Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate 50 years with WPGS at our conference. We are looking forward to the next 50 years!

Did you know?


On July 1st, WPGS is switching to a rolling membership year. This means members who join or renew at any point during the year will get a full 12 months before the membership expires.

Join us today!

Renewing Your Membership?

Our online renewal process has changed slightly. Members are now required to confirm their payment before it is processed. Click here for step by step instructions.

Call for Submissions: WPGS Quarterly

The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS) welcomes unique, well-documented articles focusing on researched family histories from any ethnic, social or religious groups in Western Pennsylvania’s 26 counties or history articles that would be considered useful to Pennsylvania genealogy researchers.   Types of manuscripts accepted include but are not limited to: Histories of Pennsylvania ancestors, Western Pennsylvania locality research, Unpublished bible, church, and cemetery records.
Click here to learn more.

Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society

An organization of amateur and professional family historians and genealogists dedicated to the study and preservation of family history focused on Western Pennsylvania.

We have a wealth of resources for both the budding researcher and the experienced pro. WPGS offers free programming and in-person help for all as well as valuable extras for our members.

Highlights of Member Benefits

  • Six issues of our newsletter, Jots from Western Pennsylvania
  • Two free queries in each edition of the Society newsletter
  • Significant discounts towards WPGS Publications, Library Research, and the Online Used Bookstore
  • Inclusion in the online Ancestor Chart Project
  • Access to 146,000+ names in over 2,500 member Ancestor Charts
  • Surname Research Project – surnames being researched by members
  • Access to Online Members Only databases and documents and much more!
  • Membership year begins July 1 through June 30 each year.

Join Us Today

Westinghouse Student Engineers

Suzanne Johnston Memorial Scholarship

Annually, WPGS awards the $250 Suzanne Johnston Memorial Scholarship to a current member to assist with registration fees for a local, regional, national, or virtual genealogy conference.

Learn More About Our Scholarship
Map of Pennsylvania

Upcoming Events

Collection Highlights

Allegheny County Naturalizations

This member’s only collection contains an index of Immigrants who applied for Naturalization Papers in the District Courts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Copies of the Naturalization records can also be ordered through our Research Services.