The Society of Genealogists
The Society of Genealogists was established in 1911 and maintains a splendid
genealogical library and education centre in Clerkenwell in London.
The Society’s collections are particularly valuable for research before the start of civil registration of births marriages and deaths in 1837 but there is plenty for the beginner too, including the Free Access area where beginners can get a taste of some of the online sources that will help them start their research.
The Society has many unique unpublished manuscript notes and printed and unpublished family histories. Its library contains Britain’s largest collection of parish register copies and transcripts and many nonconformist registers. In addition the library holds local histories, copies of churchyard gravestone inscriptions, poll books, trade directories, census indexes and a wealth of information about the parishes where our ancestors lived.
Many of the Society’s unique collections and indexes are online either through commercial partnerships with the British Origins or Findmypast websites or, more recently, on its own exclusive members’ area of its website.
Education has always been a key part of the Society’s aims. Its mission is to encourage people to further their own learning about genealogy and family history in an enjoyable and informal atmosphere.
It has decided to add online courses to its extensive education programme of study days, lectures and evening classes along with workshops demonstrating computer programs and databases of use to family historians. Online courses can be delivered to members and to anyone interested anywhere in the world. Pharos was selected as a course provider due to the experience of its instructors, the reasonable cost to the students and its location in the UK yet with a wide reach to elsewhere.
The first course to be offered is I’m Stuck – How can the Society of Genealogists Help Me?
This short two week course will cover the steps you need to take in order to start solving your research brick walls and will provide an introduction to the wide range of records and resources the Society has to offer. Society members get a discount. Email the Membership Secretary for a Discount Code.
Further courses are now being considered.
Membership of the Society is £45 per year (overseas membership is £27) plus a one-off joining fee of £10.
More details about the Society, including its free online library catalogue, can be found on its extensive website
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