The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS), was established in 1974 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering an interest in the study of genealogy and related fields through meetings, workshops and publications. For more than thirty years, WPGS has collected and preserved manuscripts, books and artifacts, as well as family, church and public records that make up the rich heritage of twenty-six counties in western Pennsylvania. Some of WPGS current preservation efforts include microfilming and cataloging church and county records from the twenty-six counties. The society maintains and continues to add to its 10,000-volume collection, housed in the Pennsylvania Department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

As part of its twenty-fifth anniversary celebration, WPGS established First Families of Western Pennsylvania. Any member of WPGS who can prove descent from an ancestor who lived in western Pennsylvania prior to December 31, 1810, is eligible for membership. Applications are due by November 30 each year. For 2006, that deadline has been extended to April 30, 2006, as the 2006 inductions will take place on Friday, September 29, 2006 on the Dinner Cruise at the PA Genealogy Conference.

 

The PA Genealogy Conference is co-hosted by GSP & WPGS. Save on conference registration with membership in either host society!