Membership

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Many American families began in Virginia. As a member of the VGS, you will benefit from the Society’s efforts to preserve and publish original Virginia source materials. You will have opportunities to share with others who have similar interests, gather knowledge from the Society’s publications and join in its activities.

To Renew or Update an existing membership online, use the “Renew” menu item, or click “Your Membership” at the top of the page. When renewing online, you may pay via PayPal, credit card, or check.

If you prefer to join or renew offline, complete the VGS Membership Form and mail it along with your check to the address at the top of the form.

Benefits of Membership

Members receive the following:

  • The Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (published quarterly)
  • The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter (digital copy, published quarterly)
  • Discounted registration for VGS Conferences
  • 20% discount on Society publications
  • Partner discounts on genealogical products and publications
  • Access to the growing webinar library and handouts
  • Access to the online Magazine of Virginia Genealogy and Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter archives
  • Access to the Virginia Business Records Index and Virginia Personal Property Tax List Index

Note: The Magazine of Virginia Genealogy is published on the website and a print copy is mailed to members. The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter is published on the website. Members may order black-and-white, print copies of the newsletter in the store for an additional $15 per year. You must be logged into the website to order the print newsletter. Order a print copy of the newsletter at https://www.vgs.org/product/vgs-newsletter-print-copy/.

In addition to your membership, please consider making a donation as a Friend, Patron, or Benefactor and joining the many supporters of VGS who choose to make a tax-deductible gift to support our mission.

You might also think about making a donation to one of the funds supported by VGS to promote the preservation of historical records important to genealogical research and scholarship.

Gifts may be made in conjunction with joining or renewing your membership; however, you will need to make your gifts under the Donations link to the fund(s) of your choice.

Plan Details

All Individual, Family, Institutional, and Life plans also provide access to the VGS website’s members-only content including surname research, VGS newsletters, special databases, and Virginia Institute of Genealogical Research (VIGR) articles.

Each Family Membership plan constitutes a “group” of two people. The registrant is the owner of the group and may invite one person to join their group.

Log in to your account and use the top menu link for “My Membership”. On that page under Actions, choose “Create Group”. That will open the Family Group Dashboard.
Enter a group name (whatever you wish – e.g. Smith Family Group, or Diggin up Bones, etc).
The Group Description is optional, and may be added later if desired.

You have the option to manually add a family member (group member) or you can scroll down and add a Group Code which your family member can use to self-register.
Either way, remember to click on the Update Group button at the bottom.

If you chose to create a group code to allow self-registering, after updating your group you will be provided with a URL for your family member to use to register themselves.

If you manually add a member, you can choose a password for them, or it will be automatically generated.
**If you allow the system to auto-generate a password, it will not be visible to you! The first time your family member logs in, they will need to use the “Lost Password” function to get logged in.

Membership dues shall not be refunded for any reason, including resignation, death, or dismissal from the Society.

Membership Plans Offered

Plan Name1 Year2 Years3 Years
Individual$40$75$110
Family$45$85$125
Institutional$40$75$110
Life*N/AN/AN/A
*The Life Membership is $1000 for one individual, with no expiration date.