The Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the history of Somerset County, its customs, and its lifestyles.  The Society was established in 1959 and has been the leader in local historical preservation and education since its formation.  The Society is an associate group of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) and its local site, the Somerset Historical Center.  The Society provides support through staffing and programming at the Commonwealth-owned Center, but also remains a separate entity continuing with its own collections, genealogy, and projects.

As we continue to expand and improve our programs and facilities we need your help and support.  Please consider becoming a member of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, Inc.  Volunteer your ideas, energy, time and enthusiasm to our efforts!

  
 
 
 

Membership benefits include....

Unlimited free admission to:

The Somerset Historical Center, western Pennsylvania’s rural heritage museum, featuring the award-winning Patterns on the Land agricultural exhibit.

All regularly scheduled activities at the Somerset Historical Center, including lectures and changing exhibits (special events, workshops, and Mountain Craft Days excluded).

The Historical Society Genealogical Library containing;

  • Histories of Somerset and neighboring counties
  • Family genealogies consisting of books and over 1,000 family files
  • Church and Baptismal records
  • County cemetery records to circa 1930
  • Microfilm copies of Somerset County Courthouse records including wills and estate records, birth and death records, deeds and land grants, tax assessments and census records, and microfilm copies of early area newspapers

THE LAUREL MESSENGER

  • Members receive a free subscription to the Historical Society’s quarterly publication featuring articles on local history and genealogy.  Members may also place genealogical queries and submit articles for publication.
    Sample issue

SOCIETY EVENTS

  • Members are invited to attend the Society’s annual membership banquet and program, the annual membership meeting, and other Historical Society events.

SOCIETY LECTURES

  • The Society regularly hosts speakers on topics of historical interest at the Somerset Historical Center.

WORKSHOP SERIES

  • Participants have the opportunity to learn such vanishing skills and folkways as coopering, wooden rake making, rug making, and open hearth cooking. 

GIFT SHOP DISCOUNT

  • Members receive a year-round 10% discount in the Museum Shop on purchases over $10.00.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Members receive early-bird specials on Society publications at pre-publication rates.

 

Membership Information

Five Categories of membership in the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County are available:

  • Student (age 18 and under) . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.00
  • Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25.00
  • Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 35.00
  • Sustaining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 55.00
  • Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1000.00

To obtain a copy of the Historical Society's membership application please click on the hyperlink below and use your browser to print it out.  The application is saved as an Adobe PDF file and requires the free Adobe Reader program to open it. Adobe Reader can be obtained from the Adobe website at adobe.com

 

Click Here to Download a Membership Application

For more information please contact Bernice Sarver at the Somerset Historical Center c-bsarver@state.pa.us

Somerset Historical Center
10649 Somerset Pike
Somerset, PA 15501

Telephone (814) 445-6077
Fax (814) 443-6621

The official registration and financial information of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free 1-800-732-0999.  Registration does not imply endorsement.  Notice required by Act 202