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Curious About Your Family History?
The Anne Arundel Genealogical Society wants to help you discover more about your family history. We invite you to become a member, visit our research center, browse our website, and attend our monthly presentations and special events. Our Historical and Genealogical Research Center at the Kuethe Library in Glen Burnie houses more than 6,000 books, many photographs, maps, CDs, and obituary, bible, and church record collections. Because our history is so connected with our neighboring counties and states, we have an extensive collection of material from across Maryland and surrounding states.
Perhaps our most important asset is our staff of experienced genealogists. The people you will meet at the Kuethe Library and at our meetings have a wealth of experience and knowledge they are always willing to share.
Beginning, intermediate, and experienced family history researchers will find resources both usual and unusual in the Kuethe Library. Our monthly meetings feature presentations by experts on a wide variety of genealogy topics. Visitors are welcome.
Let us know how we can help you with your family history research.
On a regular basis, we email notices of upcoming meetings and events, renewal reminders, and newsletters. We have heard from some of you that you aren't receiving our email. Check here for some possible solutions.
AAGS Upcoming Program - May 15, 2025
Please join us, with the Howard County Genealogical Society, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Our speaker is Tom Flynn, who will present “Uncovering the Remarkable Life of One of My Ancestors."
My third great-grandfather, George W. Bratton was born about 1816 into a working-class family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent his early adult years as a bricklayer. From these humble beginnings, he went on to become a firefighter, veteran of the Mexican War, civil servant, shipwreck survivor, and political leader. Some of these endeavors put George on the right side of history in both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and San Francisco, California. His life story does not end with his death in 1857. In this presentation, I will detail the many resources I used to uncover George’s remarkable story including historical newspapers, the National Archives and Records Administration Philadelphia Branch, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, military records, and visits to cemeteries.
Tom Flynn began searching his family history after the airing of the TV miniseries “Roots” in 1977. He worked on his genealogy on and off over the years until he retired from his job as a research chemist. Tom joined the Howard County Genealogical Society in 2018. He was elected as a Member-At-Large of the Society in 2019, and has served as Vice President since 2021.
We hope you will join us on Thursday, May 15, 2025!
To register:
AAGS Members: You will receive the Zoom link via email before the event.
Non-Members: Please email programs@aagensoc.org to register and receive the Zoom link. We request you register no later than Wednesday, May 14, so we can send you the link in a timely manner.
DNA Special Interest Group
 The Anne Arundel Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) is a member benefit. Kathy Korin and Tom McCarriar are the group moderators. The group is open to AAGS members at all levels of DNA knowledge and experience. The purpose of the group is to explore the use of DNA as a genealogical tool, and to inform and educate members about the use of DNA in their personal genealogical research.
May 2025 DNA Special Interest Group
If you're interested in exploring how DNA can unlock family history mysteries, this group is for you —beginning, intermediate, and advanced researchers alike. Whether you’re a returning member or joining us for the first time, you’re warmly welcomed!
🗓 Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00pm ET
📍 Location: Online (Zoom) We will email the Zoom link to all AAGS members on Monday, May 19, the day before the meeting.
What’s on the agenda?
- What's New
- Work in progress - check back here for updates.
Let’s make 2025 the year of breakthroughs and discoveries in genetic genealogy.
RSVP or Questions?
Contact us at dna@aagensoc.org.
Tom & Kathy
AAGS Upcoming Program - June 5, 2025
Please join us, with the Howard County Genealogical Society on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Our speaker is Lisa Vogele, who will present “Point of Origin: How to Find Your Ancestral Village."
Don’t know where overseas your family originated from? This presentation covers a variety of sources to explore to locate your ancestor's point of origin before arriving in the United States. Examples and strategies will be provided, including resources for locating town of origin, strategies for name changes, tips for boundary changes, and overcoming handwriting & language challenges.
Lisa Vogele is a professional genealogist, Certified Travel Associate, and Chief Tree Climber at Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure. She helps clients discover their roots throughout Europe by blending her genealogy research with designing unforgettable heritage trips. She's the author of Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals and holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. When she’s not happily caught up in researching Italian or Irish records, you'll find her speaking around the country on heritage travel, genealogy, Italian, and Italian festivals or leading research tours to Ireland and Italy. Combining genealogy and travel is Lisa’s passion!
We hope you will join us on Thursday, June 5, 2025, to learn how to track down your ancestor's orogins!
To register:
AAGS Members: You will receive the Zoom link via email before the event.
Non-Members: Please email programs@aagensoc.org to register and receive the Zoom link. We request you register no later than Wednesday, June 4, so we can send you the link in a timely manner.
AAGS Upcoming Program - July 9, 2025
Please join us, with the Howard County Genealogical Society, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Our speaker is Kate Smith, who will present “Beyond the Basics: Effectively Using Ancestry.com."
Whether you're a newbie or you consider yourself an old pro, there is always more to learn on Ancestry.com. Make sure that you're using the best research practices possible while using the site. Learn how to efficiently gather as much information as possible about your ancestors and prevent yourself from climbing up the wrong branch of your family tree.
Kate Townsend is a former professional investigator turned genealogist specializing in Pennsylvania and Ohio genealogical research. She also has experience with court records, immigration, and naturalization records. Her professional path in genealogy began while working as an Archives Technician at the National Archives, where she assisted both amateur and professional researchers and worked hands-on with records dating back to the 1800s. She’s been passionate about family history since she was sixteen and brings both experience and enthusiasm to her work and presentations.
Kate enjoys helping others discover their family stories. She has presented at national and local events, including RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, NERGC, and the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference. She earned a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and has continued her education through IGHR, GRIP, SLIG, and ProGen 58. She is the owner of Family History Investigations LLC and the Immediate Past Chair of the National Genealogical Society Delegate Council.
We hope you will join us on WEDNESDAY, July 9, 2025, to up your game on Ancestry.com!
To register:
AAGS Members: You will receive the Zoom link via email before the event.
Non-Members: Please email programs@aagensoc.org to register and receive the Zoom link. We request you register no later than Tuesday, July 8, so we can send you the link in a timely manner.
Planning to Visit the Kuethe Library?
You can make the most of your time by doing some research online before you arrive. More than 5,000 of our books are now listed in the Anne Arundel County Public Library catalog. We’ve also posted indexes of our Bible records, genealogy (surname) files, and more here on our website. And we are working on an index for our Anne Arundel County obituary records. Take a few minutes to check these resources at home so you can head straight to the information you need when you arrive. We hope to see you soon at the Kuethe Library!
Anne Arundel County Probate Index
The Maryland State Archives is participating in a joint project with the Comptroller of the Treasury, the Registers of Wills, and FamilySearch to Index and scan the state's probate records from 1634 to 1940, and to make them available online. Volunteers are preparing the documents for scanning, and indexing the records. Scanned records from this project are accessible on the FamilySearch website, but they are not yet indexed. Many of the records can be accessed using the new FamilySearch full-text search capability.
Scanning of Anne Arundel County probate records has been completed. We are excited to make the Anne Arundel County Probate Record Index available to everyone researching their Anne Arundel ancestors. Use this index to identify your ancestors' probate documents either before visiting the Maryland Archives, or digging in to FamilySearch records online..
Indexes have also been completed for Caroline, Carroll, and Baltimore counties. They are available on the Maryland Genealogical Society website.
Check here for more information about volunteer opportunities at the Maryland Archives.
AAGS Publications
Grave Matters: Cemetery Inscriptions, Anne Arundel County, Maryland Volumes 1, 2, and 3 provide tombstone inscriptions, and, in some cases, additional information obtained from cemetery records, verbal conversations, privately published records, government records, individuals familiar with the sites, and family members. These books focus on the non-commercial cemeteries north of Route 50 in the county.
  
Volume 1 contains information on 92 cemeteries in Annapolis Junction, BWI Airport, Ft. Meade, Hanover, Harmans, Jessup, Laurel, Severn, and several sites just beyond the county border.
Volume 2 contains information on 45 cemeteries in Brooklyn, Curtis Bay, Glen Burnie, Linthicum, Millersville, and Odenton.
Volume 3 contains information on 69 cemeteries in Arnold, Crofton, Crownsville, Gambrills, Pasadena, and Severna Park.
The books are fully indexed by surname and maiden name. Alternate cemetery names are also included. All three books can be purchased on Amazon for $25 each. A limited number will be available at the Kuethe Genealogical and Historical Library in Glen Burnie for $25.00 each, or for a reduced price of $60 for the three volume set.
AAGS Publication - Abstracts of Land Records Anne Arundel County, Maryland (Volume 8)
 This is the eighth volume of a series started by the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society. It covers the period of 1754-1763. While the title is Abstracts of Land Records there is much more than just land transactions in these volumes. They include all the transactions recorded by the court clerk. The abstracts of land transactions include basic information including; grantor, grantee, date of deed and of recordation; consideration paid, and release of dower. Many of the transactions are not sales but what today we would call a mortgage or a loan. Collateral for such loans were the land, indentured servants, slaves, animals, and other items of value. Other actions recorded include the finding of stray horses, the ships and freight rates for sending tobacco to London, the release of soldiers, and other matters. Some of the transactions were carried out in Great Britain or other Maryland counties but involve current or former Anne Arundel County residents or property in the county.
Abstracts of Land Records, Volume 8 can be purchased on Amazon.com. Click here to buy your copy.
Member Benefits in Readings Online
Two of our publications, Anne Arundel County, MD Wills Index 1777-1918, and Anne Arundel County, MD Marriage Records 1777-1877, are now available to our members in searchable pdf format. The Wills Index provides an alphabetical list of the primary persons in each of the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) will records between 1778 and 1918, and contains the names of over 3,700 persons, the book number and page number where the record is located at the Maryland State Archives, and the year of the record. The Marriage Index is an index for brides, with 4,736 marriage records.
Click on the links above to preview these publications. Members can access complete copies in Readings Online after logging in to our website. And in case you missed it, pdf copies of The Old Stone House, by Margaret Sparrow, and Louisa C. McPherson's Book, edited by Ray Ringgold and indexed by Audrey Bagby, are already available to our members in Readings Online.
If you prefer hard copies of the Wills Index or Marriage Records, you can still purchase them for $5 in our Store, while supplies last.
St. Anne’s Cemetery Committee in Annapolis, MD Needs Your Help!
The St. Anne’s Cemetery Committee is planning to do the first major update in years for both St. Anne’s and St. Anne’s Cedar Bluff cemeteries. If you have information about individuals buried in either cemetery (name, death date or place, plot information, cemetery deed, burial plot receipt, funeral home, or obit), they want to hear from you.
Contact information:
St. Anne's Parish House (for the churchyard, St. Anne's cemetery, and St. Anne's Cedar Bluff cemetery)
199 Duke of Gloucester St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-267-9333
AA County Citizen Preservation Stewardship Program
 Until the 20th century, it was common to establish small family cemeteries on private land. These cemeteries hold an important place in the history of our communities. They represent the resting place of those who made Anne Arundel County the place it is today. The names on the headstones are often the same names given to nearby towns, roads, and landmarks. Unfortunately, unchecked development and vandalism are destroying these important cultural resources.
Anne Arundel has the largest number of cemeteries and the oldest tombstones in Maryland. County regulations do not allow cemeteries to be moved from their original location. To preserve these records of the past, and to respect the final resting places of our ancestors, we need your help documenting the current condition of cemeteries in Anne Arundel County.
Join Anne Arundel County’s Citizen Preservation Stewardship Program to help document and preserve the history of Anne Arundel County. For more information see this flyer, or visit aacounty.org/cemeteries.
Join Us on Facebook
 Already on Facebook? Log in to your Facebook page, then enter and choose Anne Arundel Genealogical Society in the search box, and ask to join. We have reached over 1,400 AAGS Facebook Group members nationwide!
New to Facebook? Go to www.facebook.com. Provide the information requested to set up your free account. Then you can "friend" other Facebook members and share your comments, photos, videos, and favorite websites. You can join groups (AAGS, for example) and send public and private messages to your Facebook friends. It's a great way to meet other genealogists and maybe even make contact with long lost relatives. Give it a try! |
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