To the official DCGS Web Site.
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The Douglas County Genealogical Society is a Federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is registered as such with both the Federal Government and the State of Georgia. So, please, carry on, explore, and enjoy your visit with us.
This web site is here to provide the public with information about our society and its activities, as well as information about events and activities in the County. We also would like to encourage you to join our society, and especially so, if your family tree has connections to Douglas County or its predecessor, Campbell County.
Our web site first went live in May of 1998, hosted by member Larry Noles (an AT&T employee), using his personal space on the AT&T Worldnet site. Larry served as Web Master until Carole Gregory took over in 2002. Carole served until Tom Rogers took over in 2003. Tom served until Chuck Jackson (the current Web Master) took over in 2010.
We hope to encourage you to get involved with your own genealogy. It would really be best to get started while you are still young and energetic, before all the people who actually know (the elders of your family) are gone forever.
Well, maybe not that young!
We have seen far too many take an interest in genealogy later in life and then lament - "Oh, if only I had asked aunt/uncle/grandma/grandpa so-and-so about this before they passed away! They would know!" And thus begins the long trek through courthouses and libraries.
Here, on this site, you may learn about our History, Projects, Accomplishments, People and Schedule (below). Feel free to browse around and explore our web site. We believe that you will find some interesting (perhaps even fascinating) and fun to browse material. We have a few OnLine Resources to help you with your Douglas County research, with more coming in the future. We also have the society's landmark accomplishment, the Heritage Book of Douglas County, for sale.
If you have comments or questions about any of our products or services, or simply need more information, you may contact us by sending an e-mail to the Society President, anytime, and you will be placed in contact with the Society member most qualified to assist you. If you have comments or questions about the web site, in particular, please email the Web Master.
We have attempted to ensure that, mostly, any short term interest stuff (any pages without the normal menu seen above at left) open in a new tab or window so you can just close it when you are finished.
Come back often. The site is always changing, as you can see from the Page Last Updated notification at the bottom of each page. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to assisting you in your quest.
Last Program:
The last program March 28th) was Primary Resource Materials and How to Use Them, presented by Susan Terzich.
Next Program:
The next program (April 25th) is unknown at this time, but I am sure Claudia is still seeking photographs for our DCGS Scrapbook. Please bring whatever you might have.
Regular Meeting Schedule:
The Douglas County Genealogical Society meets on the 4th Thursday of each month, except for the November and December meetings, which are held on the 3rd Thursday of the the month, to avoid interfering with holidays and family get-to-gathers around the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
The regular meetings begin at 6:00 pm and are held in the Fellowship Hall (downstairs) of the Heritage Baptist Church, located at 8800 Rose Avenue, Douglasville, Georgia. The parking lot entrance is on Selman Drive, on the right, just a few yards down from the traffic light at Rose Avenue and Selman Drive. For those not familiar with Douglasville, there is a map (and driving directions - courtesy of Google Maps) on our Contact Us page.
At the request of our host, we must tidy up and clear the room by 7:45 pm.
Please note, the December meeting is our annual Christmas Dinner. Originally, our Christmas Dinners were potluck affairs (everyone brought a dish of some kind), held at either a members home, a local business's conference room or a local churches fellowship hall. As we grew, this became too much of a burden on the members, so now we simply make reservations and meet at a local restaurant. This may be just about anywhere in Douglas County, and not necessarily on the 3rd Thursday, as we must adapt to the selected venues availability.
Additionally, our most recent Christmas Dinner (2023) wasn't even dinner, but a lunch - held at Hudson's Hickory House. Many of our members had expressed a reluctance (or inability) to drive at night, especially to a location they may not be familiar with.. Therefore, the decision was made to have the occasion during the daylight hours. This brought an objection from those still working who pointed out they would not be able to attend. So, rather than leave anyone out, we broke completely with our long standing tradition and made the 2023 occasion a lunch, held on a Saturday. It was a great success, with 13 members present, bringing along 7 guests to get their first taste of the Society camaraderie. There is a strong possibility this will become the new tradition.
The date, time and location of each Christmas Event will be announced by at least the November meeting (usually before), and the pertinent information, complete with directions and maps, will be posted here, right at the top of this page, under the NOTICE heading.
We have a private Facebook group for the paid members of the society. I urge all of you to sign up for a Facebook account (it's free) and then email the President for an invite to join the group. When you become a member of the group, you will have access to electronic copies (PDFs) of nearly all the Society Newsletters.
As a further inducement for you to join our Facebook group, take a look at the Newsletter Index, a PDF file, which has brief descriptions of the content of each issue. Additionally, the title and publisher of the primary article in each issue of the Newsletter is listed on our History page. You may find that we have published something that is of great interest to you.
The Society Constitution and By-Laws have been posted to our Facebook group as well as here, on our web site. Eventually, other documents deemed to be of some importance to the Society may be posted, and possibly, even videos of some of our meeting presentations.
We would also like to hear from the members about their favorite genealogy web sites, so they can be shared with the visitors to our web site. Sadly, we have received more link suggestions from those visitors than we have from members of the Society. Come on, people - there must be some useful sites that aren't in our list - tell us about them!
A few members have provided neither the surnames they are researching nor a photo for the web site. Check on the Current Members page to see if we have your names and a photo. If not, just drop an email to the Web Master, listing the names and/or attaching a photo.
If anyone has photos from a society event which is NOT currently documented on the Events page, please contact the Web Master, with a brief description and, hopefully, a date. Digital, print or even negatives will be fine (our scanner can handle both).
We are also looking for any advice you might offer about the web site. Such as, what you would like to see on it or what you would like to NOT see on it. No guarantees, but any and all suggestions will be carefully considered.
And now for the interesting stuff...
Scroll on down for upcoming local events of interest, if any.
Blues Angels Air Show!
The Blue Angels date back to 1946, when the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester Nimitz, envisioned a flight exhibition team in order to raise the public’s interest in naval aviation and to boost Navy morale. Since then, the Blue Angels have been thrilling crowds all over the country.
Georgia's ONLY stop for the legendary Blue Angels in 2024, will be as a part of the Vidalia Onion Festival's Air Show. This year, they are taking the excitement up a notch with not only the U.S. Navy's elite pilots demonstrating heart-stopping maneuvers, but also a lineup of skilled performers, including the precision of the Georgia State Patrol and a selection of the finest aerial talents. Witness a show of breathtaking formations, precision flying, and exhilarating acrobatics that promise to captivate and amaze.
The Vidalia Onion Festival takes place on April 25 through 28, at 114 Jackson Street, Vidalia, GA. The Air Show will be on Saturday and Sunday (April 27 and 28). The Friday Night Concert (April 26) will be headlined by Georgia's own country sensation and Grand Ole Opry member, Lauren Alaina! The multi-platinum artist is all set to dazzle with an unforgettable performance, featuring her new single at country radio "Thicc As Thieves" and selections from her newly released EP, "Unlocked". The three-time chart-topper, known for her powerful vocals, dynamic stage presence, and high-profile performances, is expected to draw fans from across the country to the festival.
For more information, visit the Festival Web site.
DEA Pill Take Back Day (Spring)!
Do you have old or expired medications? Douglasville Police Department has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other community partners during the DEA Pill Take Back Day to help you clean out those medicine cabinets. NO sharps or inhalers will be taken at this event, just medications.
No questions asked, no forms or ID required. Liquid and pills are accepted. You can leave your medications in the original containers or empty them into a sealed plastic bag.
Absolutely no medications are to be dropped off to the police department before or after the scheduled event times.
When: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Where: Douglasville Police Department 2083 Fairburn Road, Douglasville.
Contact: Sgt. Shannon Dean, by phone at (678) 293-1621 or by Email.
The arrival of Spring signifies a time of renewal and new beginnings. This event offers an opportunity to engage with our neighbors, discussing transformative ideas that will enhance the fabric of our community. Additionally, we will pay tribute to our Veterans by connecting them to a range of resources available to assist them. It will be a day of celebration, honor and fun.
To become a vendor, please contact Dep. Shelly Kimball at 678-486-1297 or by Email.
Special Election - Board of Commissioners District 3!
Remember, this is also the date of the general Georgia State
Primary, for all offices, other than U. S. President, which was
held on Tuesday, March 12. Sorry you missed it!.
Summer Cars & Cops Event!
Saturday, June 1st
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
What better time to show off some awesome, unique, antique, and detailed cars, trucks, and motorcycles than a fun day out with family and friends at a car show. This event is $25 to participate and free to attend. Whether you wish to bring your car and participate in the show, request to be a food vendor, or want to just come and see all the day has to offer, we invite you to get information ahead of time and make this a day for the whole family. We are looking for a few vehicle-related vendors and food trucks.
If you wish to check possibilities and want to reach out to Sgt. Dean, please feel free.
Let’s have a fun-filled day together!
We do ask participants to pre-register and fill out a form so that we will know how much space is needed. Registration is through Thursday, May 23, but we will have same day registration. We will be using our parking lot, and possibly grass, depending on the weather prior to the date, and the number of vehicles.
Location:
Douglasville Police Department, 2083 Fairburn Road, Douglasville.
For more information contact:
Sgt. Shannon Dean 678.293.1621 deans@douglasvillega.gov
Today in History
Historical U. S. Flags
Georgia Image of the Day
Mayors of Douglasville, (1875-present)
Our Current Flags:
The United States Flag
The Georgia State Flag
The Douglas County Flag
The Douglasville City Flag
The Villa Rica City Flag
