Mission / Purpose
IGSI's mission is to provide genealogical education and assistance to its members and to assist the community at large discover Irish history, culture and heritage.
Our Federal tax (EIN) number is 90-0629967.
Operating Year: January - December 2025
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Appointments needed by 2026
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Officers & Directors
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Committees
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Meeting Info
Virtual Board meetings are held the third week of each month.
Please contact an officer in advance if you'd like to attend, just in case we changed our meeting time.
The Hoffman Research Library is located at the
Minnesota Genealogy Center
1385 Mendota Heights Rd, Suite 100
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120
IGSI: Over 40 Years of Evolution
Our history
| 1979 |
An Irish Interest Group (IIG) formed within the Minnesota Genealogy Society (MGS) in the Twin Cities area, with 23 charter members. The parent Society encouraged each nationality among their members to form a separate Interest Group. |
| 1981 |
Our first presence at what is now known as the Irish Fair on Minnesota. The IIG began publication of a regular newsletter. |
| 1983 |
The Irish Collection was inaugurated with a few books. |
| 1985 |
MGS opened its first library in St Paul. The next year the tradition of “Irish Day” in the library began on second Saturdays monthly. The IIG hosted a 3-day Irish Research Seminar held at “Saint Thomas College” in St Paul. Today, The University of St Thomas has a Center for Irish Studies and an Irish library collection focusing on Irish literature and titles relating to the Irish in Ireland. |
| 1988 |
The Irish Genealogical Society (IGS) was formed, yet remained affiliated as a branch of the Minnesota Genealogical Society. The association was close enough that the new Society’s publication continued to be known as the “Irish Interest Group Newsletter.” |
| 1989 |
The IGS newsletter was renamed The Septs, published quarterly. The word “sept” refers to a clan, tribe, or family, proceeding from a common progenitor, and is used especially in reference to the ancient clans in Ireland. The first IGS-sponsored trip to Ireland was a success. |
| 1993 |
The society’s named changed to what we know today – Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI). In applying for copyright on the prior name, it was found that another group existed with the same name. |
| 1996 |
The first web page for IGSI was made available. While the Internet became the most common way for new members to join, genealogical societies generally saw a decline in membership as records and repositories became available online. |
| 1997 |
IGSI joined the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). |
| 2003 |
The Periodical Index Project (PIP) effort began for the Irish Collection. |
| 2011 |
IGSI became independent of MGS – incorporating as an independent society – yet continues to collaborate by having our Irish collection housed in the MGS Library and retaining office space cooperatively with MGS. We continue to affiliate with MGS as a partner organization in their consortium with many other societies at the Minnesota Genealogy Center. |
For an excellent summary of the first 25 years of IGSI, see Val Morrison’s article in the July 2006 issue of The Septs, linked
here.
