By Tammy Miller, Berks County Genealogical Society
Have you ever wondered who your ancestors were, where they lived, or what their lives were like? Perhaps you have an old family story you have always wanted to prove, a photograph with an unidentified face, or an ancestor who seems to have disappeared from the records.
The Berks County Genealogical Society is here to help you discover those stories.
The Berks County Genealogical Society is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving Berks County’s genealogical history and helping people discover and document their family stories.
Our genealogical library, located in the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts at 201 Washington St., Room 413, Reading, is open seven days a week from 12 to 4 p.m. (closed on holidays). Keeping those doors open every day is possible because of the dedicated volunteers who generously give their time and knowledge to the Society.
Thousands of records under one roof
Whether you are beginning your family tree or have been researching for decades, our library contains thousands of records and resources that can help you along the way.
Our collection includes tax records, land records, birth and death records, church and pastoral records, military records documenting those who served, family histories, cemetery records, local histories, yearbooks, annuals, and many other resources from Berks County and beyond.
But one of the most valuable resources in our library isn’t found on a shelf — it’s our volunteers.
Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers are available to help visitors locate records, understand the resources available in our collection, and discover new places to search when they have reached a genealogical roadblock.
Research help when you can’t visit
Not everyone researching Berks County ancestors lives nearby. For those who cannot visit our library or who need more extensive assistance, the Society offers genealogical research services.
Our volunteer researchers can search our collection and other available resources to help individuals learn more about their Berks County families and ancestors.
Programs you can attend from anywhere
Education is also an important part of what we do.
Each month, the Berks County Genealogical Society hosts a speaker program covering genealogy, local history, DNA, research methods, records, and other topics of interest to family historians.
Our programs are offered both in person and via Zoom, which means you don’t have to live in Berks County — or even Pennsylvania — to join us.
The Society also publishes a quarterly genealogical journal featuring Berks County history, family research, records, stories, and other material devoted to preserving and sharing our area’s history.
Visit for a day or become a member
You don’t have to be a member to come through our doors and start researching. Visitors are welcome to use the library for a $5.00 day-use fee.
For those who want to make genealogy a regular part of their lives, we offer annual memberships starting at $40.00.
As a nonprofit organization, memberships and donations are vital to the future of our Society. The money we receive helps us keep the library open, maintain our collections, preserve genealogical materials, and purchase new books, records, and other resources for researchers.
When you become a member or make a donation, you aren’t simply supporting an organization — you are helping us preserve pieces of Berks County history so they remain available for future generations.
Volunteers are the heart of our society
The Berks County Genealogical Society is operated by volunteers, and we offer several volunteer opportunities for people who would like to become involved.
You don’t have to be an expert genealogist to volunteer. Whether you enjoy history, helping people, researching, working with records, organizing materials, or simply want to learn something new, there may be a place for you at the Society.
Our volunteers work hard to keep the library available to the public seven days a week and to help researchers experience one of the best parts of genealogy — that moment when a name, date, document, or photograph finally connects another piece of a family’s story.
You don’t need years of genealogical experience to visit us.
You simply need to be curious.
Sometimes all it takes is one name, one date, or one old record to open the door to an entire family story waiting to be discovered.
Berks County Genealogical Society
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
201 Washington St., Room 413
Reading, PA 19601
Library hours: Seven days a week, 12-4 p.m. (closed for holidays)
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