Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International

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About Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International

Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) is the leader in providing educational, cultural, historical, and genealogical resources, with a special emphasis in providing opportunities for our members to research and discover their heritage.

Research and connect with families from the Czech and Slovak ancestral lands. CGSI focuses on the areas of the present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia. This includes Czech (Bohemian), German-Bohemian (Böhmisch), Hungarian, Jewish, Moravian, Rusyn (Ruthenian), Silesian, and Slovak ancestry.

The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) was founded on March 26, 1988 with an organizational meeting at the historic CSPS (Czech-Slovak Protective Society) Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota.

More than 20 attended this initial meeting. The society, known originally as the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society, was originally a branch of the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS). Mark Bigaouette is credited with being the founder of the society and served as president from 1988-1997.

Membership growth was moderate during the first year and a half, but following the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in November 1989, people's interest in tracing their family history back to Europe and "the old country" exploded. The society grew at a rapid pace from December 1989 through 1996 when it reached 4,000 members worldwide.

On August 26, 1991 the society was incorporated and became known as the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International.

On March 9, 1992, the non-profit society received federal tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and the society also became independent from the Minnesota Genealogical Society.