History of LCGS

November 25, 1975

A small group of Lee County residents interested in genealogy, meet at the home of Ernest England and discussed their family history. They discussed their family history research, and because of their enthusiasm about this topic, a second meeting was planned.  What happened next was the birth of the Lee County Genealogical Society, Inc. Highlights of the past 40 years are shown below:

1976

  • Second meeting was held with more than double the number of attendees and the name
    “Lee County Genealogical Society” was decided
  • Meetings were eld at the First Federal Building in Cape Coral
  • Membership Dues began at $3.00 per person
  • LCGS By-laws approved; in April the First Slate of Officers was presented.
  • Newsletter and Ancestor Chart Notebook
  • First Society President is Ernest England

1977

  • First Genealogy Workshop Held by Everton Publishing Co, Carl Asbury Workshop Chairman.
  • Workshop Profit Used to Purchase Forms and Books for the Genealogy Section of the Fort
    Myers Public Library.
  • Membership totals 41.
  • Society President is Ernest England.

1978

    • Library Book Committee formed.
    • Saturday Workshops Held in October for Beginners in Genealogy, Ernest England Chairperson.
    • Society President is Jane Haas.

    1979

    • LCGS Purchases and Donates Books to Cape Coral and Fort Myers Libraries.
    • Society President is Jane Haas.

    1980

      • Family Tree Climbing Workshop Held in February Ernest England Chairperson.
      • Evening Meetings Held by the Society.
      • 2,641 Microfiche Donated by Society to Cape Coral Library.
      • Society President is Carl Asbury.

      1981

      • Genealogy Beginners Workshop held in March, Ernest England Chairperson.
      • Index Prepared of Society Members’ 5-Generation Charts.
      • Society President is Carl Asbury.

      1982

        • Genealogy Workshop Held in March, Ernest England Chairman.
        • LCGS Joins the Florida State Genealogical Society.
        • Regular Meetings Moved to Cape Coral Library.
        • Society President is Horace Hall.

        1983

        • Family Tree Climbing Workshop Held in March, Ernest England Chairman.
        • Society President is Horace Hall.

        1984

          • LCGS Workshop Held in April, Carl Asbury Chairman.
          • Membership Dues $5.00 per Year.
          • Society President is Merle Stevens.

          1985

          • Genealogy Workshop Gets TV Publicity with Carl Asbury Interview
          • Salt Lake City Genealogy Research Trip.
          • Society President is Merle Stevens.

          1986

            • Society Needs Questionnaire Developed.
            • Genealogy Workshop Held in February.
            • Corresponding Secretary Position Created.
            • Society Logo Designed.
            • Membership Dues $7.00 per year.
            • Society President is Don McGavic.

            1987

            • Genealogy Workshop Held in January.
            • Society By-Laws Revised and Accepted by Society Members.
            • Surname List Developed by Earl Gales.
            • Society President is Jean Burr.

            1988

              • Articles of Incorporation filed September 2, and became the Lee County Genealogical Society, Inc.
              • Society By-Laws Revised Due to Incorporation.
              • Salt Lake City Genealogy Research Trip in April.
              • First Beginners Computer Class Organized for Members.
              • First Newsletter Published, Ruth Robb, Editor.
              •  Society President is Jean Burr.

              1989

              • Genealogy Workshop Held in January, Esther Hinthorne and Carl Asbury Chairpersons.
              • Ohio Workshop Group Organized.
              • Salt Lake City Genealogy Research Trip in April.
              • Candice Kelner Becomes Newsletter Editor.
              • By-Laws Amended for Officer Elections in December and Taking Office in January.
              • Society President is Duane Bohnstedt.

              1990

              • LCGS purchases 1850 Census Indexes for Every State and US Territory.
              • Genealogy Workshop Held in spring, Carl Asbury Chairperson.
              • Evening Meetings Held for Members.
              • Society President is Margie McCurdy.

              1991

              • Evening Meetings Held for Members.
              • By-Laws Amended, Dues to be paid in Advance.
              • Society President is Margie McCurdy.

              1992

                • Marriage Index, Lee County Marriages 1887-1924, Published.
                • Genealogy Workshop Held, Shirley Ouellette Chairperson.
                • Society Scrapbook Created.
                • Society Presidents are Ray Haas and Louise Egan.

                1993

                • Carl Asbury given Lifetime Membership.
                • Society Presidents are Marlene Freshwater and Shirley Ouellette.

                1994

                  • First Computer Class organized.
                  • Jesse Hooper given Lifetime Membership.
                  • Genealogy Books Organized in Dewey Decimal System
                  • Volunteers Available At Cape Coral Library.
                  • Society President is Geraldine Schneller.

                  1995

                  • Feasibility Committee created to Explore Alternative Sites for Regular Meetings.
                  • Society President is Carol Sanderson.

                  1996

                  • Second Annual Seminar, Shirley Ouellette, Chairman.
                  • Society President is Peg Curtis.

                  1997

                  • First Meeting of Tri-County Genealogy Reps.
                  • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim Family History Week.
                  • Development Fund,
                  • Monthly Events Calendars and Needs Assessments started.
                  • Cookbook Published.
                  • Canadian Roots Special Interest Group formed.
                  • Third Annual Seminar, Carol Sanderson, Chairman.
                  • Society President is Jean Burr.

                  1998

                    • Newsletter becomes ‘The SCRIBE’, Betty Bohrer Editor.
                    • Fourth Annual Seminar, Betty Bohrer and Carolyn Ford Chairpesons.
                    • Obituary Indexing Project begins.
                    • Regular Meeting Place now at Wesley United Methodist Church.
                    • Executive Board adds new Position, Second Vice President.
                    • Library Advisory Committee formed.
                    • Program Committee formed.
                    • Society President is Jean Burr.

                    1999

                    • Alliance of Genealogical Societies of SW Florida begins.
                    • Fifth Annual Seminar held, Betty Bohrer and Carolyn Ford Chairpersons.
                    • Library Displays for Family History Week.
                    • First LCGS Vendor Fair.
                    • Genealogical Preservation Committee
                    • Started Abstracting Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home Records.
                    • Society Presidents are Chuck Thornton and Joan Dancy.

                    2000

                      • LCGS participation in First Annual Lee County Library System Reading Festival.
                      • AGS/LCGS sponsor First Annual GENFAIR and Library Research Day.
                      • Research Trip to Salt Lake City.
                      • Computer Help Group Formed.
                      • Society President is Joan Dancy.

                      2001

                      • LCGS Participates in Second Annual Lee County Reading Festival.
                      • Member Handbook created.
                      • Sixth Annual Seminar held, Betty Bohrer and Carolyn Ford chairpersons.
                      • Lookup Services Started.
                      • By-Laws revised and Standing Rules Developed.
                      • Computer Workshops held.
                      • Germans to America Series Purchased and donated to Library.
                      • Jesse Hooper Collection Organized and donated to Odom Library in Georgia.
                      • Society President is G. Robert Baechle.

                      2002

                      • AGS/LCGS participates in Second Annual GENFAIR.
                      • Writer’s Group formed.
                      • LCGS Website Debuts in May, Phyllis Matthews Ziller, Webmaster.
                      • LCGS Logo Redesigned.
                      • LCGS Becomes Member of The Friends of the Fort Myers-Lee County Library.
                      • Betty Bohrer, Carolyn Ford and Shirley Ouellette given Lifetime Memberships.
                      • Society President is Byron Wallace.

                      2003

                      • Ancestor Tracking Seminar with George Morgan held, Carolyn Ford, Chairman.
                      • Fort Myers Library Genealogy Collection Shelf List available on Society’s web site.
                      • LCGS Stationary Redesigned.
                      • PAF and FTM Special Interest Groups formed.
                      • LCGS Tote Bag designed for Members.
                      • Society Presidents are Stan Brooks and Ruth Emmel.

                      2004

                        • LCGS Participates in Annual Lee County Reading Festival.
                        • AGS/LCGS Participates in Third Annual GENFAIR.
                        • Development of Society Volunteer Recognition Program.
                        • Society Purchases New Computer and Opens Resource Lab with Subscription to New England Historical and Genealogical Society.
                        • Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne hit Southwest Florida.
                        • Heritage Quest Online Training Classes Held by Bob Batty.
                        • Jean Burr, Bryan Mulcahy and Ken Sonne given Lifetime Memberships.
                        • Society President is Ruth Emmel.

                        2005

                        • Ancestor Tracking Seminar held with Dr. John Phillip Colletta, Carolyn Ford Chairman.
                        • Highest number of Members Ever at February Meeting – 100.
                        • Computer Projector Purchased for Use at Meetings and Special Interest Groups.
                        • Obituary Indexing Project Completed.
                        • Quarterly Saturday Meetings Held.
                        • Twigs South Special Interest Group Formed.
                        • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                        • Attendance at Hispanic Festival Sponsored by Southwest Florida Historical Museum.
                        • LCGS 30th Anniversary Celebrated at October General Meeting.
                        • Society President is Ruth Emmel.

                        2006

                          • Monthly genealogy articles written by Carolyn Ford begin publication in The News-Press.
                          • Youth Heritage Fair held at the Burrough’s Home in Fort Myers in October with estimated
                            attendance of 1,500.
                          • Society Purchases New Domain Name – www.LeeCountyGenealogy.org
                          • Society Participated in a Podcast with the Genealogy Guys – George C. Morgan and Drew Smith.
                          • New Committee formed for Youth Education with Carolyn Rowlinson as chairperson.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Society President is Ruth Emmel.

                          2007

                          • Society Joins Ink Cartridge Recycling Program.
                          • New Youth Education Committee Develops Genealogy Program for Middle School Children
                            Presented through Lee County Library System.
                          • Database Developed for Membership.
                          • March 2007 General Meeting held at Family History Center with Record Attendance – 114.
                          • Members assist in Judging at the Lee County Schools History Fair.
                          • Society becomes Education Partner with the News-Press.
                          • Society Banners Purchased.
                          • New Webmaster is Carol Rooksby Weidlich
                          • Website Development:
                            • Youth Education Webpages
                            • Surname List
                            • Recommended Books in Partnership with Amazon.com.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Fort Myers City Council Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Society Sponsors the News-Press’ EdVenture Page for Family History Month.
                          • Record Membership Total – 278 with 44 new members during the year.
                          • Youth Genealogy Book Written by Ruth Emmel for Sale by Society.
                          • New English Roots Special Interest Group organized.
                          • Society President is Ruth Emmel.

                          2008

                          • Members assist in Judging at the Lee County Schools History Fair.
                          • CD Lending Library Usage Offered to Society Members.
                          • Society Sponsors second News-Press’ EdVenture Page for Family History Month.
                          • First Family History Month Essay Contest for Lee County middle school children. 18 essays
                            received from P.L. Dunbar Middle School.
                          • Lee County, Florida Marriages 1887-1924, published by LCGS in 1992 and now out of print,
                            available at website.
                          • Family Traditions: Recipes and Memories, compiled from LCGS members and published in 1997
                            available at website.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Fort Myers City Council Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Record membership reported in December of 294 members.
                          • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                          2009

                          • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                          • Members assist in Judging at the Lee County Schools History Fair.
                          • LCGS Participates in 10th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                            Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                          • Second Family History Month Essay Contest for Lee County middle school children held.
                          • LCGS Website debuts with new design, a Members Only section and now offers searchable
                            databases: Genealogy Shelf List at the Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library and the Society
                            Surname List.
                          • Roots Magic Special Interest Group is organized.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Fort Myers City Council Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • LCGS Fall Half-Day Seminar with Donna Moughty.
                          • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                          2010

                          • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                          • Ruth Emmel awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2009.
                          • Carolyn Ford awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2009.
                          • LCGS Participates in 11th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                            Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                          • Members assist in Judging at the Lee County Schools History Fair.
                          • LCGS Spring Half-Day Seminar with Pam Cooper.
                          • LCGS Facebook debuts.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Fort Myers City Council Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • LCGS Fall Half-Day Seminar co-sponsored with Estero Island Chapter NSDAR with Debbie Duay.
                          • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                          2011

                          • January 2011 General Meeting with Record Attendance – 125.
                          • Betty Bohrer awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2010.
                          • Connie Lizak assumes role of newsletter editor for The Scribe.
                          • Members Assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                          • LCGS Participates in 12th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                            Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                          • Members Assist in Judging at the Lee County Schools History Fair.
                          • First Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Sarah Basco, Senior at Bishop Veroit
                            High School.
                          • Preservation Project – extracted and published limited copies of book titled “Voter Registration
                            Records, Town of Fort Myers and Lee County, Florida 1885-1909″. Book also made available at
                            website as e-book.
                          • Electronic Surname Form added to website for members.
                          • LCGS Obit Index Project – obituary index of Lee County residents published in the News-Press
                            between 193 and 1997 now searchable database at LCGS website.
                          • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • Fort Myers City Council Proclaim October Family History Month.
                          • LCGS Fall Half-Day Seminar with Diana Crisman Smith and Gary Smith.
                          • Charles Stewart becomes LCGS’ 300th Member.
                          • LCGS ends 2011 with 307 members.
                          • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                          2012

                            • February 1012 General Meeting with Record Attendance – 134
                            • Byron Wallace awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2011.
                            • Members Assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • LCGS Participates in 13th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                              Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • Fourteen programs presented for monthly Membership meetings and Saturday meetings.
                            • Second Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Elizabeth Hasty, Senior at Gateway
                              Charter High School.
                            • President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                            2013

                            • Members Assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • Judy Bishara awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2012.
                            • LCGS Participates in 14th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                              Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • Third Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Kayli McCreanor, Senior at Bishop Verot High School.
                            • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich

                            2014

                            • Mary Smelter awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2013.
                            • January 2014 General Meeting with Record Attendance – 115.
                            • Membership meeting location moves to Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church.
                            • Members Assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • LCGS Participates in 15th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • Received donation of genealogy reference collection from past member Byron Wallace.
                            • Fourth Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Hayden Pigott, Senior at Fort Myers High School.
                            • Fourteen programs presented at Monthly Membership meetings and Saturday meetings.
                            • Completed Phase 1 – 4 month digitization project for Anderson-Patterson Funeral Home in Lehigh Acres, Florida.
                            • LCGS ends Saturday meetings.
                            • LCGS ends 2014 with 289 members.
                            • Society President Shirley O’Donnell resigns, Carol Rooksby Weidlich becomes President per motion of the Board of Directors.

                            2015

                            • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • Carol Rooksby Weidlich awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2014.
                            • Connie Mumm awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2014.
                            • LCGS Participates in 16th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                              Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • Fifth Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Taylor Kent, Junior at Fort Myers High School.
                            • Extraction of funeral home records from the Metz Funeral Home completed.
                            • Members complete Phase 2 – renaming digital documents for Anderson-Patterson Funeral Home in Lehigh Acres, Florida.
                            • LCGS Website sponsors the Bonita Genealogy Club.
                            • New adds to LCGS Website include: words and definition glossaries; downloadable forms; research links increase to 1,709; searchable database of Fort Myers Regional Library Genealogy Collection includes over 10,600 individual reference items.
                            • 40th Anniversary on 25 November 2015.
                            • LCGS members as of November Anniversary is 279.
                            • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich

                            2016

                            • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • Connie Lizak awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2015.
                            • Carolyn Ford awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2015.
                            • Mary Beth Scott becomes Newsletter Editor, followed by Pamela Fernandez.
                            • LCGS Participates in 17th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers
                              Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • Sixth Annual High School Youth Award Contest – winner is Grace Speas, Senior at Fort Myers High School.
                            • 41th Anniversary on 25 November 2016.
                            • New Volunteer of the Year Award created.
                            • New Special Interest Groups formed: DNA and Canadian Research.
                            • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich

                            2017

                            • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                            • Ken Weaver awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2016.
                            • Gina Hamister awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2016.
                            • Liz Moore awarded Volunteer of the Year Award for 2016.
                            • LCGS Participates in 18th Annual Lee County Reading Festival with shared booth with Fort Myers Library in Adult area and booth in Youth area.
                            • 42nd Anniversary on 25 November 2017.
                            • Society President is Carol Rooksby Weidlich

                            2018

                              • Membership dues increased first time since 2002.Members assist in participation at Cape Coral
                                Irish Festival.
                              • Carolee Dunivan awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2017.
                              • Bob Batty awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2017.
                              • Rea Snow and Mike Carroll awarded Volunteer of the Year Award for 2017.
                              • Lee County Commissioners Proclaim October Family History Month.
                              • 43rd Anniversary on 25 November 2018.
                              • New Preservation Project started – scanning and indexing records of the Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home in Fort Myers.
                              • Society President position is vacant. Society guided by First Vice President Bev Sierpina, Second Vice President Suzie Favreau and Immediate Past President Carol Rooksby Weidlich.

                              2019

                              • Members assist in participation at Cape Coral Irish Festival.
                              • Nancy Swanson awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2018.
                              • Elizabeth Moore awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2018.
                              • Lori Andersen awarded Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018.
                              • Society holds Half-day Seminar with Lisa Louise Cooke on Friday, 15 March 2019 at Florida Gulf
                                Coast University.
                              • 44th Anniversary on 25 November 2019.
                              • Scanning continues on Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home records.
                              • New Special Interest Groups formed: Scandinavian Roots and Beginners.
                              • James and Carol Weidlich given Lifetime Memberships.
                              • Society President Gretchen Fisher

                              2020

                              • Chris Jenner awarded Bob Baechle Award for Overall Leadership for 2019.
                              • Pamela Fernandez awarded Jessie Hooper Library Awareness Award for 2019.
                              • George Anthony awarded Volunteer of the Year Award for 2019.
                              • Scanning continues on Harvey Engelhardt Funeral Home records.
                              • LCGS Membership Meetings go Virtual in March due to COVID-19.
                              • Society President is Bob Helgeson.