New England Historic Genealogical Society

Name

New England Historic Genealogical Society

Legal name

New England Historic Genealogical Society

Website

https://americanancestors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1845

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Genealogical Research Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG)

Keywords

• Genealogical research services
• Family history research
• Ancestry database access
• Historical records archive
• Heritage publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to databases, research services, publications, and member discounts on events and tours.
2. Publication Sales: Sale of genealogical books, research guides, periodicals, and family history publications through the American Ancestors Bookstore.
3. Research Tours: In-person research tours to locations like Salt Lake City FamilySearch Library, including accommodation, lectures, and consultations. Pricing from $1,350-$2,475 per person.
4. Expert Consultation Services: Paid consultations with professional genealogists, research services, and expert help offerings.
5. Donations and Planned Giving: Charitable contributions, planned giving programs, and corporate engagement donations supporting organizational programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

American Ancestors provides a membership-based genealogical research platform through AmericanAncestors.org, offering searchable databases of historical records (New England vital records, immigration, military, Catholic sacramental, Mayflower, and Great Migration collections) along with expert genealogist consultations, research guides, an on-demand learning library, and published journals and books. It complements these digital services with the in-person Family Heritage Experience exhibit in Boston and guided research tours to repositories such as the FamilySearch Library, supported by charitable donations and planned giving.

Product overview

American Ancestors operates as a comprehensive genealogical research organization offering a multi-platform approach to family history research. The core offering consists of AmericanAncestors.org, a database platform providing searchable records across multiple geographic regions and time periods, complemented by the in-person Family Heritage Experience at 97 Newbury Street, Boston. Additional services include expert genealogical consultations, Ask a Genealogist live chat, online research workshops, and video library content. The organization publishes multiple genealogical journals (American Ancestors Magazine, The Register, The Mayflower Descendant), manages significant research initiatives (Great Migration Project, 10 Million Names, Revolutionary Roots), and operates specialized centers (Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections). The shop offers books published under Newbury Street Press, portable genealogist guides, and research tools including EasyGenie pedigree charts and family group sheets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• American Ancestors: Primary brand name for the organization; a National Center for Family History, Heritage & Culture
• NEHGS
• Newbury Street Press
• Family Heritage Experience
• 10 Million Names
• Vita Brevis
• The Brim-DeForest Library
• The Brue Family Learning Center
• Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center
• R. Stanton Avery Special Collections

Products and services

• AmericanAncestors.org Database Membership Subscription-based access to AmericanAncestors.org, a searchable online genealogical research platform offering record collections (New England vital records, immigration, military, Catholic sacramental, Mayflower, Great Migration) and research tools for individual family historians.
• Family Heritage Experience Physical and digital exhibit space at 97 Newbury Street, Boston, featuring genealogical displays including the Patriots of Color exhibit commemorating America's 250th anniversary; open Tuesday-Saturday.
• Expert Genealogist Consultation Services Paid consultations, researcher-hire services, and live chat with credentialed staff genealogists for individuals needing hands-on family history research assistance.
• Salt Lake City FamilySearch Research Tour Annual guided research tour to the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, including accommodation (where applicable), lectures, on-site consultations with American Ancestors staff, and special-access orientations (priced from $1,350 to $2,475 per person).
• American Ancestors Bookstore (Newbury Street Press Publications) Online and Boston-based bookstore selling genealogical books, published genealogies, research guides, Portable Genealogist laminated guides, pedigree charts and family group sheets; operated through shop.americanancestors.org.
• Genealogical Journal Subscriptions Quarterly, peer-reviewed, and weekly genealogical publications covering New England research and society news: American Ancestors Magazine, The Register (since 1847), The Mayflower Descendant, and The Weekly Genealogist electronic newsletter.
• Courses On Demand and Video Library Self-paced online educational content and an archive of recorded lectures, workshops, and member-only seminars covering genealogical research topics and methodologies.
• Massachusetts Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records Database Exclusive digitized sacramental record collection (baptisms, marriages, confirmations) of the Archdiocese of Boston spanning 1789-1920, accessible through the AmericanAncestors.org database.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 million estimated Americans can trace Mayflower ancestry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership to digitize sacramental records of the Archdiocese of Boston, consisting mainly of baptism, marriage, and confirmation records from 1789-1920. This ongoing project makes these records available exclusively through AmericanAncestors.org.
• FamilySearch LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah is a key partner for American Ancestors' research tours. The organization offers guided tours, orientations, and special access to the world's largest genealogy library's collections. American Ancestors staff genealogists provide on-site consultations and lectures during tours.
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and his team to research and document Pope Leo XIV's family tree, creating educational content about the Pope's ancestry.
• Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDAR receives free admission to the Patriots of Color exhibit as a partner organization supporting the exhibit and its mission to highlight overlooked histories.
• The Boston FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Boston Foundation is a supporting partner of the Patriots of Color exhibit, contributing to the commemoration of America's 250th anniversary and highlighting diverse historical narratives.
• MA250minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMA250 is a partner supporting the Patriots of Color exhibit as part of Massachusetts' commemoration of the American Revolution's 250th anniversary.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• AncestryProTools: Professional genealogy research tooling extension of Ancestry targeted at expert genealogists — competes with NEHGS's Expert Help and Hire-a-Researcher services in the professional genealogy segment.

Direct peers

• MyHeritage: Global genealogy and DNA testing platform offering family trees, historical records, and genetic matching — competes head-to-head with NEHGS for online genealogy subscribers worldwide.
• FamilySearch: Free genealogy platform operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the world's largest shared genealogical library — direct substitute for NEHGS databases and simultaneously a research-tour partner.
• Daughters of the American Revolution: Lineage-based nonprofit membership organization that maintains genealogical records, libraries, and patriotic programming — close comparable in membership-driven nonprofit genealogy/heritage model (and an active NEHGS partner).
• Findmypast: Subscription genealogy service (owned by Ancestry) with strong British and Irish record collections — competes for the same Anglosphere family-history researcher customer that NEHGS targets with its Irish research resources.
• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society: Regional genealogical society offering member access to records, a library, and publications — comparable nonprofit membership model focused on a different U.S. region's genealogy records.
• Ancestry: Largest commercial genealogy platform with global subscriber base, vast record collections, and family tree tools — directly competes with NEHGS for paid family history researchers, but at much greater scale.
• National Genealogical Society: U.S. nonprofit membership organization for genealogists offering publications, education, and conferences — closest peer in nonprofit membership model and educational programming.

Emerging players

• 23andMe: Consumer DNA testing company with ancestry reports and family matching — overlaps with NEHGS's DNA Resources offering and competes for the consumer genetic-genealogy customer.

Broad incumbents

• Massachusetts Historical Society: Boston-based historical repository and library with overlapping archival and educational mission — comparable institutional scale and Boston footprint, though broader historical focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AncestorExperts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AmericanAncestors
• Facebookfacebook.com/nehgs
• Instagraminstagram.com/americanancestors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New England Historic Genealogical Society