Riley County Genealogical Society

History of RCGS

Riley County Genealogical Society was originally formed as the Manhattan Genealogical Society in 1961 with small group of interested people and a handful of books. They met in the home of Mrs. Herbert W. Woldt who graciously shared her home and library as a meeting place for the Society.

As interest in the Society grew, it was decided to schedule regular meetings. New members added copies of their family tree to the library and the size of the library grew.

After 18 months the members decided that their material should be distributed in the form of a newsletter. With that the Society needed to elect officers and establish token dues. As a result, Riley County Genealogical Society (RCGS) was born in 1963 and the newsletter was named KANSAS KIN.

RCGS continued to meet in the Woldt home until 1977 when it moved to the Goodnow House Barn under the auspices of Kansas State Historical Society.

By 1980 RCGS again needed to find a larger space to house the 6000-book collection. The Platt House on Claflin became available and was leased from Riley County. Volunteers made renovations and improvements to the house with donations of money and hard work and the Society moved into its present location.
 
 RCGS PAST PRESIDENTS
Name
Years Served
 
Name
Years Served
Erik P. Conard
1963 
 
Miriam Field
1992 - 1993
Loren Simmons
1964 
 
Cecil Eyestone
1994 - 1996
Earl H. Teagarden
1965 -1972
 
Jane Brown
1997 - 2000
Laurene Villard Pittman
1973 - 1974
 
Sherry Butler
2001 - 2002
Virginia Atkinson Chatelaine
1975 - 1976
 
Wann Towers
2002 - 2003
Elaine Washburn Olney
1977 - 1978
 
Dorothy Dickerhoof
2003 - 2004
Mildred Loeffler
1979 - 1981
 
Fred Delano
2005 - 2006
Annie Cunningham
1982 - 1983
 
Jim Bradley
2007 - 2009
Jay Harvey Littrell
1984 - 1985
 
Dorothy Dickerhoof
2010 - 2011
Naomi Johnson
1986 - 1987
 
Rebecca Rose
2012 - 2013
Evelyn Brown
1988 - 1989
 
Judy Regehr
2014 - 2015
Della Wray Blythe
1990 - 1991
 
Barry Michie
2015 - 2022
      Ginny Petersen 2023 - 2024