Welcome

The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization of amateur and professional family historians and genealogists dedicated to the study and preservation of family history mainly in Western Pennsylvania. Since 1974, WPGS has aimed to provide members with genealogically related information, connections, and resources to enhance your family history research, wherever it may take you.

The Board of Directors and Committee Leaders continually strive to serve our members better and provide value to the genealogy community. One way we are serving members is by continually expanding the content available on our website. Please check back often! If you wish to learn more about the history of WPGS, we have prepared a 50-year history. Also, from 1974, our ABCs of Genealogy Research still apply.  The latest revisions to the WPGS Bylaws were approved on June 19, 2017.

Our Geographic Area

Allegheny 1788Armstrong 1800Beaver 1800
Bedford 1771Blair 1846Butler 1800
Cambria 1804Cameron 1860Clarion 1839
Clearfield 1804Crawford 1800Elk 1843
Erie 1800Fayette 1783Forest 1848
Greene 1796Indiana 1803Jefferson 1804
Lawrence 1849McKean 1804Mercer 1800
Somerset 1795Venango 1800Warren 1800
Washington 1781Westmoreland 1773 
The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society does research in the 26 counties west of Centre County. These are the western Pennsylvania counties, along with their dates of organization.

Operating Year: July 2023 – June 2024

WPGS Officers

President:Megan Clark Young
President-Elect:Lindsay Downs
Recording Sec.:Pamela Ferkett
Corresponding Sec.:Kelsea Collins
Treasurer:Dave Salvatora

WPGS Directors

Director 2024-2026:Pamela Israel
Director 2024-2026:Rebecca Miller
Director 2024-2026:Robert Hague
Director 2023-2025:Amy Welch
Director 2023-2025:Kristin Britanik
Director 2023-2025:Lois Salvatora

Project Leaders & Committees

Ancestor Charts:

Rob Felton

Archives:

Pamela Israel

Book Sales:

Rebecca Miller

Digitizing:

Kathleen Kenna

Facebook:

Lindsay Downs

First Families:

Megan Young

Historian:

Vacant

Indexing:

Nancy Marsh

Library Collection:

Vacant

Library Research:

Lois Salvatora

Membership:

Lois Salvatora

Newsletter (Jots):

Rebecca Miller

Programs:

Amy Welch

Publicity & Communications:

Lindsay Downs

Suzanne Johnston Scholarship:

Amy Welch

Quarterly:

Erica Curtis

Website:

Kristin Britanik