Tennessee Genealogical Society
for all of Tennessee since 1954

Tennessee Ancestry Certificate Program

The Tennessee Ancestry Certificate Program was initiated during the 1986 Tennessee Homecoming Celebration. Under the program developed by Amelia (Pike) Eddlemon and Lincoln Johnson, certificates of ancestry are issued to persons providing documentary proof (family charts or computer printouts are not considered sufficient proof.) that their ancestors resided in the area that is now Tennessee at any time from the first settlement in 1769 through the year 1880. Applications for the certificates have come from thousands of persons across the country and
overseas -- all of them proud to proclaim their Tennessee ancestry.

We invite you to place your ancestor(s) in this roll of honor. An application is available HERE.

Attractive hand-lettered certificates suitable for framing are issued to each person whose application meets program qualifications. Additionally, two books, Tennessee Settlers and Their Descendants, have been published from these certificates. Volume 1 contains applications received before 31 December 1993. Volume 2 is a compilation of information submitted between 1, January 1994 and 31 December 2004. This volume reports on 266 early Tennessee families with over 1,400 surnames. Both volumes are fully indexed and may be ordered from TNGS.
Volume 3 is currently being compiled. Let us include your Tennessee Ancestor.

For applications or additional information, go to www.TNGS.org or write the Tennessee Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 381824, Germantown, TN 38183-1824