Ontario Genealogical Society

The Ontario Genealogical Society, operating as Ontario Ancestors since early 2019, is the largest organization devoted to research into family history in Ontario, Canada.[1] Founded in 1961[2] as a Registered Charity corporation, the Society has grown by 2020 to include 30 local branches covering all of Ontario and five Special Interest Groups.

The Ontario Genealogical Society
Formation1961 (1961)
TypeRegistered Charity
PurposeGenealogy, family history
HeadquartersConcord
Location
Region served
Ontario
Official language
English
Main organ
Board of Directors
Websiteogs.on.ca

Objectives

The objectives of the Society are:

  • To promote genealogical research
  • To set standards for genealogical excellence by encouragement and instruction in effective research methods
  • To make available to those whose ancestors are from Ontario, the knowledge, diversity and comprehensiveness of the genealogical resources in Ontario

Activities

Professional genealogists from around the province recommend membership in the Ontario Genealogical Society.[3][4] To fulfill its mandate of helping those who are tracing their family roots, the Society's members are involved in a variety of activities such as:

  • Holding regular branch meetings in each area of Ontario with expert speakers and panel discussions, to which the general public is invited. Topics are not limited to Ontario research, but have a world wide scope.[5][6]
  • Organizing genealogical seminars, workshops, displays, presentations, bus trips,[7] etc. throughout Ontario
  • Locating, rescuing and preserving heritage documents
  • Digitizing documents and making them available on line
  • Transcribing and indexing hand-written documents[8][9]
  • Transcribing and photographing pioneer gravestones[10][11]
  • Advocating for the release of government and other historical documents to public view
  • Advocating for the preservation of pioneer cemeteries[12]

Heritage societies

The Society has organized certificate programs for those who are proud that their ancestors were part of Ontario's early heritage:

  • War of 1812 Society
  • Centenary Club
  • 1837 Rebellion Society
  • Upper Canada Society.

Annual conference

Each year, the Society organizes a family history conference in a different part of the province.[13] In 2018 the Conference was in Guelph, Ontario [14], in 2019 in London, and the 2020 Conference will be held in Hamilton[15]. Genealogists and family historians from all over North America attend these conferences to exchange information, and to learn about new resources and research techniques. This conference also arranges for information booths from similar organizations, such as the Canadian Friends Historical Association to facilitate networking, as well as exhibits and presentation from commercial providers such as Ancestry, MyHeritage and Family Tree Maker.

Branches

The Ontario Genealogical Society's branches are spread all over Ontario. Each branch takes responsibility for carrying out the Society's objectives in local communities. Members of the public can find information about the branches nearest them by checking the section of the Ontario Ancestors website devoted to Branches/SIGs. https://ogs.on.ca/branchessigs/branch-sig-locator/

Publications

The Society produces a quarterly publication called Families. Many of the branches also produce regular newsletters.

The Ontario Genealogical Society supports the efforts of Ontario genealogists and historians by publishing and selling books of interest to them. As of a 2012 count, the Society had published about 140 books.

gollark: You'd want to swap out rednet for `_G`, I think?
gollark: Nope.
gollark: Deprecating it is printing a warning but *allowing it to work*.
gollark: No, it's not.
gollark: And break stuff badly.

References
  1. "Two Presidents", Toronto Daily Star, 1996-07-26
  2. Harry, George, "Thrill of Tracing Your Own History", The Sunday Star, Toronto, 1979-02-25
  3. Skoggard, Ross, "Collecting your deceased relatives is good for your health", Toronto Daily Star, 1989-05-28
  4. Klich, Barbara, "Doing your family tree", Toronto Daily Star, 1996-10-27
  5. Gilchrist, Brian J., "Start Decade with Class in Genealogical ABC's", Toronto Daily Star, 1980-01-06
  6. "Meetings, clubs, talks, workshops", Toronto Daily Star, 1996-05-02
  7. Overy, Bill, "English Ancestry: How to search Roots", Toronto Daily Star, 1990-12-01
  8. "Unfamiliar Territory", Toronto Daily Star, 2005-02-28
  9. McGrath, Paul, "Bringing the past to life", Toronto Daily Star, 2005-02-28
  10. Gilchrist, Brian J., "Turning Up the Burial Places of Ancestors", The Sunday Star, Toronto, 1979-05-06
  11. Scrivener, Leslie, "Sleuthing it up at the local cemetery", Toronto Daily Star, 2007-11-04
  12. Scrivener, Leslie, "Guardians of our ancestor's graves", Toronto Daily Star, 2007-11-11
  13. Gilchrist, Brian J., "Seminars Name of the Brain Game", Toronto Daily Star, 1981-08-03
  14. Conference 2018 photos
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