April 12, 1776 marks an important day in American and NC history. In the small eastern town of Halifax, North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Assembly gathered and authorized its three delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence. Their thoughts and "resolves" were added to the minutes of their meeting. This was the first official action by any of the thirteen colonies on the road to independence and self-determination. This is how North Carolina became "first in freedom". It is one thing to read about the history it is another all together to watch in unfold "as if" in real time. Halifax, NC is very close to Raleigh and this makes a nice day trip or weekend getaway.  Do youself a favor and make plans to attend this special living history event. I promise you will be touched by the history of the experience. Halifax is like our own little pocket sized Williamsburg! Halifax Days 2024 photo by C. Deal The 250th anniversary of the Halifax R...

Back by popular demand! Join us for a repeat of our February tour of the NC Archives and genealogy library in downtown Raleigh. We will offer a free tour of the NC Archives and the State Library, organized by President Barbara McGeachy. June Tour Details - Event : Tour of NC Archives and Genealogy Library Date : Monday, June 23, 10 AM - Noon (followed by optional lunch) Location : 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh (meet in the lobby) Lunch : Optional at the cafeteria in the basement of the legislature building, featuring hot food, salads, and sandwiches. Security check required; no special ID needed. This tour is open to everyone, with 30 spots available. Sign up here:                                                         https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CA9A72CAAFA7-56338096-tour Each tour lasts 45-60 minutes, concl...

The Wake County Genealogical Society's first in-person outing of 2025 will be a popular tour of the NC Archives and the State Library, organized by President Barbary McGeachy. February Meetup Details: Event:  Tour of NC Archive and State Library Date:  Monday, Feb. 10, 10 AM - Noon (lunch optional) Location:  109 E. Jones St., Raleigh (meet in the lobby) Lunch:  Optional at the cafeteria in the basement of the legislature building, featuring hot food, salads, and sandwiches. Security check required; no special ID needed. Source: Wikipedia This tour is open to everyone, with 30 spots available. Sign up here: Signup Genius .  Each tour lasts 45-60 minutes, concluding by noon. The Archives tour is optional; participants can choose to visit only the library first. Research is not permitted on this day as both facilities are closed to the public on Mondays. The NC Archives has original documents and some books but it's only about North Carolina.The staff will exp...

Masonic Lodge records are an excellent source to fill in the details and context of your ancestors' lives. Join WCGS for our next in person meetup.   The tour will be led by  Matthew Robbins,  Assistant Grand Secretary. A Tour of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina 2921 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh, NC, 27608 Saturday, Oct 21 at 10am Chartered in 1771 by the Duke of Beaufort and reorganized in 1787, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina was formed before North Carolina joined the Union and before George Washington was elected president of the United States. The Freemasons of North Carolina can claim a rich and successful heritage. Its members, including governors, legislators, teachers, professors, merchants, and farmers, have been at the forefront of the State's successes since before the Revolutionary War. Its members presided over the formation of the State and the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the extension of educational opportunities to State citizens via the establishm...