Membership

• Access to the Research Library, which is open every Tuesday, 1 pm to 9 pm, and Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm. (Closed Saturdays during July)

• Access to the Members-Only Online Library which includes a wealth of vital resources.

• Receive the Je Me Souviens quarterly journal filled with resources for genealogists, member-submitted stories about their research and ancestors and much more on the members-only area on this web site.

• New members receive individual assistance and training from experienced and highly competent members.

• Members unable to conduct their own research can utilize the resources of the library through the Research Committee, a staff of experienced researchers available at low member rates.

• Right to attend the annual business meeting including election of the slate for board of directors. The meeting is held on a Saturday morning in October.

French Canadian genealogical research resources are available on the Members-Only Online Library. With a few clicks, members have access to a wealth of vital resources, some of them highlighted below. Additional digital resources are being added regularly.

Je Me Souviens – This quarterly journal has been published since 1978.  Every issue is available to read or download. The articles are searchable in our online database by name or key word.

Le Réveil Acadien Journal – Published by the Acadian Cultural Society between 1985 and 2010, is written in English. The journals were donated to AFGS when their society disbanded in 2010.  They are posted on our site with permission and are searchable by keyword. You will find them a great resource for researching difficult Acadian lines.

Our French Canadian Ancestors – A 30-volume collection of biographies written by Thomas J. Laforest, is available by permission exclusively for AFGS members.

Jesuit Relations – The Jesuit Relations, also known as Relations des Jésuites de la Nouvelle-France, are chronicles of the Jesuit missions in New France. The works were written annually and printed beginning in 1632 and ending in 1673. You can read the entire 72-volume collection of those reports sent to France by the 17th Century missionaries.  It is a valuable resource for the Iroquois and Algonquin cultures and for the interactions between Amerindian and the French in New France.

Dictionnaire généalogique des famille canadiennes – Written by Msgr. Cyprien Tanguay, the seven-volume set contains marriages in Quebec between 1608 and 1700.  A searchable complement to the collection, written by Joseph-Arthur Leboeuf is also included.

Dictionnaire National des Canadian-Français (aka Red Drouin) – Produced by Gabriel Drouin, this 1985 revised three-volume edition contains marriages in New France between 1608 and 1760.

Video Workshops/Lectures – A collection of lectures recorded by AFGS on a variety of genealogical, historical, and related topics.  These lecture videos are viewable at your convenience and may be watched as often as desired. Many contain downloadable notes and suggested resources provided by our expert presenters.

Obituary Files – a collection of 600,000+ searchable obituary images submitted by AFGS members from across the United States and Canada.

Headstone Photos – This collection contains 53,000 photos and 120,000 searchable headstone names from 77 cemeteries in the northeast United States.

Funeral Cards- There are hundreds of searchable cards submitted by family members.  AFGS members are encouraged to submit their family cards for this growing collection.

AFGS Collection of French-Canadian Marriages – This alphabetical, searchable collection features 1.5 million marriages, mainly in the Province of Quebec, between 1760 and 1935.

Name Variations and dit Names – a 37,000 name alphabetical listing of French names and their commonly used variations and spellings.

Definitions and Abbreviations – Terms and definitions provided to help members understand the general content of genealogy records.  Languages available: French, Latin, Italian, Polish, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Family Histories – We are adding family histories to our Members-Only Online Library as we receive permission from the authors.

Five-Generation Pedigree Charts (downloadable) – A visual way to record your ancestry.

Family Group Sheets (downloadable) – A visual way to record a family unit, with husband, wife, and their children.

Relationship Chart – An easy way to determine how two persons are related to each other.

Introduction to DNA Research – Briefly outlines the types of DNA tests, explores triangulation, submitting a DNA sample, how to order FamilyTree DNA test kits, and participate in the AFGS DNA Project.

AFGS Library Holdings – A listing of over 20,000 books, repertoires and microfilm available in the Society’s library. If you see a book that may contain information that you need, you can request that one of our research volunteers check these books for you. If you need a copy of an original record from our microfilm collection, you can submit a request.

Research Requests – Members may submit online requests for repertoire records, translations (French and Latin), and microfilm. Research is conducted at a discounted rate for members.

Useful Links – An alphabetical listing of 245 links that may help in your research.  These links are provided for your convenience and are not an endorsement by AFGS.

How to Type French Accents – A downloadable “cheat sheet” with instructions for typing accented letters on a PC or Mac.  Includes a brief explanation of the different French accents.