WELCOME 
The Morris Area Genealogy Society (MAGS) provides a lively forum for resource sharing, mutual assistance, and instruction for those interested in family history and genealogy. Beginners as well as more experienced genealogists profit from monthly lectures on topics relating to genealogy. 

Since our origin in 1988 at the Joint Free Public Library of Morristown and Morris Township, our Society has grown and we now meet at the Morris County Library (MCL)*, 30 East Hanover Ave., Whippany, NJ on the first Tuesday evening of the month, unless otherwise noted on the meeting schedule. Visitors are welcome at our monthly meetings. Refreshments are served at 6:15; the program runs from 6:45 - 8:15 pm.

If a monthly meeting needs to be cancelled, every effort is made by the MAGS Board to notify the Morris County Library before 3 pm, with a cancellation notification posted on this page of this website. When in doubt, please call the Morris County Library directly.

The Morris County Library meeting rooms are open.  We are making every effort to run our monthly general meetings both in person and via Zoom. See below for the latest scheduled meeting.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

​Among the benefits of membership are a subscription to the quarterly Morris Area Genealogy Society Newsletter and participation in our MAGS Special Interest Groups (SIGs). A MAGS SIG is a smaller group within the larger organization (MAGS) with a shared interest in a specific area; it focuses on particular challenges and topics such as research strategies in a smaller, less formal setting.  SIGs can provide individual help on your genealogy research. Go to our Special Interest Group page for more information.

Our newest benefit of membership is access to our private MAGS Presentation Website where recordings of most of our prior general monthly meetings are available. Click here for direct access to this website.
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Members are encouraged to volunteer their time and share their expertise by serving on committees.

*Directions to the Library. Telephone number: 973-285-6930.
​​The Morris County Library (MCL) meeting rooms have been reopened. 
Check individual SIGs to see when how they are meeting.
  • MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS -  in person at MCL; most will also be Zoom (hybrid) meetings to accommodate members who live far away.  
  • ​ BEGINNERS AND BEYOND SIG - in person 
  •  BRICK WALLS SIG -  in person
  •  DNA SIG - in person 
  • CROSSING THE POND SIG - meetings suspended until further notice - updated  May 13, 2025
  • COMPUTER GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY WRITING SIG - Zoom only
     SIG members should watch their email for notices.   

If you are a MAGS member and are interested in joining a SIG, send an email to: 
               [email protected] 
and advise what SIG(s) you wish to participate in.  ​

​MAGS - UPCOMING MEETING

​If you are not a MAGS member and are interested in attending this free meeting via Zoom, please send an email one week before the meeting date to [email protected] .​
18 Nov 2025
Hybrid
​NOTE:  Date Change
​Squeezing All the Facts Out of Your DNA Matches - by Kate Penney Howard
Near the top of your match list, you’ve got this mystery match that just might be the key to your research. The only problem is: they don’t have a visible tree and they didn’t respond to the message you sent two years ago.  But that doesn’t mean that you should give up!  

This presentation will give users of every skill level more tools to crack that difficult case.  You’ll learn about strategies for logically approaching your search, what you can glean from your match’s profile, how free & paid resources can help you, and you’ll receive a research template that will help you ensure you have left no stone unturned. 

Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist and speaker specializing in endogamy and breaking down challenging research barriers with DNA.  She brings decades of experience in family research and hundreds of successfully solved genetic genealogy cases. 
Past speaking engagements include Roots Tech, East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, the International Congress on Medieval Studies, and Untangling Our Roots. She studied vocal music and earned a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary. She has served as a pastor since her ordination in 2012.
Website last updated: 2025 October 31
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MAGS  Presentation Website
Morris Area Genealogy Society in New Jersey or MAGS


Membership access to private MAGS Presentation Website
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        This site may be linked to but not duplicated without the specific permission of Morris Area Genealogy Society [email:[email protected]].  It is permissible to print or save files for personal use only.