The Washington County Genealogical Society (WCGS) was organized August 5, 1997, at the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. Around 60 people were present who elected officers and appointed a committee to draw up bylaws. By the end of 1997 membership had grown to 179 charter members. 

 

The first major project of the Genealogical Society was the re-publication of two popular books that had long been out of print:

• The History of Brenham and Washington County published in 1915 by Mrs. R. E. Pennington

• The Cemeteries of Washington County compiled and published by Nathan (Nath) and Judy Winfield of Chappell Hill.

Later publications included the following books:

• Washington County Marriages dating back to 1836

• Historical Homes of Washington County 1821-1860 by Betty Plummer 

• The Common School Districts of Washington County, Texas 1909- 1967, originally published by the Brenham Louise Giddings Retired Teachers Association and republished by WCGS in both print and searchable CD.

 

The Toubin family provided a grant in 1997 to create the Sam and Rosa Toubin Genealogy Room at the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. Charles and Joy Blake, members of the society, were able to secure two Exxon grants, along with several private contributions, to aquire microfilm of the census records for all Texas Counties from 1850 through 1900. Other library resources include 57 volumes of the World Family Tree on CD along with Social Security Records, Marriage Records, Immigration Records and Census Indexes. The Society used proceeds from the sale of books to continue to enhance the resources of the Genealogy Room at the Library.

 

In 2004, WCGS began a Cemetery Project which included documenting all the approximately 240 cemeteries in the county. We’ve added histories of the family cemeteries and have included additional information when available for individual burials. These are being entered on our website by cemetery name and added to Find A Grave. Photographs have been taken of many of the tombstones and are continually being uploaded. We strive to transfer our Find A Grave memorials to descendants. This is an ongoing project with many individuals contributing their time and effort. 

 

In 2010, we created our www.bluebonnetgenealogy.org website, now bluebonnetgenealogytx.org as of 2025, and have been adding cemeteries, obituaries, histories, etc. to share with others. We also assist individuals who are in need of help with their family history research, and especially use our expertise of county history to help establish where families settled and where their burial sites are located within the county.

 

In 2016, WCGS began a project to GPS the locations of all of the schools that have ever existed in the county. We are using 'The Common School Districts of Washington County, Texas 1909-1967' as our original source. We are also using the deed records of the county, old newspaper articles, and memories of many interested individuals. This information will be placed on a map so that those locations will be saved for the future.

 

In 2024, members of WCGS approved a revision to the Bylaws in order to bring our organization up to date with technology and changes in our plans and visions for the future. In 2025, members approved a new webhosting site along with a new domain name. The new website will enable members, both current and new, to apply for membership and pay dues. It will also host a Cemeteries page with an interactive map.

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