Society
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GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF FINLAND

Genealogical Society of Finland

The Genealogical Society of Finland is a non-governmental organization, open to all, whose purpose since 1917 has been to promote well-researched genealogy. As an education and memory institution, the Society endeavors to unite genealogists, ensure the on-going viability of genealogical research in Finland and to develop the know-how of genealogists.

Activities

The Genealogical Society of Finland is an academic society and is the national organization for specialists and cooperation in the field. The purpose of the Society is to promote the research of Finnish family and personal history and to share its knowledge and results. Everyone interested in genealogy as a hobby or as research can join the Society. The Society currently has c. 8500 members.

To fulfill its purpose, the Society organizes training events, creates publications, produces database services, maintains a library and cooperates with other instances in the field.


Membership

The Society is Finland's only scientific genealogical society. It's activities are aimed at everyone from novices to those who have much experience with genealogical research. The primary aim is to provide genealogists with various tools to develop their hobby. The main such tools are educational and advisory services as well as the Society's online services. The Society has both membership benefits as well as services that are free to use for everyone. Members receive a 30% discount on publications and educational events.


The Genealogist's Badge

The genealogist's badge is made of silver and depicts the family tree that is in the Society's coat of arms and logo. The coat of arms and logo was designed in 2012 by Petteri Järvi (MP) and it was actualized by the heraldist Harri Rantanen. The badge is produced by the goldsmith Tuomas Hyrsky.

The badge can be bought by anyone to signal their interest in genealogy and it can be ordered from the Society's online shop. The price of the badge is 22,50 € (incl. postage within Finland).


Online services

The Society provides various online services that genealogists can use to help their own research. The best known of these is the Hiski database of parishes' historical books. Other services of the Society include SukuHaku, available as a membership service, which contains directories and digitized materials, and MyRoots, open to everyone, for doing research and exhibiting results.

Educational services

The Society organizes educational events for genealogists to promote high quality research. Their topics include the use of primary sources, digital services for genealogy, writing advice, the use of genomic information in genealogy and historical phenomena and events relating to the lives of ancestors. The Society's educational services consist of evening classes, seminars and training days.


Advisory services

The Society not only provides education but also advice which is always available online. Discussions on genealogy can be done on the Society's Facebook group and on SukuForum. General advice about genealogy and the Society's services are available by email or phone and also in events and the premises of the Society.

Rules

The current rules of the Society were implemented in 2014. They define the Society's purpose and forms of operation, its membership groups and operating bodies. The latter includes the Society's board and its spring and fall meetings. The rules state what issues must be discussed in the spring and fall meetings and what are the duties of the board. The board's bylaws define in more detail how the Society makes decisions in matters under the responsibility of the board.


The coat of arms and logo

The family tree has been the symbol of the Society since 1928. The emblem on the old seal stamp was modernized in 2016 into a logo on the basis of which the Society designed its coat of arms. The coat of arms is also seen in the Society's flag which was commissioned for the Society's centennial celebrations. The coat of arms has been entered into the Finnish Heraldic Society's registry of coat of arms.

Honorary, researcher and corresponding members

According to the rules, the Society in its spring and fall meetings may invite honorary, research and corresponding members into the Society. Members of the Society may nominate potential members to the board. Nominations with references are to be sent to the director of the Society.
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