Groups/Societies and Institutions (GSI) Database

Joining a genealogical society/group is a great way to get help with your research. There are thousands of genealogy societies/groups in the U.S. and Canada. Consult the database of the Federation of Genealogical Societies to find one in your area. Other institutions such as heritage centers and large research libraries can also help you. Those listed below can specifically help with Irish research.  All of the American organizations in the listing on this page are depicted on the map.



List updated 3 December 2016.

Arizona
McClelland Irish Library - Frances McClelland Genealogy Research Center
Based in Phoenix, AZ
There is a dedicated genealogy center with a professional genealogist, access to a number of subscription websites, and a collection of genealogy publications.
Located at 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004.

California
San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society - Irish Research
Based in Alamo, CA
Meets every second Wednesday of the month at 10am.
Meetings are held at the home of a member, see link for more details.
San Roman Valley Genealogical Society meets at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo, CA 94507.

Southern California Genealogical Society - Irish Interest Group
Based in Burbank, CA
Meets every fifth (yes, fifth) Sunday of the month (four times a year).
Meetings held at Southern California Genealogy Society building, 417 Irving Drive, Burbank, CA 91504.

United Irish Cultural Center
Based in San Francisco, CA
This organization has a considerable library of genealogy and history books, newspapers, journals, and microfilms.
It is located at 2700 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116.

Colorado
International Society for British Genealogy and Family History
Memberships are sent to Centennial, CO
Despite the name, this organization also focuses on Irish genealogy.
This organization does not seem to have a physical location. Please see the website for more details.

WISE (Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England) Family History Society
Based in Denver, CO
Usually meet on the fourth Sunday of the month at 1.30pm.
Meetings held at Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Department, Level 5, 10 West Fourteenth Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204.

Connecticut
Connecticut Irish American Historical Society - Genealogy Group
Based in New Haven, CT
Previously held meetings but no longer seems to.

Florida
Lee County Genealogical Society - Irish Roots Special Interest Group
Based in Fort Myers, FL
Meets on the second Tuesday of the month.
Meetings held at the Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

The Villages Genealogical Society - Irish Genealogical Research Special Interest Group
Based in The Villages, FL
Meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 10am.
Meetings held in the Chula Vista Recreation Center, 1011 Rio Grande Drive, The Villages, FL 32159.

Illinois
Irish American Heritage Center
Based on Chicago, IL
Genealogy session held on the last Sunday of every month from 1-3pm.
Sessions held at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630.

Newberry Library
Based in Chicago, IL
Large collection of genealogy material including a considerable holding of Irish genealogy books and material relevant to the study of the Irish across the U.S.
Located at 60 West Walton St., Chicago, IL 60610.

Indiana
Allen County Public Library - Genealogy Center
Based in Fort Wayne, IN
This library has one of the largest genealogy collections in the U.S., including a large amount of publications related to Irish genealogy.
Located at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Iowa
Iowa Genealogical Society - Irish Special Interest Group
Based in Des Moines, IA
Meets every third Tuesday of the month.
Meetings held at Iowa Genealogical Society Library, 628 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316.

Maine
Maine Irish Heritage Center
Based in Portland, ME
This organization has a considerable genealogy library, museum & archive, and genealogy service specializing on the Irish in Maine.
It is located at 34 Gray St., Portland, ME 04102.

Maryland
Washington, DC Family History Center - Irish Genealogy Group
Based in Kensington, MD, just north of the district.
Meets every first Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm.
Meetings held at the Washington, DC Family History Center, 10000 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD 20895.

Massachusetts
Boston College - Irish Genealogy Collection
Based in Chestnut Hill (near Boston), MA.
University library with a dedicated Irish genealogy/Irish Studies collection.
It is located at 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.

Cape Cod Genealogical Society - Irish Special Interest Group
Based in Cape Cod, MA
Meets held on the fourth Monday of each month at 10am.
Meetings held at Dennis Public Library, 5 Hall St., Dennis Port, MA 02639.

Friends of Irish Research
Based in Brockton, MA
Meetings held a number of times every month.
Located at 899 North Main St., Brockton, MA 02301.
Calendar of Events

New England Historic Genealogical Society - Library
Based in Boston, MA
This organization has one of the largest genealogy collections in the U.S. It includes a considerable amount of Irish genealogy records and records and information pertaining to the Irish in the U.S. and Canada.
Located at 99-101 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116.

The Irish Ancestral Research Association
Based in Newton, MA
Meets every second Friday evening of the month, or on the following Saturday morning at various locations. On Friday nights, the meetings are held at Brandeis University, Mandel Center for the Humanities, Room G3, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453.
Calendar of Events

Michigan
Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan
Based in Detroit, MI
Meets every third or forth Saturday of each month at 10am, except in July and August.
Meetings held at Gaelic League of Detroit, 2068 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48216.

Minnesota
Irish Genealogical Society International
Based in St. Paul, MN
Meetings held at Minnesota Genealogical Library1185 Concord Street North,  Suite 218,  South St. Paul, MN 55075.
Irish Days.

Missouri
Kansas City Irish Center 
Based in Kansas City, MO
Monthly genealogy workshops and one-on-one sessions with a researcher.
Located at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Suite 700, Kansas City, MO 64108.

St. Louis Genealogical Society - Irish Special Interest Group
Based in St. Louis, MO
Meets four times a year.
Meetings held at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters, 1640 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131.

New York
American Irish Historical Society
Based in New York City (New York, NY)
Library and archives has more than 10,000 volumes concerning Irish American history, genealogy, newspapers, literature and art.
Located at 991 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028.

Archives of Irish America at New York University
Collection focusing on the Irish migration experience and American Irish ethnic identity
Located at Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012.

Buffalo Irish Genealogical Society
Based in Buffalo, NY
Meets once a month on various Saturdays at 10.30am.
Meetings held at Buffalo Irish Center, 245 Abbott Rd., Buffalo, NY 14220.

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library - Grosvenor Room Irish Collection
Collection of Irish genealogy books, records and resources.
Located at 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203.

Irish American Heritage Museum
Based in Albany, NY
Regular meetings, lectures, and consultations available.
Located at 370 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207.

Irish/British Genealogy Group
Based in New York City
Meets regularly of various locations.
Calendar of events

Irish Family History Forum
Based in Bethpage, NY
Meets every third Saturday of each month at 10am, except in July and August.
Meetings held at Bethpage Public Library, 47 Powell Avenue, Bethpage, NY, 11714.
Calendar of events

Irish Family History Forum - John Rowane Memorial Library
Based in Plainview, NY
Large collection of Irish genealogy material.
Located at 160 Washington Ave., Plainview, NY 11803.

Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy (New York Public Library)
Based in New York City (New York, NY)
Large collection of genealogy material including a considerable holding of Irish genealogy books and material relevant to the study of the Irish in New York City, and across the U.S.
Located at 5th Ave. and 42nd St., First Floor - Room 121, New York, NY 10018.

New York Irish Center
Based in Queens, NY
Various genealogy events and programs held throughout the year. Check website for specific dates.
Located at 10-40 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101.

Troy Irish Genealogy Society
Based in Troy, NY
Meetings monthly at Moscatiello's restaurant, 99 North Greenbush Rd., Troy, NY 12180 or Finnbar's Irish Pub, 452 Broadway, Troy, NY 12180.

Westchester County Genealogical Society - Irish Study Group
Based in Dobbs Ferry, NY
The genealogical society meets at 10am on the second Saturday of every month (September - June).
Located at United Methodist Church, 600 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.

Ohio
Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati
Based in Cincinnati, OH
Genealogy consultations available by appointment (scroll to bottom on the page).
Located at 3905 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226.

Irish American Club East Side
Based in Cleveland, OH
Occasional genealogy workshops.
Located at 22770 Lake Shore Blvd., Euclid, OH 44123.

Western Reserve Historical Society - Irish American Archives
Based in Cleveland, OH
Collects, preserves, and makes available for research the papers and photographs of the Cleveland Irish community and the historical records of Irish organizations and institutions in northeastern Ohio.
Note: The Irish American Archives Society contributes to the WRHS Irish American archive.
Located at 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.

Pennsylvania
Balch Institute
Based in Philadelphia, PA
Documents the histories and experiences of ethnic groups in the United States, including the Irish.
Located at 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Irish American Genealogical Society
Based in Philadelphia, PA
Meets once a month on a Thursday at 11am.
Meetings held at the Irish Immigration Center of Greater Philadelphia, 7 South Cedar Lane, Upper Darby, PA 19082.

Utah
Family History Library
Based in Salt Lake City, UT
The largest genealogy collection in the world. Collection has Irish genealogy books, microfilms, and access to digitized records.
Located at 35 NW Temple, Salt Lake City, UT  84101.

Virginia
Fairfax County Genealogical Society - Irish Family Special Interest Group
Based in Falls Church, VA
Meets on the second Saturday of every month at 1pm.
Meetings held at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA.

McLean LDS Family History Center
Based in McLean, VA (just across the Potomac river from Washington, DC)
This Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) Family History Center has one of the world's largest collection of microfilms for Irish research on permanent loan.
Located at 2034 Great Falls St., Great Falls, VA 22043.

Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress
Based in Washington, D.C.
One of the largest libraries in the world.
Located at 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC, 20540.

McLean LDS Family History Center
Based in McLean, VA, just west of the district.
This Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) Family History Center has one of the world's largest collection of microfilms for Irish research on permanent loan.
Located at 2034 Great Falls St., Great Falls, VA 22043.

Washington, DC Family History Center - Irish Genealogy Group
Based in Kensington, MD, just north of the district.
Meets every first Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm.
Meetings held at the Washington, DC Family History Center, 10000 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD 20895.

Washington (state)
Eastside Genealogical Society - Irish Interest Group
Based in Bellevue, WA
Meets at the Bellevue Family History Center, 10675 NE 20th St., Bellevue, WA 98004.

Irish Heritage Club of Seattle, Washington - Occasional genealogy events
Based in Seattle, WA
Contact organization via email (genealogy@irishclub.org) for more information. The organization held a one-day event in 2013.

Seattle Genealogical Society - Irish Interest Group
Based in Seattle, WA
Meets every third Saturday of the month from 10:15am - 12:15pm.
Meetings held at the Seattle Genealogical Society, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.

Wisconsin
Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin
Based in Milwaukee, WI
Meet every first Monday (usually) of the month, except August.
Meetings held at the Shorewood Public Library, 3920 N. Murray Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211, and the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center2133 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233.
Calendar of events

Canada
Irish Canadian Society - Irish Genealogy

Canada - Ontario
British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa
Based in Ottawa
Meets every month.
Meetings held at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4.
Calendar of events

Ontario Genealogical Society - Ireland Special Interest Group

Ontario Genealogical Society (Ottawa Branch) - Irish Research Group
Based in Ottawa
Meets every fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm.
Meetings held at McKnabb Community Centre, Craft Room, 180 Percy St., Ottawa, ON K1R 6E5.

Canada - Prince Edward Island
Benevolent Irish Society of Prince Edward Island
Based in Charlottetown, PEI
Lectures about Irish immigration to PEI and Irish surnames, see website for details.
Meetings held at 582 North River Road, Charlottetown, PEI,C1E 1J7.



6 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, these groups seem to focus on Irish in the area where the group is located. New England = New England Irish. If your Irish ancestors settled in another part of the US, NYC in my case, you are out of luck.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Anonymous,

    NYC is very well catered for Irish genealogy and I have two listing for the city - the Irish/British Genealogy Group and the New York Irish Center.

    Also, one of the largest groups, the Irish Family History Forum, meets in Bethpage (Long Island) every month. It's about 50 miles east of Manhattan. When I lived in NYC I took the LIRR train out to Bethpage to attend meetings.

    There are still advantaged to joining a group even if you don't live near one. Read my post to find out.

    Regards,

    Joe

    ReplyDelete
  3. I found your blog today and am writing on behalf of the Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin (IGSW). Please update your monthly schedule for the IGSW from "except December" to "except August." Thank you!

    Regards,
    Tim May
    VP, IGSW

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. To follow the Charity Commission the name can't be deluding and it's implied that it can't be hostile in any capacity.
    Donateers

    ReplyDelete