About The Society

Western New York's strategic location on the Great Lakes has made it both a terminus and a gateway of migration. It was first settled by New Englanders following the Revolutionary War. The opening of the Erie Canal provided an easy route west, attracting the first of many waves of immigrants from all over Europe. Many remained in the area and have been followed in recent years by immigrants from all over the world.

The Western New York Genealogical Society was founded in 1974 to help preserve and encourage interest in the area's rich genealogical heritage. Its focus is on the eight Western New York counties - Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany - which today comprise the area of the original Holland Land Company purchase.

Society Objectives

- To collect and preserve available records of early settlers in the eight Western New York counties.
- To make these records available for research.
- To further genealogical knowledge and research.
- To foster awareness of record preservation by government agencies.

New WNYGS Membership Survey

Make your views known and help the WNYGS executive board establish long range goals for the Society by completing the WNYGS membership survey. Please respond by February 15th, 2010.

News and Announcements

January 23, 2010 - WNYGS 2010 meeting schedule announced. All are welcome!

November 23, 2009 - WNYGS Announces filming of Forest Lawn Cemetery Records

August 16, 2009 - WNYGS Announces Luncheon to celebrate 35th Anniversary

March 30, 2009 - WNYGS Announces 1865 Census Indexing Project

October 4, 2008 - WNYGS 2009 meeting schedule announced. All are welcome!

July 16, 2007 - WNYGS Purchases Canadian Border Crossing Records

October 15, 2004 - WNYGS Purchases Heritage Creations' Map Guide to German Parish Registers