GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES

One of the best investments you can make is to join a genealogical society, particularly one based in the area where your family originated.

There are more than 3,000 genealogical societies in the U.S. Local society usually collates cemetery or marriage records. They can provide access to material that otherwise would have entailed visits to multiple repositories.

Genealogical societies also give you access to advice and specialized knowledge of experienced researchers. Genealogical research can be a solitary business, but once you join a group you may discover others have been researching different branches of your family.

You will also be able to improve your skills by drawing on the experience of other members. Many societies hold seminars and educational sessions that are extremely helpful.

There are also family history societies that focus on the genealogy of a single region, community or family. They are usually run by the descendents of immigrants who aim to understand their origins.

Membership costs for these societies is generally reasonable and usually ranges from $10-$50 a year.

You can find listings of societies across the country in libraries in the Genealogical Periodical Annual Index (GPAI). Click here for the 2000 version.

You can cross-reference what each genealogical society has published by searching under surnames, topics of interest, or under locality.