This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me and I will update the file. Bill Green BillUSPS@AOL.Com bill90@Delphi.Com Date of last update: 17 June 1995 ************************************************************************* GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 5 March 1989 Robert McLaren 7810 Kincardine Ct. Alexandria, VA 22310-4025 The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical societies in North Carolina. Included in the listing, where known, are telephone numbers and yearly dues. This listing is donated to the public domain and may be freely copied. Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used in any other commercial fashion. If you think this list has any value, then donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National Genealogical Society). If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE). Many of these societies work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to respond unless a SASE is included in your letter. North Carolina Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1492 Raleigh, NC 27602 Dues: $18.00 per year Eastern North Carolina Genealogical Society P.O. Box 395 New Bern, NC 28560 Dues: $10.00 per year Southwestern North Carolina Genealogical Society 101 Blumenthal Murphy, NC 28906 Dues: Alamance County Alamance County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 3052 Burlington, NC 27215-3052 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $12.50 per year (family) Alexander County Alexander County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 241 Hiddenite, NC 28636 Dues: $5.00 per year Alleghany County Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society Box 817 Sparta, NC 28675 Dues: Anson County The Carolinas Genealogical Society 605 Craig Street Monroe, NC 28110 Dues: $10.00 per year Beaufort County Beaufort County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1089 Washington, NC 27889 Dues: Brunswick County Southport Historical Society 501 N. Atlantic Ave. Southport, NC 28461 Dues: Buncombe County Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2122 Ashville, NC 28802 Dues: Big Ivy Historical Society Barnardsville, NC 28709 Dues: Caldwell County Caldwell County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2476 Lenoir, NC 28645 Dues: $7.00 per year Catawba County Catawba County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2406 Hickory, NC 28603 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $15.00 per year (family) Cherokee County Southwestern North Carolina Genealogical Society 101 Blumenthal Murphy, NC 28906 Dues: $10.00 per year Clay County Southwestern North Carolina Genealogical Society 101 Blumenthal Murphy, NC 28906 Dues: $10.00 per year Cleveland County Broad River Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2261 Shelby, NC 28151-2261 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $17.50 per year (family) Cumberland County Cumberland County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 53299 Fayetteville, NC 28305 Dues: $8.00 per year Currituck County Albemarle Genealogical Society P.O. Box 87 Currituck, NC 27929 Dues: Davidson County Genealogical Society of Davidson County P.O. Box 1665 Lexington, NC 27292 Dues: Duplin County Duplin County Historical Society P.O. Box 130 Rose Hill, NC 28458 Dues: Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 617 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: $10.00 per year Forsyth County Forsyth County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 5715 Winston-Salem, NC 27113-5715 Dues: Graham County Southwestern North Carolina Genealogical Society 101 Blumenthal Murphy, NC 28906 Dues: $10.00 per year Green County Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 617 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: $10.00 per year Guilford County Guilford County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 9693 Greensboro, NC 27429-0693 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $12.50 per year (family) Iredell County Genealogical Society of Iredell County P.O. Box 946 Statesville, NC 28677 Dues: Johnston County Johnston County Genealogical Society 305 Market Street Smithfield, NC 27577 Dues: $15.00 per year Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 617 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: $10.00 per year Lenoir County Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 617 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: $10.00 per year Lincoln County Lincoln County Historical Association, Inc. Rt. 1, Box 315 Denver, NC 28037 Dues: Mecklenburg County Olde Charlotte Mecklenburg Genealogical Society P.O. Box 32453 Charlotte, NC 28232 Dues: Moore County Moore County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 56 Carthage, NC 28327 Dues: Polk County Polk County Genealogical Society c/o Frances N. Walker 485 Hunting County Road Tryon, NC 28782 Dues: Randolph County Randolph County Genealogical Society c/o Randolph County Public Library 201 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Dues: Richmond County Society of Richmond County Descendants P.O. Box 848 Desk 120 Rochingham, NC 28379 Dues: Rockingham County Rockingham County Historical Society P.O. Box 84 Wentworth, NC 27375 Dues: $10 single membership Rowan County Genealogical Society of Rowan County P.O. Box 4305 Salisbury, NC 28144 Dues: $7.50 per year (single); $10.00 per year (family) Rutherford County The Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County, Inc. P.O. Box 938 Forest City, NC 28043 Dues: Stanly County Stanly County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 31 Albemarle, NC 28001 Dues: Surry County Surry County Genealogical Association P.O. Box 997 Dobson, NC 27017 Dues: Swain County Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society P.O. Box 267 Bryson City, NC 28713 Dues: Union County The Carolinas Genealogical Society 605 Craig Street Monroe, NC 28110 Dues: $10.00 per year Wake County Wake County Genealogical Society Box 17713 Raleigh, NC 27619 Dues: Jewish Genealogical Society of Raleigh c/o Chava Katibian 8701 Sleepy Creek Drive Raleigh, NC 27612 Dues: Cary Historical Society c/o Sue Ryan P.O. Box 134 Cary, NC 27511 Dues: Wayne County Wayne County Historical Society P.O. Box 665 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 617 Goldsboro, NC 27530 Dues: $10.00 Wilkes County Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1629 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 Dues: Yadkin County Yakdin County Historical Society P.O. Box 1250 Yadkinville, NC 27055 Dues: ************************************************************************** VITAL RECORDS Birth and Death Records After 1913 Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1913 and was generally complied with by 1920. The counties where the births and deaths occurred keep a duplicate copy of the information they send to the state office. The indexes provide the individual's name and year of birth or death, but do not show the exact date or the parents' names. To obtain a copy of the original record, you can write to the Register of Deeds in the county or to the state office: Division of Health Services Vital Records Branch P.O. Box 2091 Raleigh, NC 27602 Birth and Death Records Before 1913 Very few counties kept birth or death records before 1900. Delayed registration of births for those born in the state before 1913 may be found in county offices of the register of deeds. Marriage Records, Early to 1868 >From 1669 to 1742, marriages were performed by clergy or civil authorities and were recorded in county records. Few of these records have survived, except for those of Pasquotank and Perquimans counties. >From 1741 to 1868 either a publication of banns or posting a bond was required before a marriage could take place, as described below: Banns. Publication of banns was a religious procedure. For three consecutive Sundays, the couple posted in church their written intention to marry. If no objection was voiced, permission to marry was granted by the church. Before 1851, marriages performed by banns were not recorded in public records and must be located in church or Bible records. In 1851, ministers were required to file marriage returns with a clerk in the county. Bonds. Couples could also obtain a license to marry if the groom posted a bond of 50 pounds in the county where the bride resided. Marriages performed by bonds were recorded in county records. Some of these pre-1868 bonds have survived for about half the counties. Marriage by bonds was discontinued in 1868. About 170,000 marriage bonds have been abstracted and indexed in the Index to Marriage Bonds Filed in the North Carolina State Archives. The index includes the entire state except Granville County. For a small fee the North Carolina State Archives will search the index for you. The original bonds are at the North Carolina State Archives. Marriage Records, after 1868 Marriage records from 1868 to 1962 are kept by the register of deeds in each county. Statewide registration of marriages began in 1962. You can write to the Division of Health Services (address above) to obtain copies of records since 1962. Divorce Records In North Carolina the superior court for each county has had jurisdiction over divorce cases since 1814. You can write to the superior court clerk at the county courthouse for copies or information. (Source: FHC Research Guide) ************************************************************************** STATE ARCHIVES Division of Archives and History/ Division of the State Library Archives and History-State Library Building 109 East Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27611 The Division of Archives and History, generally known as the North Carolina State Archives, maintains original records of North Carolina governments and other historical documents. The Division of the State Library, generally known as the North Carolina State Library, houses printed materials. Researchers wishing to contact the NC State Archives may do so by sending e-mail to Lee Albright, head of the genealogical services branch, at lalbright@hal.dcr.state.nc.us WWW address is http://hal.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/cover.htm North Carolina Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1492 Raleigh, NC 27602 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wilson Library 024A North Carolina Collection Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Duke University William R. Perkins Library Manuscript Department Durham, NC 27706 (Source: FHC Research Guide) I posted a message concerning the Madison Public Library located in Rockingham County recently to the list that may be worth mentioning for anyone going to the North Carolina area. It is supposed to be the Second Largest Genealogical Resource Room in a Public Library in the State of NC. This does not include a comparison to the Archives in Raliegh. It has all census records for North Carolina and Virginia and does include some for other states also. The collection includes many books for NC and VA. It also includes books from other states as well. On my recent trip, I noticed microfilm for old newspapers but did not take advantage of the oppurtunity to see which ones they were or begin looking at them. From Kimberly H. Crater *************************************************************************** NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS ----- **************************************************************************** * Bill Green Minot, North Dakota 58703 * Home of the * * BillUSPS@AOL.Com * NORSK H0STFEST * * Bill90@Delphi.Com * Velkommen! * ****************************************************************************