The history & founders of our Irish Society
IGSI: A legacy of over 45 Years
| 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 | The Minnesota Genealogy Society (MGS) opened its first library in St Paul. Within a 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 to review and index the Irish Collection.of journals and newsletters. |
| 2011 | IGSI became independent of MGS – incorporating as an independent society – yet continues to partner 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. |
| 2014 - 2020 | IGSI co-sponsored, with The Irish Ancestral Research Association (TIARA), a biennial Celtic Connections Conference. |
| 2017 | IGSI implemented its third website, using a platform that allowed multiple volunteers to contribute content. IGSI's blog was moved to the new platform. Members could now post and maintain their own list of ancestral surnames for collaboration with other researchers. |
| 2020 | During the Covid-19 epidemic, IGSI converted the Celtic Connections Conference to an online format. Educational offerings in general moved to a webinar format, with viewings of recordings available for sale to members. |
| 2024 | IGSI started offering hybrid classes, offering both virtual and in-person webinar participation. |
| 2025 | IGSI hosted its first Irish Heritage Day, bringing in presenters from the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, offered in a hybrid conference format. |
| 2026 | IGSI releases its 5th-generation website on a "responsive" platform, allowing much improved utility on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. |
In Memoriam
The current leaders of IGSI stand on the shoulders of our founders and legendary contributors who built the Society we are now so proud of. In this space we try to profile, as possible, notable forebears of the Society.
Beth Mullinax
Beth was a a member by 1983 and was long a central figure in the evolution of IGSI. By 1984 she was First Vice President of the Irish Interest Group and Program Director, serving until 1986. She moved on to teaching classes, organizing trips to Ireland, and by 1988 was the Library Committee Chair and founded periodic "Irish Days" in the Library.
By 1989 Beth's role with the library was summarized as "Library acquisitions / Irish Day / new books / heritage centres / tours," as well as providing research help for patrons. She attended Irish Fairs in the Twin Cities & Miwaukee to represent IGSI.
In 1989 Beth was a candidate for Second Vice President and her nomination profile read: "Beth has been with the Society for many years and has found her niche in developing major relationships with Irish genealogical resources such as heritage centres and in purchasing publications and microfiche not generally available in the US. She
also led her first research tour to Ireland last year and it was a phenomenal success."
Beth continued on the Executive Board and was elected President from 1992 - 94.
