Your support helps the Wilkes Genealogical Society preserve and share Wilkes County family history through research collections, publications, workshops, and community programs.
WGS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. Contributions may be tax-deductible under current federal law; please consult your tax advisor. Our IRS Publication 78 deductibility code is PC (public charity).
Important: Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc. is independent of the Wilkes County Library and other local organizations. Donations made to the library or another group do not reach WGS—please give directly to the Society.
Financial Contributions
Membership dues help, but gifts fund operations, workshops, digitization, and new programs that dues alone cannot cover.
Online
The quickest way to support WGS is with a secure online gift.
By Check
Please make checks payable to WGS, Inc. and mail to:
WGS, Inc.
PO Box 1629
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Honor and Memorial Gifts
You may designate a gift in honor or memory of someone special. After donating, please contact us with the honoree’s name. For living honorees, include a mailing address so we can send an acknowledgment card.
Bequests
Help secure the future of Wilkes County genealogy by including WGS in your will or trust. You may designate a dollar amount, property, or a percentage of your estate. To learn more, please contact us.
Research & Digital Donations
WGS Bulletin & Blog
We welcome research and stories related to Wilkes County. Writers and researchers are invited to contribute to the WGS Bulletin or guest post on our blog. Contact us to get started.
Digital Genealogy Files
If you have compiled family history in a genealogy program, we would be glad to add it to our digital collection when possible.
- Format: GEDCOM files are preferred; most common formats and digital books can also be considered.
- Privacy: Please remove information about living people, and do not include copyrighted material owned by others.
Photo Scanning
Old photographs—especially those in damaging “magnetic” albums—can fade or stick. Volunteers can help scan photos so they are preserved for future researchers. Contact us to arrange a scanning session.
Physical Donations
Deciding what to do with a lifetime of research can feel overwhelming. WGS can help you review materials and plan a donation that strengthens our Genealogy Research Room collections.
Guidelines
Donated materials become the property of Wilkes Genealogical Society, Inc. We accept items that add useful information to our collection and that comply with privacy and copyright requirements.
Commonly accepted items:
- Family Bibles and histories — well-organized records with titles and authors when known
- Published and unpublished works — local history books, biographies, and periodicals
- Primary records — original certificates (birth, marriage, death), deeds, and probate papers
- Personal documents — journals, letters, obituaries, and newspaper clippings
- Media — video, audio, or written interviews
Photo tip: If donating physical photographs, lightly label the back with a #2 pencil—names, dates, and places when known.
Donation Forms
For material donations, please complete our donation form. If copyrighted materials need permission to host or duplicate, contact us for the current permission paperwork.
Leave a Published Legacy
WGS produces and sells dozens of unique publications. If you would like the Society to consider publishing your research, please reach out to us.