In December 1976, the HCGS was formed with 21 charter members. The core consisted of “graduates” of the Howard Community College adult education class in genealogy taught by Columbia resident Connie Catania.
The HCGS is a non-profit organization with the mission of aiding and encouraging the study of family history. Over its 40-year existence it has pursued this mission by collecting and publishing Howard County genealogical records, presenting lectures and programs on genealogy and local history, and assisting local libraries in developing their genealogical collections. HCGS currently has about 130 members.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE HCGS
1976 HCGS is founded with 21 charter members
1979 Publication of Howard County Records Volume I
1981 Publication of Howard County Records Volume II
1982 Publication of Howard County Records Volume III
1982 Production of first Four Cable TV Shows in “The Family Tree” Series
1985 Publication of Howard County Records Volumes IV and V
1987 Completion of Inventory of Howard County Church Records for Publication in the Directory of Maryland Church Records
1988 Publication of Howard County Records Volume VI
1991 Publication of Howard County Records Volume VII
1991 Production of last of 19 Cable TV Shows in “The Family Tree” Series
1993 Publication of Howard County Records Volume VIII
1993 Sponsorship of All-Day Genealogy Seminar “Voyages of Discovery” at Howard County Community College
1998 Completion of Sorting and Filing Marriage Licenses at Historical Society
2001 Publication of Howard County Records Volume IX
2001 Publication of The Civil War Enrollment and Draft of 1862 in Howard County
2004 Publication of Howard County Records Volume X – an index of the 18,500 names from all the Society’s cemetery record books
2004 Awarded the Norris Harris Prize by the Maryland Historical Society for best compilation of genealogical source records of Maryland (for Volume IX)
2005 Placement of Howard County Marriage License Index (1860-1939), containing over 38,000 records, on the Internet in cooperation with the Howard County Historical Society
2007 HCGS 30th Anniversary Celebration
2007 Awarded two Preservationists of the Year Citations by Preservation Howard County: Carolyn and Charles Denton on behalf of all who helped with recording of Howard County Cemeteries. Doris Edwards on behalf of the team that helped create the Marriage License database.
2007 Publication of transcription of Howard Gazette 1850-51 onto CD-ROM
2010 Publication of Index to Howard County Maryland Cemeteries
2011 Publication of Naturalization Records from Howard District and Circuit Court of Howard County 1840-1906
2015 Completion of the Cemetery Evaluation Project in coordination with the Howard County Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board and the Howard County Government Resource Conservation Division.
HCGS FOUNDING MEMBERS
Virginia Alexander, Columbia
Carl G. Auld, Ellicott City
Robert W. Barnes, Perry Hall
Constance B. Catania, Columbia
Jean M. Hart, Columbia
Shirley Hatheway, Columbia
Kathryn S. Herndon, Columbia
Susan E. Inscoe, Columbia
Judith Jenkins, Columbia
Linda Leber, Columbia
Oscar & Mae Lucas, Columbia
Robert E. McKnight, Highland
Ruth C. Mattson, Columbia
Mary J. Miller, Silver Spring
Betty O'Meara, Columbia
Judith Singley, Columbia
Bernice Takach, Columbia
Allan Tascher, Columbia
Raymond W. Watson, Columbia
Alexander & Zenobia Whitener, Columbia
Jan Goudreau (joined Feb 1977)
HCGS PRESIDENTS
1976-1977 Ray Watson
1977-1979 Connie Catania
1979-1981 Jack Walsh
1981-1983 Eileen Gibbs
1983-1984 Margarette Wood
1984-1985 Clyde Pyers
1985-1987 Susan Johnston
1987-1989 Duane Smith
1989-1990 Peter Lowe
1990-1991 Ed Morrill
1992-1995 Elaine Zimmerman
1995-1997 David Alliger
1997-1999 Duane Smith
1999-2001 Helen Isensee
2001-2002 Donna Mack
2002-2003 Rosemary Leonard
2003-2006 Bill Beck
2006-2007 Vacant
2007-2012 Frank Herron
2013-2016 Dennis Ayers
2016-2019 Davis Gardner
2019-2021 Jerry Kissel
2021-present Peter Kicza
