Research Aids

Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association
The Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association, Inc. web site is a place for learning about and helping preserve and protect Fairfax County, Virginia™'s endangered cemeteries. Check back often to learn about current projects, what volunteers are doing and how you can help.

Fairfax County History Commission
The Fairfax County History Commission was established by the County of Fairfax in 1969 to help identify, document, record, and preserve the county's historic past in Northern Virginia. The commission's 20 members are appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and meets on the first Wednesday of every month. Its accomplishments and projects in progress are detailed in an Annual Report submitted to the Board of Supervisors.

The Virginia Room
The Virginia Room is a major facility for doing genealogical research in the Fairfax area. It is located at 10360 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030-2514. Phone: (703) 293-6383 E-mail:va_room@fairfaxcounty.gov

Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society – Richmond, VA
http://aahgsrichmondva.com
The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. (AAHGS)
mission is to preserve African-ancestored family history, genealogy, and
cultural diversity by teaching research techniques and disseminating
information throughout the community. In addition, AAHGS’s goals are to
promote scholarly research, provide resources for historical and
genealogical studies, create a network of people with similar interests, and
assist members in documenting their histories.

Augusta County Genealogical Society - Virginia
https://www.acgsva.org/
The Augusta County Genealogical Society (ACGS) is organized to help
preserve genealogical records and public access to them, furnish aid and
education in genealogical research, and foster and encourage interest in
genealogical research. Located in Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The
research team can research documents in the Augusta County Courthouse.

Burke Historical Society - Virginia
http://www.burkehistoricalsociety.org/
The mission of the Burke Historical Society is to preserve and promote the
history of Burke, Virginia. The Society presents programs and exhibits to
interpret this history for the public to foster education, understanding, and
appreciation of Burke’s important role in history.

Clarke County Historical Association - Berryville, Virginia
http://www.clarkehistory.org/
The Clarke County Historical Association is dedicated to preserving the
historical resources and records of Clarke County and fostering their use,
enjoyment, and understanding. Can research items in their Archives.

Floyd County Historical Society - Virginia
http://www.floydhistoricalsociety.org/
The Society encourages interest in the history of Floyd County through the
collection, preservation, and stewardship of significant historic materials.
Educational programs include lectures, publications, community outreach,
and exhibits. The Society maintains a substantial archive of historical
artifacts, documents, and early photographs.

Frederick County Genealogical Society – Frederick, Maryland
http://www.frecogs.org/
The mission of the Frederick County Genealogical Society is to help promote
their appreciation and knowledge of genealogical and historical research,
offer and encourage continuing education for family history and the
compilation of information, stimulate proper research methods to promote
high standards of accuracy, preservation, and dissemination of genealogical
information.

Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
https://genpa.org/
The mission of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania is to provide
leadership and support in promoting genealogy through education,
preservation, and access to Pennsylvania-related genealogical information.
In addition, the Society is committed to preserving and publishing previously
unpublished primary sources. The continuing dedication to this service
enables the Society to make an increasingly significant contribution to the
cultural life of our city, state, and country. Concentrating primarily in
Pennsylvania and its adjoining states, including immigration into and out of
Pennsylvania, the Society has research materials available to members
through the Genealogical Collection at the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania’s library.

The Genealogy Club of the Montgomery County Historical Society -Maryland
https://www.montgomeryhistory.org/
The Genealogy Club is organized to promote interest and proficiency in
genealogical research and make available records of interest to
genealogists. While some programs discuss records for a specific area, the
club’s primary focus is to help researchers develop skills and become aware
of sources that can be used wherever their ancestors lived. Genealogy Club
membership is available as a free benefit to all MCHS members.

Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaggsv/
The Society presents programs of genealogical interest to the public. The
geographic area of primary interest covered by the Society is Gloucester, Mathews,
and surrounding counties.

Goochland County Historical Society - Virginia
http://www.goochlandhistory.org/
Goochland County Historical Society is an educational organization created
and operated to present, preserve, and protect Goochland County heritage
and tradition. The Society has collected manuscripts, artifacts, genealogical,
and architectural information about Goochland and Virginia in general to
fulfill its mission. Some of the rare and unique resources are available to the
public at the Society’s Historical Center. Additionally, skilled volunteers will
conduct genealogy research from these sources.

Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. and the Weems-Botts Museum
http://www.historicdumfries.com/
Historic Dumfries Virginia is a private, non-profit membership organization
tasked with operating the Weems-Botts Museum, organizing history-related
annual events, hosting guest speakers, managing historical archives and
libraries, and publishing a bi-monthly newsletter.

Howard County Genealogical Society - Maryland
http://hcgsmd.org/
Howard County Genealogical Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization
founded to aid and encourage the study of family history, preserve and
collect genealogical records, and assist local libraries in developing their
genealogical collections. Offers monthly programs the 2nd Wednesday of the
month.

Louisa County Historical Society - Maryland
http://www.louisacountyhistoricalsociety.org/genealogy.htm
The purpose of the Louisa County Historical Society is to preserve and
present the history of Louisa County, Virginia, by conducting activities that
include studying and writing about the history of the County, acquiring and
preserving manuscripts and printed source material and artifacts relevant to
the history of the County, acquiring and maintaining sites and buildings of
historical significance within the County, and assisting County residents and
others in matters relating to County history.

Lancaster, Virginia Historical Society
https://lancastervahistory.org/
The Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library has been serving the
families and visitors of Lancaster County and Virginia’s Northern Neck since
1958. Its mission is to discover, collect, preserve, understand and interpret
the history of Lancaster and surrounding counties of the Commonwealth of
Virginia for the enjoyment and educational benefit of all residents,
succeeding generations, and visitors to the area.

Mathews County Historical Society - Virginia
https://www.mathewscountyhistoricalsociety.org/
The mission of the Mathews County Historical Society is to educate and
inform the people of Mathews County and the Commonwealth of Virginia of
the part played by the people of the County in the great history of the
Commonwealth and nation and thereby engender interest in and promote
respect for the history of Mathews County and the Commonwealth of
Virginia in this and succeeding generations.

Mount Vernon Genealogical Society - Virginia
http://www.mvgenealogy.org/
The purpose of the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society, Inc. is to encourage
the affiliation of persons interested in pursuing their ancestral heritage and
promoting fellowship and cooperation among them. To stimulate and provide
instruction in genealogical research methodology and adherence to
standards of accuracy and thoroughness in genealogical research. Finally, to
provide a forum for sharing knowledge gained by individual members in their
research and collecting, preserving, and disseminating genealogical,
biographical, and historical knowledge and information.

New Kent Historical Society - Virginia
http://www.newkenthistoricalsoc.com/
The New Kent Historical Society, based in the Old Jail at 12007 Courthouse
Circle, New Kent, VA, collects, preserves, and disseminates information
relating to the history, antiquities, and literature of New Kent County, Virginia. It
is organized for historical and educational purposes and as a public resource,
including birth, marriage, and death notices starting from the 1600s.

Prince George’s County Genealogical Society - Maryland
https://pgcgs.org/
The mission of the Prince George’s County Genealogical Society is to
collect, preserve, and disseminate genealogical knowledge and information,
particularly that material that deals with Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Rappahannock Historical Society - Virginia
http://www.rappahannockhistsoc.org/
The Society is committed to collecting, preserving, interpreting &
disseminating the unique history and heritage of Rappahannock County,
promoting knowledge of the past for a better understanding of the future.
The Society has published works and rare documents available for research.

Roots Users Group of Arlington, Virginia
http://www.rootsusers.org/
RootsUsers Group (RUG) serves as the Master Genealogist and Ultimate Family
Tree series of genealogy software users. Membership is open to any
interested person. The purpose of RUG is to provide a social organization
wherein individuals with common interests may study, evaluate, test,
exchange ideas and genealogical data, and may disseminate information to
interested parties concerning personal computers and computer
genealogical software. RUG holds a monthly meeting/workshop on the
second Saturday of each month. The first hour is a workshop to help
members, particularly novices. Workshops and meetings are open to the
public and free.

The Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC) – Virginia
https://www.pwcva.gov/department/library/RELIC-about
RELIC is a special collection devoted to genealogy and local history
focusing on Virginia and Prince William County and is located at Bull Run
Regional Library. RELIC houses a wide variety of materials related to its
mission, including published and manuscript materials, indexes and
research guides, photographs, maps, microforms, and computer (CD-ROM)
databases.

St. Mary’s County Historical Society - Maryland
https://www.stmaryshistory.org/
The objectives of St. Mary’s County Historical Society include collecting and
carefully preserving all the available historical material connected with or
associated with the history of St. Mary’s County, Maryland; and collecting,
preserving, and diffusing such information as may be available in the field of
genealogy connected with St. Mary’s County.

Sussex County Genealogical Society - Virginia
http://www.scgsdelaware.org/
The purposes of the Society are to collect, preserve, and disseminate
genealogical, biographical, and historical knowledge and information;
encourage all those interested in the pursuit of their ancestral heritage and
to promote fellowship and cooperation among them; stimulate interest and
provide education in the use of genealogical research methodology and
adherence to standards of accuracy and thoroughness in genealogical
research, and provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge gained by
individual members in their research.

Tidewater Genealogical Society - Virginia
https://www.tidewatergenealogicalsociety.org/
The Hugh S. Watson Jr. Genealogical Society of Tidewater, Virginia, is known
in short as The Tidewater Genealogical Society. The Society’s primary
geographical area of interest is Virginia, emphasizing that part east of the
Fall Line. The Society is dedicated to encouraging and sustaining interest in
genealogical affairs through education and research programs designed to
assist members in searching for ancestors.

Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland
http://www.usgsmd.org/
The Upper Shore Genealogical Society of Maryland aims to discover, collect,
and disseminate data and records significant to the history and family research
related to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Founded in 1973, the Society
continues to serve as a focal point for genealogical activities in Kent, Queen
Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester. In addition, the Society is an
essential link in the exchange of information between resident and nonresident
family history researchers.

Virginia Beach Genealogical Society - Virginia
https://vbgsva.net/
The Virginia Beach Genealogical Society was established to aid individuals in
genealogical research and compile family histories, provide lectures and
instruction on how best to do genealogical research and promote an interest
in genealogy throughout the community. Although some members are
primarily interested in local genealogy, most of the Society’s membership is
drawn from civilian and military families who have come to the Virginia Beach
area to live. As a result, the Society covers vast areas of research interest.

Virginia Genealogical Society
http://www.vgs.org/
The Virginia Genealogical Society was organized in 1960. Our mission is to
promote and foster family history education and research, publish
genealogical information, and share accumulated knowledge. VGS Members
receive 20% discounts on publications and other benefits.

Washington DC Family History Center
http://wdcfhc.org/wordpress/
The Washington DC Family History Center (FHC) is a branch of the Family
History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is
open for genealogical research by church members and the general public.
FHCs provide local access to Church microfilmed family history records,
family history computer resources, and internet genealogical websites.
There is no charge for using the facility and only nominal charges for using
the copying machines, purchasing some forms, and renting microfilms or
microfiche.

Wythe County Historical Society Research Library- Virginia
https://wythecountyhistoricalsociety.org/library/
Founded in 1970, the Wythe County Historical Society has committed to more
than three decades to preserve, collect, and interpret Wythe County’s
history.

Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia has many resources for doing research in the commonwealth.

Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com contains over 20 billion genealogical records from 80 counties of origin.

Board for Cerification of Genealogists
Since its beginning in 1964, the BCG has promoted standards in genealogical research, and set standards for certification of genealogists. The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual, published in 2000 by Ancestry.com for the Board, is designed to clarify, codify, and organize standards generally accepted in the field. This publication makes them readily accessible to all genealogists, whether or not they envision applying for certification.

Family Search

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia
Focuses on the ancestry of Germans who settled in Russia, especially those who answered a call from Catherine the Great in 1767 and settled along the Volga River. They were promised freedom from taxes for a certain number of years and perpetual exemption from military service. In the late 1800's when military conscription was imposed, many emigrated to North and South America.

Germans from Russia Heritage Society
Focuses on the ancestry of Germans who answered a call settle in Russia, especially those who immigrated in the early 1800's and settled in the Black Sea area. They were promised freedom from taxes for a certain number of years and perpetual exemption from military service. In the late 1800's when military conscription was imposed, many emigrated to North and South America.

Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Washington (JGSGW) was formed in 1980 to: Collect, preserve, and disseminate Jewish genealogical knowledge and information; Promote interest in genealogical research; Stimulate and provide instruction in the use of research methodology and adherence to standards of accuracy and thoroughness in research; Foster careful documentation and to promote scholarly genealogical writing and publication; Promote the preservation of Jewish genealogical records and resources; Hold meetings for the instruction and education of its members and the general public; and Conduct such other purposes as the organization shall from time to time elect to pursue.