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The Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society is a great group of passionate, dedicated genealogists with a lot to offer both Pennsylvania residents, and those who now live far from their Pennsylvania roots.
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Genealogy Tip:

In 1754, the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania entered into a dispute over the ownership of what is today the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, including the present-day counties of Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and portions of Allegheny and Beaver. The dispute continued throughout the course of the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War, and during this time many Southwestern Pennsylvania settlers purchased their land from the colony of Virginia.

In 1780, commissioners for the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania were appointed to draw proper boundaries, and in 1784 and 1785, new meridian lines were run confirming the present-day boundaries of Pennsylvania. As part of the deal, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania honored the claims of those holding land under Virginia certificates. These lands were resurveyed and Pennsylvania patents were issued to the owners (in many cases this might be a different owner due to the length of time between the original Virginia Certificate and the new Pennsylvania patent). For this reason, information regarding land claims in the disputed area prior to 1780 is generally found among the records of both states.

Become a WPGS Member:

Membership in the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society opens doors to a wealth of records and friends for those with an interest in the families of Western Pennsylvania. Learn more about membership in WPGS.

Upcoming Events

September 11, 2010

Fort Pitt Indian Traders
Chris Kubiak

Historian, Chris Kubiak will present a program about the Indian Traders from Fort Pitt.
10:00 a.m. - 12 Noon. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Free and open to the public. Reservations not required. Just show up! $5 parking fee at the Carnegie Library.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Lecture Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

October 9, 2010

Guided Tour of Allegheny Cemetery
Jude Wudarczyk

Special meeting for WPGS members! Meet at Allegheny Cemetery at either 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. for a guided 2 hour walking tour of beautiful Allegheny Cemetery. Tours are long and strenuous, so please wear appropriate shoes and bring a water bottle.
Tour Times: 10:00 a.m. - 12 Noon and 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Registration is required for this event.
Please call 412-622-3154 to register. Event fee of $5.

Allegheny Cemetery
4734 Butler Street (Lawrenceville)
Pittsburgh, PA 15201

November 13, 2010

Ahnentafel, German WWII Lineage Records
John T. Humphrey, CG

Genealogist, John T. Humphrey, will present a lecture about Ahnentafel lineage records from WWII Germany, recently released by the National Archives.
10:00 a.m. - 12 Noon. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Free and open to the public. Reservations not required. Just show up! $5 parking fee at the Carnegie Library.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Lecture Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

More Upcoming Meeting Dates

WPGS meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month from September through June (no meetings in July and August, or in December).

January 8, 2011
February 12, 2011
March 12, 2011