The Serbian Genealogical Society (Serbian: Српско родословно друштво / Srpsko rodoslovno društvo) is a learned society that is engaged in genealogical research in Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula.
The society was established in 2002, and is the successor of the Serbian Genealogical Foundation. The society is devoted to establishing genealogical infrastructure in Serbia.[1] Members of the foundation, together with other researchers in the region, created the SGS for the promotion of genealogy in its broadest sense.[2] The society strives for objective research and is not engaged in political activities, which it is prohibited from doing under its own statutes. Its founding members are: Sergei Oudman, Danica Radisic and Zeljko Jovanovic.
Article 2 of the statutes state[3]
The SGS is not a learned society although many of its members are. Members of the society include historians, sociologists, ethnologists, genealogists, and researchers, as well as amateur genealogists. The SGS has close ties with different archives in Serbia and abroad and other similar organizations. These include:
A primary goal of the SGS is to provide genealogical tools for those want to know more about their family heritage. The SGS runs an online presentation through its official website, which also provides forums, research tools, and allows people to post their family tree online for free through a system called “Moj Rodoslov”. This is done in accordance with the privacy laws in Serbia. The SGS is also responsible for a validation and accreditation programme to ensure proper quality of research inside Serbia.
The Serbian Society for Heraldry, Genealogy, Vexillology and Phaleristics, also known as the Serbian Heraldry Society, was established in 1991.[4] The society is the only professional organisation of that kind in Serbia. It is involved in research and work in the fields of heraldry, genealogy, flags, medals and honours, and the more specialized fields of insigniology, archontology and nobilistics.
The White Eagle is responsible for Serbia and Montenegro's heraldic arms registry, including responsibility for the design and drawing of the Coats of Arms for most of the states and cities of Serbia.
The SGS has different branches in Belgrade, Kruševac, Bosnia, Vojvodina, the Netherlands, and the United States. All branches have their own commissions.
The SGS provides information about the available archival resources and assists people in accessing the archival resources. Serbia, unlike neighbouring countries like Croatia, has no microfilmed archives. This makes archival work more difficult. The SGS works with archives in Serbia to make them more accessible while ensuring that archival documents are properly preserved.