Society of Genealogists Membership
Investigate your ancestors, discover your unique family history and connect with fellow genealogists
There’s only so far you can take your family history research without support, and as you’re here, there’s a good chance you’ve reached that point already.
👉 Perhaps your progress is being thwarted by a page of aged and indecipherable handwriting or an impossible to navigate archive.
👉 Or you know you’ve made an incorrect connection somewhere on your family tree, but you’re not sure where or how it happened, and now you’ve got a whole branch to unravel.
👉 Maybe you’ve got plenty of dates and locations, but you’d love for that information to have more meaning so you can connect with the real lived experiences of your ancestors.
When you bump into these roadblocks, it’s difficult to know who to ask for help, and you might start questioning your abilities and thinking that maybe genealogy just isn't for you.
The truth is, genealogy is a complex and intricate puzzle that requires patience and perseverance (what you already have) and support and guidance (what we can provide).
Founded in the heart of 1911, the Society of Genealogists has been a champion of heritage exploration for over a century.
Our mission is to help you:
Investigate your ancestors
Preserve, organise and analyse your genealogy, and
Delve into social history….
…so you can connect with your past and discover your unique family history.
The Society of Genealogists now has two types of membership:
- Standard: Best suited to people whose main goal is to access our collection of records.
- Gold: Best suited to people who want to improve their research techniques and genealogical skills, gain a better understanding of the historical context of their family tree, and have access to expert support when they need it.
What’s Included:
Below is an outline of what’s included in both the Standard and Gold membership:
Online Palaeography Club - Standard and Gold
Elated to find a document relating to an elusive ancestor only to find yourself thwarted by the handwriting? Under the expert eye of archivist Caroline Adam, each month you’ll work on transcribing a real document, looking at letter forms and abbreviations, and honing your palaeography techniques. Learn about various genealogical documents from a wide range of time periods. Remember to book your ticket in advance.
Quarterly Brick Wall buster sessions - Standard and Gold
Our 90-minute quarterly Zoom sessions hosted by a range of expert genealogy volunteers. Crowdsource the answers to your brick walls in the company of fellow members. Bring your genealogical conundrum, and we’ll help you bust through it, so you can get back to making steady, satisfying progress with your family history research.
Online Access to our collection of records - Standard and Gold
We have a collection of 11,000,000 archived records that we have made available online. Our Library is not a record office of public deposit but often acts as a record office of last resort, taking in records that haven’t found a home at the National Archives or similar repositories.
Our collection includes:
Education Records
Apprenticeship Records
Wills and Probate Records
Court Records
Poor Law
Birth Briefs
Pedigrees
Access to our Research Hub (North London) - Standard and Gold
Our Research Hub on Wharf Road, London, was created by genealogists for genealogists and is designed to be welcoming and inclusive to anyone researching family history, whether they’ve been doing it professionally for a number of years or started just last Tuesday.
There is no need to be nervous or intimidated. Unlike many other archives or libraries, we were created specifically with family historians of all levels of expertise in mind - it was created for you.
Visit the Research Hub to:
Use our computers to access records with Ancestry, FamilySearch, Find My Past, The British Newspaper Archive and The Genealogist
Meet with other Society members in-person
Meet with our onsite experts
See documents from our archive*
Access our collection of 15,000 books*
*Please give advance notice of your visit so we can make sure we have the records or books you need on site
Regular Virtual Socials - be a part of our online community - Standard and Gold
Join our vibrant online community of fellow genealogy enthusiasts for our online meet-ups. From monthly socials hosted by expert speakers, to quarterly catch up sessions and a thriving book club. Engage in discussions, share research findings, and exchange tips and tricks with like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about uncovering their family history as you are. Hosted on Zoom.
Course Discount - special member-only pricing - Standard and Gold
We offer a wide range of virtual educational programmes, covering subjects as diverse as calligraphy family trees to migration during the Early Modern period. From one-day subject-specific courses to 12-week skill courses that take you from basics to advanced. These courses are available to buy separately, and all our members can enjoy a special 20% discount on our popular courses.
The Genealogist’s Magazine, our quarterly journal - Standard and Gold
Our flagship publication is 100 years old. Delivered quarterly to your inbox, our journal provides informative, interesting stories, plus society news.
(The printed version is available to buy separately if you prefer to read a hard copy.)
What's Included In Gold Membership?
Unlimited Access to Expert Talks (1 and 2 hour-long sessions) - Included with Gold Membership
Gold members have an open invitation to a vast array of expert-led talks, which you can watch live (online) or as a recording after the event.
The experts and topics will help you upgrade your genealogical research skills, and gain historical understanding, giving context and meaning to the ancestors you have discovered.
Gold members are able to book a ticket to attend live or watch the replay any time within 12-months of the original recording - at no additional charge - it’s all included in the Gold membership fee.
(Standard Members can purchase tickets to each talk separately, in advance of the event, and have access to the replay for 1 month, but cannot purchase access to talks that have already taken place.)
Occasionally (at the request of the speaker), Expert Talks will only be accessible live, with no recording available afterwards or recordings available for shorter periods.
In 2024, you can enjoy topics as diverse as Graham Walter’s exploration of 'Cloud Computing for Genealogists', to John Hanson’s ‘My Ancestor Came from Yorkshire’, to a journey through the history and development of civil and criminal courts with Sarah Pettyfer.
Interactive Workshops - Included with Gold Membership
Held once a month, these interactive workshops run on Wednesdays for 1-2 hours. Previous workshops have covered topics as diverse as using graphic design tool Canva for genealogy, timelines, and photography! Due to the interactive format of these workshops (and for the privacy of the participants) these sessions are not recorded, so you must attend live to take part.
(Standard Members can purchase tickets to workshops in advance.)
Armed Forces Advice Hour - Gold Membership Exclusive
We meet monthly over Zoom with Graham Bandy, a former British Army Officer and a military history expert. This is the place to come to get help deciphering your ancestors’ military papers, to identify where to look for further records, or to get those mysterious photos containing badges, caps and / or uniforms identified.
Digital Versions of SoG Publications - Gold Membership Exclusive
Download and read over 30 eBook versions of SoG publications, including many from the popular 'My Ancestor Was…' series including 'My Ancestor Was a Railway Worker' and 'My Ancestor was an Agricultural Labourer' (who hasn’t got one of those in their tree?).
Ask The Experts Forum - Gold Membership Exclusive
Consider this your 'Dear Agony Aunt' space, where you can post your own unique questions and learn from the answers given to other people’s questions. Each month, we’ll select at least 5 questions for our experts to answer. Our specialists have expertise in a wide range of archives, DNA, pre-17th century to 21st century records, brick wall busting, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish genealogy, the military, and more.
Professionals Corner - Gold Membership Exclusive
This private forum space exclusive to Gold members is the perfect place for professionals (or those considering going pro) to discuss everything from reporting writing to designing a talk to end-of-year accounts! Professional Corner Talks are included with your gold membership (as outlined above). Use this section of the forum to discuss the questions, ideas, and insights these talks have raised for you.
Membership Levels Overview
With the exception of visitor access to the Research Hub on Wharf Road, all features of the Society of Genealogists membership, Standard and Gold level, are delivered online, meaning you can access them from anywhere that has an Internet connection.
| Membership Feature | Standard | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Online Paleography Club | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Quarterly Brick Wall buster sessions | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Online Access to our collection of records | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Visitor Access to the Research Hub in London | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Regular Virtual Socials | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| The Genealogists Magazine | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Discount on Courses | 20% off non-member price | 20% off non-member price |
| Membership Feature | Standard | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Advice Hour | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Ask the Experts Forum | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Professional Corner Forum | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Expert Talks | ❌ Book and Attend live (usually afterwards) | ✔️ available 12 months. No need to book in Access the back catalogue at any time. |
| Interactive Workshops (live attendance only) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Over 30 SoG Publications as downloadable Ebooks | ❌ | ✔️ |
Not a Member Yet?
Standard Membership
£85 per annum
Ideal for those most interested in access to our record collections (online or in person).
Gold Monthly Membership
£15 per month
Perfect for those that want to try Gold without making a big commitment.
Gold Annual Membership
£150 per annum
Best value for money. Great for those that want to dive into family history learning.
Reminder: The Society of Genealogists is a charity; your membership helps fund our charitable activities, from youth conferences to rescuing at-risk historical documents to keeping the doors of our Research Hub open!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any eligibility requirements or prerequisites to becoming a member of the Society of Genealogists?
No, there are no requirements or prerequisites.
I'm already a member, how do I upgrade to Gold?
Please email membership@sog.org.uk and we'll be delighted to help you.
Is Gold Membership suitable for beginners or is it more geared towards experienced genealogists?
Gold Membership is suitable for every level of expertise.
I'm already a member and I'm booked on talks, what happens to these when I upgrade?
We'll take this into account when we work out your upgrade price.
Can I cancel my monthly membership?
Yes, you can cancel your membership at any time. You will have access to all your membership privileges until the day your next payment was due to go out.
Can I cancel my annual membership?
If you cancel within 14 days - Yes, you can cancel and receive a refund for your annual payment (or upgrade fee).
After 14 days - Yes, you can cancel future payments. You will retain access to all the benefits of your membership until the day after your membership was due to renew.
Can I rejoin after I've cancelled?
Yes, you're welcome back at any time, at whatever the current rate is advertised on our sales page.
What happens if I book to attend talks and then I cancel my membership?
Your talk bookings are valid for the duration of your Gold membership. Tickets for talks taking place after your membership has lapsed will no longer be valid.
Can I buy this membership as a gift for someone?
Yes absolutely! Please email membership@sog.org.uk and we'll help you to do this.
I'm not a member yet and I'm booked on talks, what happens to these when I purchase membership?
You'll get a refund for any talks you are already booked onto. Please get in touch with us on membership@sog.org.uk and we'll help you.
Do I need to pre-book onto talks or clubs?
Yes for Clubs. Talks must be pre-booked if you wish to attend live. But there’s no need to book to view the recording, which will be added to our Gold members library.
If I join, do my payments auto-renew?
You can choose to pay by card or direct debit, both of which will auto-renew but the renewal can be cancelled at any time.
For those upgrading auto-renewal will depend upon how you currently pay and your current renewal date.
Where can I find out more about upcoming talks and courses?
Visit our Events page here for full details on all our upcoming talks and courses.
Standard Membership
£85 per annum
Ideal for those most interested in access to our record collections (online or in person).
Gold Monthly Membership
£15 per month
Perfect for those that want to try Gold without making a big commitment.
Gold Annual Membership
£150 per annum
Best value for money. Great for those that want to dive into family history learning.