Resources

• Dallas Genealogical Society
  DGS sponsors an annual lecture series of nationally-known speakers whose topics focus on research in specific localities and/or time periods, ethnic groups that populated colonial and post-Revolutionary America, genealogical repositories and resources; and methodology and problem-solving techniques.
• Fort Worth Genealogical Society
  The Fort Worth Genealogical Society was founded in 1957 to promote genealogy and local history in Tarrant County, Texas. General membership meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month, except for December. The FWGS Annual Summer Seminar was held 10 August, 2013 and featured Jane Buck as speaker.
• Collin County Genealogical Society
  CCGS program meetings featuring guest speakers are held on the 2nd Wednesday, September to June, at the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano, Texas 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The Society does not meet during the summer months of July and August.
• Texas State Genealogical Society (old web site)
  The Texas State Genealogical Society was founded in 1960 at Fort Worth, Texas. It is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. Individuals, Societies, Libraries, Museums and Family Surname Associations may apply for membership. This year’s conference was in Round Rock on 31 October and 1-2 November, 2013. Next year’s is in San Antonio, as co-hosts of the FGS 2014 Annual Conference.
• Federation of Genealogical Societies
  The Federation of Genealogical Societies, founded in 1976, has three major purposes: serving the needs of its member societies, providing products and services needed by member societies, and marshaling the resources of its member organizations. This year’s conference was in Fort Wayne, Indiana on 21-24 August, 2013. Next year’s conference is “Gone to Texas” in San Antonio on 27-30 August, 2014. The 2015 conference will be held in Salt Lake City on 12-14 February, 2015, joint with RootsTech 2015.
• National Genealogical Society
  The National Genealogical Society, a non-profit organization founded in 1903, is the premier national society for everyone from the beginner to the most advanced family historian. This year’s Conference was in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8-11 May, 2013. Next year’s Conference is “Virginia: The First Frontier” in Richmond, Virginia, on 7-10 May, 2014.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society
  The New England Historic Genealogical Society advances genealogical scholarship and develops the capabilities of both new and experienced researchers of family history by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and communicating in a variety of accessible formats reliable genealogical data with emphasis on families and communities connected to New England.
• RootsTech Family History and Technology Conference
  This event replaced the GenTech conferences sponsored by the National Genealogical Society in earlier years. The first three RootsTech conferences in 2011, 2012, and 2013 were HUGELY successful. Next year’s RootsTech is 6-8 February, 2014 in Salt Lake City.
• Angelina College Genealogy Conference
  A number of our members have attended in years past, and were very impressed with the programs. The speakers, sessions, and vendors were well worth the trip to Lufkin. Last year’s conference was in Lufkin at the Angelina College campus, on 18-20 July 2013. Their web page remains the same each year, so it will get updated with the 2014 programs when they are set.

This is a partial listing (in no particular order) of some of the more popular lineage societies. For a more complete list, visit www.hereditary.us, or see The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, “Hereditary and Lineage Organizations” by Lloyd Bockstruck of the Dallas Public Library.

• National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
  The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage society that is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, dedicated to patriotism, historic preservation, and education. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. DAR defines a “patriot” as one who provided service or direct assistance in achieving America’s independence. Denton County has two chapters: Benjamin Lyon in Denton, and Cross Timbers in Lewisville/Flower Mound.
• National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
  The Sons of the American Revolution is a male “lineage” society that perpetuates the ideals of the war for independence. Any man 18 years or older must trace their family tree back to a point of having an ancestor who supported the cause of American Independence during the years 1774-1783. Denton County has one chapter in Denton; several other chapters are very active in the DFW area, especially through the Color Guard. The Texas Society is one of the larger and most active State Societies.
• Children of the American Revolution
  The National Society of the Children of the American Revolution is an organization of persons through 21 years of age who are lineal descendants of a patriot of the American Revolution. The C.A.R. is an independent organization that looks to the DAR, SAR and SR for its leadership and financial support. Direct descendants of SAR and DAR members, age birth through 22 years, are eligible for membership. The DFW area has several local societies in Plano, Dallas, Garland, and Fort Worth.
• General Society, Sons of the Revolution
  The General Society, Sons of the Revolution seeks to perpetuate the memory of the patriots who risked their lives during the Revolution. It is open to lineal, male descendants of patriots who served loyally as soldiers, sailors, or marines under the Continental Congress, or in Colonial or State armed forces, or in Continental or Colonial legislatures, or were signers of the Declaration of Independence. There is a Texas Society, Sons of the Revolution
• The General Society of Mayflower Descendants
  Any person able to document their descent from one or more of the Mayflower Pilgrims is eligible to apply for membership in the Mayflower Society. Of the 9 Colonies in Texas, the Dallas-Fort Worth Colony is local to us.
• Jamestowne Society
  Membership in the Jamestowne Society is by invitation and in accordance with the Society’s bylaws. Begin the application process by contacting a member of the Jamestowne Society or the Jamestowne Society Company most convenient to you, and expressing your interest in becoming a member. Prospective members must demonstrate descent from a Qualifying Jamestowne Ancestor to the satisfaction of the Society genealogist.
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas
  Any woman having attained her sixteenth (16th) birthday is eligible for membership, provided she is personally acceptable to The DRT and is a lineal descendant of a man or woman who rendered loyal service for Texas prior to the consummation of the Annexation Agreement of the Republic of Texas with the United States of America on the nineteenth day of February, eighteen hundred forty-six (19 February 1846). Denton County has one chapter, Peters Colony.
• The Winthrop Society
  These first settlers, numbering scarcely one thousand, hailed mainly from the English counties of Suffolk, Essex and Dorset. Although of comfortable estate in England, they abandoned their homes and farms, and made a perilous Atlantic passage to settle in an unknown wilderness. They were spurred on by a compelling need to pursue their religion free from the persecution of the Crown-Church of England. About one-third perished during or soon after their voyage, and may be considered peace-loving Christian martyrs for their faith. The Society currently consists of over 500 descendants of the first settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
• Sons of Confederate Veterans
  The SCV is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendants of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved. Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces.
• Colonial Dames XVII Century
  Any woman of good moral character, eighteen years of age or over, is eligible for membership, provided she has been invited by the Society, is eligible through birth parents or adopted parents if there is a blood relationship to the applicant, and is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who lived and served prior to 1701 in one of the Original Colonies in the geographical area of the present United States of America. Membership is in the National Society but members join through Chapters. Admission into the Society is by invitation and the endorsement by two members, to whom the applicant is known personally, and approval of lineage papers by the President General, Registrar General and Treasurer General. Documentary proof of an ancestor’s service prior to 1701 is required.