About Williamsburg Area Genealogical Society
The Williamsburg Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) was formed in 2019 and currently has over 50 members. General Meetings, open to all members, guests and visitors, are held at the on the second Wednesday of every month from September through May. See the meeting information for time and location. Each meeting includes a speaker who is expert in some aspect of family research, as well as a member who shares a significant research tip.
Our Mission
The purpose of WAGS is to inform, engage and inspire it's members, and others in the community, to promote the collection, interpretation, and preservation of genealogical records by:
- Researching and studying family history,
- Sharing knowledge of methods and standards,
- Promoting fellowship among its members, and
- Providing support for genealogy research outside of the Williamsburg area in response to suggestions and questions from WAGS members and non-members in the community.
Operating Year: Jan - Dec 2024
Board Members:
- Debbie Misiag, President (president@wagsva.org)
- Kathi Aielllo, Secretary (secretary@wagsva.org)
- Richard Cady, Treasurer (treasurer@wagsva.org)
- Anne Brennan
- Karen McPherson
- Peg Becker (webmaster@wagsva.org)
- Joe Segar
History of WAGS
WAGS owes it inception to the Osher Program at the College of William and Mary. In 2019, Karen McPherson offered a class called 'Creative Genealogy'. 30 people signed up for this class. At the end of the last class, Debbie Misiag raised her hand and said 'This has been too much fun to stop now. Let's form a club!'. To which Karen responded: 'Fine as long as you lead it'. And Debbie has led this group. WAGS was born and has thrived for more than five years. In 2019, the first meeting was held at Debbie's house, sitting around her dining room table and talking about how they could form this group. WAGS started with 12 - 15 people and has now grown to close to 60 people in membership.
