Reminder - our book exchange happens on Saturday, June 20. Details below. Hope to see you there!  **Update - See special silent auction instructions below. Do you have any genealogy books that you don’t use and would like to go to a good home? Are you looking for genealogy books? Let’s get together and swap books! Afterwards, we’ll go to lunch (Dutch treat). This is a fund-raiser / meet-up / recycling event.   What's in your collection?* What:  Genealogy books only (not history, biography, fiction, etc.). Also bring genealogy magazines and journals to share on a “free” table *Note: Books in the image are representative only.   Who: Members and non-members of WCGS   Where:   Laurel Hills Community Center large meeting room,  3808 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh (near Crabtree Mall)   When:   Saturday, June 20 , 2026 from 10 am to noon (rain or shine) Followed by lunch (Dutch treat) – location TBD   How does this work? Check-in...

Sign up June - August and Get up to 15 Months instead of 12!   A special invitation from Carol Kimball Stahl,  our WCGS member chairperson - We appreciate that you elected to follow our blog. That decision on your part shows your interest and willingness to seek resources to aid in your research. Now may be the time to take that interest and willingness to the next level. We currently are offering an extended membership “year” to new members.  The new memberships will expire on August 31, 2027, instead of August 31, 2026. Depending on how soon you join, you could enjoy the benefits for 15 months!!  Remember that many of our members have no ties to North Carolina, let alone Wake County.  The programs are designed to appeal to anyone performing genealogical research.  Many happen to live in the area and enjoy the WCGS community.  However, we also have members scattered across the United States who do have ties here.  Those members enjoy th...

On Wednesday, April 29, Members of WCGS met in Cary at the Panera Bread at Parkside for casual conversation about genealogy and other favorite topics. Thanks to Barbara and Sherry for planning this great outing. - CD In photo: seated: Ed Webb and Sherry Gajewski. Standing: Barbara McGeachy, Carol Kimball Stahl, Jennie Gunther, and Gayle Williams. Photo graciously taken by an anonymous man. Barbara’s Summary: “We stayed about ninety minutes and discussed many genealogical topics. Some highlights:   Sherry recently scanned some photos and added them online. A distant cousin saw her photos of their family and shared their photos of Sherry's family that she had never seen. Another cousin was able to identify people in a family reunion photo.   Jennie attended the recent NC State Archives presentation about artifact preservation. They only discussed paper preservation. We all agreed that we’d love to have a session on preserving non-paper artifacts. The NC Museum of History handles...

Join Wake County Gen Soc Dec 4 for our Holiday Dinner At Relish Craft Kitchen - 3 seats left! The Wake County Genealogical Society annual holiday dinner is open to everyone, members and non-members alike! This year's dinner will be on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 6 pm at Relish Craft Kitchen, 5625 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612. We are not limited to a fixed menu at Relish. Everyone can order to their preference. Here is a peek at the menu . Up to 30 of us will be seated in a semi-private raised area which is up three steps. Members and non-members are all welcome so bring your spouse, friends, etc. Reservation link and details - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CA9A72CAAFA7-58203190-wcgs Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |...

Editing to add more photos - 11/2/25 Despite much competition in the way of scheduled events for the day, we had a great turn out for the Shiloh Celebration on October 18. The audience was interested and engaged in the history of the Shiloh Community founded in the late 1820's by Free People of Color. They were equally excited to learn of the Free Black Patriot, Jesse Harris that many in the community can claim as kin. The weather was beautiful. It was an all round perfect day. Here are some photos of the day. Click image to view larger. Photos by Belle Long of Wake County Historical Society and Barbara McGeachy of Wake County Genealogical Society. Photo Details clockwise from upper left - Our audience awaits; Belle Long of Wake County Historical Society opens; Lynette Barber and Will Ellis provide beautiful music; Mills Cemetery presentation by Saundra Russ Cropps; Jermaine Pulliam - Deputy Grand Master of Prince Hall, dist.19 presides over the wreath ceremony at Rev. James H. Dun...

Members and interested followers -  The new membership year runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.  Members have received an email reminder to renew your subscription. You can also log in and renew through the website.  The grace period ends mid-October. Renew soon so you don't miss any updates or content. Those of you who are new to us or who have been following along for a while, consider joining our community! If you have caught any of our virtual monthly meetings , you know we offer only the best and you will always leave the evening with some new tip or hint you can use. Your support fuels our efforts, allowing us to continue offering great content, including our monthly virtual meetings, newsletter, blog and special projects with your help. For information on joining the society, click here. Wakecogen Holiday Gathering 2023 Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage   |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |...

The Summer 2024 Issue (Vol. 7 Issue 4) of our award-winning newsletter, Wake Genealogy Watch, is now available online for reading or download. You can visit the  WCGS website   or access through this link -  Wake Genealogy Watch, Summer 2024 .    Features in this issue include: Our updated slate of officers for the WCGS Board of Directors Past president Carla Stancil reflects on the progress and challenges faced by our society during her tenure. Ed Morris, retired executive director of the Wake Forest Historical Museum, shares his vast knowledge of Major General Calvin Jones, M.D. of Wake Forest. You will be amazed at his many accomplishments and contributions to Wake County. Cynthia Gage made some very special discoveries about her ancestors using the resources at places of higher learning. She shares her tips with us. A clean up and preservation guide to help you know what to do and who to c...

Members and researchers who have visited the Wake County Genealogical Society website will have noticed its many features. ·   Our easy sidebar system for finding and registering for upcoming events. ·   The topical front and center features from our blog, newsletters, and journal on regular rotation on the Wakecogen   home page. ·   Quick access to free 24/7 content offered in The Wake Cemetery Survey Images, the thirty plus years of Wake Treasures Journal content, and seven years of content in the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter. ·   The several Resource pages including Wake research, Wake history, NC resources, Society Surnames, and Articles and Guides - all curated content by our webmaster. You have our current webmaster Cynthia Gage to thank for all of that. She has built our website from a simple information page to the useful community hub and education center it is today. Cynthia assumed the role in 2015 and after nine years, she has decided to...

Register for the next Virtual Meeting from WCGS! Topic:  Genealogy Escape Room ™  – The Case of William Sydney Porter: Oh Henry!  Speaker:  Thomas MacEntee Tuesday,  Dec 5 , 2023 @ 6:30pm - Virtual Audience Level: Beginner.  The more, the merrier, join us for a fun evening of Genealogy Sleuthing led by Thomas! Imagine you are trapped in your state archive and the only way out is to solve a series of genealogy research puzzles. Are you up to the challenge? Are you ready for Genealogy Escape Room™?  Based on the popular escape room concept, Genealogy Escape Room™ turns the typical webinar format upside down! Each registrant will receive a Case Review File used to solve a series of online research tasks BEFORE the live webinar takes place. The webinar is the "reveal," where a step-by-step review of each puzzle, task, and clue all the way to the final "key" to open the door.  Genealogy methodology concepts will be summarized before announcing who esca...

Join members of Wakecogen for an in person meet up at the State Library of NC.  Learn what resources and services are available. G rab a library card.  Browse the collections.  Reconnect with friends at a lunch spot nearby.  We are looking forward to seeing you there! Free and open to all. Questions? Here is a sneak peek at their Genealogy and Family History offerings. What:  WCGS visits SLNC When: Dec.10, 10am - 12pm Where: 109 East Jones St. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact