South King County Genealogical Society

Mission Statement

• Stimulate interest in genealogy and aid individual members in compiling their family records.
• Seek genealogical and historical knowledge.
• Preserve and perpetuate the records of our ancestors.
• Promote the preservation of public and private genealogical materials.

History of South King County Genealogical Society

The South King County Genealogical Society was founded in the summer of 1979 by the late CarolLe Berry of Auburn, Washington. CarolLe had been teaching a series of genealogical research classes at the Kent Public Library, and she noticed that the same people attended most of the classes. It was suggested that a club or society be formed, with regular meetings.

In the fall of 1979, an agreement was completed making this fledgling group a branch of the Seattle Genealogical Society. This provided the newly formed group the benefit of the SGS newsletter and library collection. Officers were elected and a schedule of regular meetings was established.

Hilda Hemmingson Meryhew was elected the first president. She recalls, "No one volunteered to be president. CarolLe said if no one volunteers, we can't form our society. It seemed very hopeless to me, so I thought, 'why not?' I had no idea what I was doing, but we learned fast and it was a challenge, and fun and very rewarding."

Words she wrote in the society's first newsletter continue to reflect the philosophy of the society to this day: "To leave a record of the past as a guide to future generations, to be able to penetrate the past, solve a problem or meet and conquer a challenge, is an experience of great satisfaction."

Changes occurred over the years. In June 1984, members voted to break from SGS, and in September 1984, South King County Genealogical Society became a society in its own right.

SKCGS has published pedigree chart books, cemetery books and death indexes, hosted seminars and workshops, and taught research skills classes at local libraries. Its members meet, as they have from the start, on the third Saturday of each month, except July, August and December, in Kent, WA. They remain committed to the goal of preserving the legacy of our past for future generations, helping each other along the way.