A History of the
Connecticut Society of Genealogists

THE FOUNDING

The idea of banding together into a formal society arose among a small group of avid ancestor-seekers who, while researching their family lines, frequently found their paths crossing by chance in the genealogical section of the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Conn. They found many interests in common, including a perpetual struggle against the forces within the state government who would bar all access to the vital records.

Mr. George E. Williams and Mr. Elery D. Clark took the lead in promoting the formation of an organization. A notice announcing an organizational meeting was placed on the bulletin board at the library, and letters of invitation were sent out. The meeting was held March 28, 1968 in the auditorium of the Connecticut Historical Society. Twenty-two persons attended despite bad weather.

At a second meeting held April 20, 1968 in the same location, the name, "Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc", was adopted. Mr. Randall M. Loomis headed a slate of officers which were installed and dues were set at $5.00 per year. Members were listed in the order in which they paid their dues. Although he was not present, Mr. Donald Lines Jacobus was made an Honorary Member and given membership No. 1 in recognition of his monumental contributions to New England genealogy.

It was also voted that anyone joining prior to the end of the year (December 31, 1968) should be considered a "Charter Member". As a result, all members with membership numbers through CSG #330 are Charter Members.

CSG OBJECTIVES

"The objectives of the Society are locating, preserving, and indexing public and private genealogical records and making such records and collections available to members and to the general public; acquiring genealogical and historical materials and contributing them to public libraries or historical or genealogical organizations; encouraging and instructing members in the art and practice of genealogical research and compilation; and maintaining and elevating genealogical standards."

THE NUTMEGGER

For its first year, the Society issued a monthly mimeographed publication called the "Bulletin". This was replaced in 1969 with a quarterly publication called,"The Nutmegger". The cover of the first issue (June 1969) of , "The Nutmegger", is shown in the upper right margin. The CSG logo used was one designed by Mr. Frank Richardson of West Hartford. This issue featured off-set printing and its 65 pages included 35 pages of queries from members seeking genealogical data.