Why Join?

Whether you're a family historian, history buff, art lover or antiquarian, we have data, programs, and services you won't find anywhere else. We are America’s founding genealogical organization (we've been around since 1845), the most respected name in family history, and one of the leading non-profit organizations in the field. We are dedicated to helping our members research their own family history through our datasets, educational programs, exhibitions, and other inspirational experiences. A membership is the key to unlocking access more than a billion searchable names, award-winning publications, unique materials, and personal help from experts and support staff. 

We have over 1.4 billion searchable names on AmericanAncestors.org, with 224 databases that are unique to our website. Our records span twenty-two countries covering the United States, the British Isles, continental Europe, and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American genealogical records and the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines.

With an Individual-level membership or higher, you receive the award-winning print magazine American Ancestors magazine, and also online access to all past issues. This full-color, richly-illustrated publication is one of a kind in the field of family history, and is filled with research stories, original scholarship, feature articles, profiles, and much more.

You will also receive online access to the NEHG Register, the longest continually published academic journal in the field, first published in 1847. 

We also have several ongoing original study projects and initiatives such as the Great Migration study project, the Historic Catholic Records project, and the Georgetown Memory project. These groundbreaking initiatives will inform and inspire new family history research for generations to come. 

We have more than 50 full-time, experienced genealogists on staff who help members with research, produce content for our publications, and who are fully engaged in moving the field of family history forward. Our experts offer help via the Ask-a-Genealogist chat service, conduct research-for-hire, and produce free educational webinars and Research Guides, but their primary focus is serving our members. Our genealogists are leaders in the field and have expertise that spans across the globe and back centuries.

Our Membership team is dedicated to supporting you on the phone, via email, or chat, whatever your preferred method of communication! We provide 9-5 support Monday through Saturday, and we are delighted to help explain any aspect of your membership benefits in detail, and direct you to where you would like to go online or in-person. Our members are always our top priority!

Your membership helps further our mission, which is to inspire, educate, and connect family historians everywhere! We are America’s founding genealogical organization, the most respected name in family history, and one of the leading non-profit organizations in the field. Our members and donors help us to create enriching opportunities for members and the public to research their own family history, attend educational programs, exhibitions, and other inspirational experiences that communicate the power and importance of family history.