columbia community histories and local history books.
 * on-going transcriptions and photography of British Columbia cemeteries. Learn more about the BC Genealogical Society's Cemetery Committee here.

Coming Soon
Members are now digitizing the Society's earliest cemetery publications and name indexes are being prepared and will be available online soon. Many of the inscriptions on British Columbia headstones recorded in past years are no longer readable or the stones may have been damaged or removed, so older cemetery recordings may have information found nowhere else.

Members are updating the British Columbia War Memorials book which is being revised for publication in 2014, the anniversary of the start of World War I.

A members' only area for the British Columbia Genealogical Society website is being set up.

Past Projects

 * Indexing of the 1901 Canadian census for British Columbia. This index is now available free on the Society's website. The Society has co-operated with the VIHistory.ca website in allowing the 1901 data for Vancouver Island to be available there as well.
 * Indexing of the 1886 Voters' List for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. Now available as a book, Vancouver Voters, 1886.

Publications

 * See the Society's website for an up to date list of cemetery and other genealogical publications on the Society's Publication Sales page. Many libraries have these publications in their collections, including the Family History Library.

Newsletter and Journal

 * The Offspring, a free e-newsletter, is available to download on the Society's website under 'Publication Archives'.
 * The Society's quarterly journal, The British Columbia Genealogist, is mailed to members and exchange societies four times a year. Regular features include articles by members and others on worldwide genealogy, book reviews, and members' indexes (usually relating to Canada). Contributions are welcomed. See the Society's website for an index to journal articles (1971 on) and for the Editor's contact information.

Collections

 * The Society's Walter Draycott Library has over 14,000 worldwide genealogical publications, and microformat resources, and as well significant collections of publications, indexes, card and clipping files relating to Briitish Columbia, Canada.

Events and Field Trips

 * Seminars - The Society holds at least one genealogical seminar each year, offers a free Library Week each July with speakers and workshops each day, as well as other events throughout the year.
 * Field Trips - The Society sponsors local field trips to archives and libraries, and also yearly field trips to Salt Lake City, Utah, usually in October.

Society Meetings

 * The Society has a general meeting the second Tuesday of each month in Burnaby, BC.
 * Special Interest Groups meet either at general meetings or at other times in the month.
 * See the website for locations, times, and contact names and details for all meetings or call the BCGS Library or email the BCGS webmaster.

Board Meetings

 * The Society's Board meets momthly. Contact a Board member for information. Board and Committee Chair's contact details are on the website or contact the BCGS webmaster or call the BCGS Library.

Frequently Asked Questions
'''Q. I live in British Columbia, but my research interest is outside of British Columbia, Canada. Should I still join the BC Genealogical Society?'''

A. Yes! Most Society members are researching outside the province, although many have British Columbia, Canada roots.

The Society's Library collections reflect this, and are particularly strong for the United Kingdom and Ireland, for Scandinavia, and for Canada, including Quebec.

The Society's Special Interest Groups currently include Canada, Chinese, Computer, DNA, English, European, First Nations, Irish, Metis, Quebec, Scandinavian, Scottish, United States.

Joining a local society gives you access to all its resources and meeting with others who are enthusiastic and knowlegeable about genealogy and family history will benefit you greatly.

'''Q. My family has British Columbia roots. What resources does the Society have for British Columbia researchers?'''

A. The Society's members' have been researching British Columbia for over 40 years and have developed many unique resources including extensive surname indexes and files, obituary clipping files, census indexes, an indexed British Columbia history book collection, and cemetery listings and photographs from all over British Columbia. Access to these is available in person at the BCGS Walter Draycott Library or through the Society's BC Research Committee's query services.

''' Q. What are the directions to the Society's Library? '''

A. The Society's Walter Draycott Library is at Unit 211, 12837 - 76th Avenue, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. A map and other information is available on the website.

Please note the MAILING ADDRESS is: British Columbia Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 88054, Lansdowne Mall,  Richmond, BC, CANADA, V6X 3T6

Q. What are the Society's Library's hours of operation?

A.The Society's Library is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, unless these days fall on a statuatory holiday (or unless it snows). Please call the Library at 604 502 9119 or see the website for updated information.