The La Crosse Area Genealogical Society, under the sponsorship of the La Crosse Public Library and librarians Emma Diekroeger and Jean Solberg, adopted its bylaws Oct. 24, 1973. The library sponsored a genealogy institute which held workshops in 1972 for those interested in pursuing family history research.
The first officers of the club were Esther Senn as chair, Ed Polodna as vice-chair, and Joy Reisinger as secretary-treasurer. The first membership meeting was held Nov. 28, 1973, and one of the issues addressed was the concern over proposed federal legislation to limit searching in the National Archives to professional genealogists. Members Lee Grippen and Betty Jacobson were elected to the executive committee as members-at-large.
Meetings have been held monthly, and the group affiliated with the Wisconsin Genealogical Society and later the Wisconsin Genealogical Council. Speakers from the area present programs of interest to genealogists. Special all-day workshops and field trips are also offered on occasion.
In 1976, the United States celebrated its bicentennial and the television mini-series of Alex Haley's Roots caught the attention of the American public. Genealogy as a hobby has continued to grow since that time. The Society published its first quarterly publication in 1979. Incorporation of the Society occurred in the mid 1990s. The charter list of memberships totalling 46 in 1973 has grown to over 200 in 1999, with members living all across the United States.
