• GA Home
• GA Genealogical Records
  • Census Records
  • Church Records
  • Court Records
  • Land Records
  • Military Records
  • Vital Records
• GA Maps
• GA Archives & Societies
• GA Newspapers
• GA Periodicals
• Search GA Databases
• Blog

Georgia Societies and Archives

Genealogists are generally positive and energetic, and most are ready to share their findings or research experience with anyone they can help. There are hundreds of genealogical societies at the grass-roots level. Knowledge of the genealogical community will place you in the midst of much activity, increase your productivity, and alert you to the importance of research standards and etiquette.

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Georgia Archives

It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance. Every repository has published materials that introduce its collections and research policy. State archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.

• Georgia State Archives - 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260; 678.364.3700
  For history, genealogy, or other research: Reference Services Tel: (678) 364-3710; Pre-1900 records on microfilm in the Archives as well as the FHL. [ Email: reference@sos.state.ga.us ]
• Atlanta History Center - 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305-1366; Tel: 404-814-4000, Fax: 404-814-4186
• Georgia Division of Public Health - Vital Records, Room 217-H, 47 Trinity Ave. SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-5600; Tel: 404-656-4750
  E-mail: gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us

Georgia Historical & Genealogical Societies

Because family history research relies greatly upon records found at the county level, many local societies represent counties. Organizations also form around shared interests. Ethnic or religious origins account for many groups, such as the Polish Genealogical Society of America and P.O.I.N.T. (Pursuing Our Italian Names Together). Societies also form around common locales of origin for members’ ancestors; hence, the Palatines to America and Germans from Russia societies. To locate these and other societies, consult Juliana Szucs Smith’s The Ancestry Family Historian’s Address Book. It lists addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and Internet addresses of thousands of organizations throughout the United States.

For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.

• Georgia Historical Society [ Email: gahist@ix.netcom.com ]
  501 Whitaker Street, Savannah, GA 31401; Tel: 912-651-2125912-651-2128, Fax: 912-651-2831
• Georgia Genealogical Society - P.O. Box 54574, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-0575
• Northwest Georgia Historical and Genealogical Society - Post Office Box 5063, Rome, Georgia 30162-5063
  Covers Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Douglas, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gordon, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Towns, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield Counties
• East Georgia Genealogical Society - P. O. Box 117, Winder, GA 30680; Email: gaeggs@yahoo.com
  Covers Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Franklin, Glascock, Greene, Gwinnett, Hancock, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Rockdale, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, Warren and Wilkes Counties
• Southwest Georgia Genealogical Society - P.O. Box 4672, Albany, GA 31706; Email: swggs@swggs.org
  Covers Baker , Ben Hill , Calhoun , Clay , Colquitt , Crisp , Decatur , Dooly , Dougherty , Early , Grady , Irwin , Lee , Marion, Miller , Mitchell, Quitman , Randolph , Schley , Seminole , Stewart , Sumter , Terrell , Thomas , Tift , Turner , Webster , Wilcox and Worth Counties
• Central Georgia Genealogial Society - Post Office Box 2024, Warner Robins, GA 31099
  Covers Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Montgomery, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox and Wilkinson Counties