Many people have asked us, "With all the information available on the internet, why are you starting a Stafford Society, and what does it mean to me"?

The Stafford Society will provide many additional benefits beyond what is currently provided by the internet and the use of genealogy software applications.

·       The Stafford Society will provide a single repository of all information and documentation collected by members.  Many researchers spend large amounts of time collecting data: birth certificates, photos, GED-COM files, etc.  What happens when your files or photos are lost or damaged?  What happens when the "family" genealogist passes on and there is no one immediately interested in taking on that role given the burden of sorting through all of the files, certificates and other items that has accumulated over many years?  Often, these resources are packed up and either put away where it is forgotten, or much worse, sent to the dump.  What a shame that all of this history is lost.

·       The Stafford Society is about developing an accurate single version of the facts.  In today's society we seem to think that anything in print or on the web is gospel truth.  In fact, a lot of the information is inaccurate, or incomplete.  All information needs to be verified, checked and sourced against the best data available.  Only then, can all Stafford families be assured of their full and accurate heritage.  The Stafford Society is here to collect and document all information on all persons who are part of the Stafford family.  We are constantly striving to find connections between the various Stafford lines and combine them into the smallest number of branches.  We will use DNA evidence whenever possible to verify the connections we have made and to establish new connections between Stafford branches.

We are a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Washington which will be around for many, many years.  As such this assures that the work will continue forever, even after we are gone.

As a non-profit society, we welcome any donations to expand our work.  We are a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization.  All donations are tax deductable.

Most importantly, we welcome you to join your cousins and other relatives in this endeavor as a member.  Membership in the Stafford Society allows you access to the special Membership section of our web site which is growing and evolving continuously.  Of particular interest is our Genealogy section which contains nearly 120 separate and distinct Stafford branches.

John Elbert Stafford

President (2005-2009)

The Stafford Society