Our Founding

The Seeley Genealogical Society (SGS) was founded by Rev. Garner Osborn in 1965. A native of Burr Oak, Iowa, he was the son of William Osborn and Alice Seely, eleventh generation in descent from Robert Seeley.

Suggesting an association to prevent the “loss of vital family information,” he wrote in Issue #1 of the SGS Newsletter, dated March 1965, “BETWEEN YOU AND ME, LET’S GET STARTED!”  He proposed including all Seeleys “spelled in over 25 different ways.”  He envisioned a “Board of Directors, some in each region of the nation,” and the need to charge annual dues.

The Society has embodied his vision for nearly 60 years now, growing to include a Constitution and Bylaws, a Board of Directors, an active member base, and recognition as the preeminent keepers of Seeley family genealogy and history.

Who We Are

We welcome, as members, the descendants of the Seeley surname of all spellings to include those who by marriage have acquired another surname, and anyone who has an interest in Seeley genealogy. Known surname spelling variants include Seelye, Seely, Selee, Sealey, Sealy, Seela, Cilley, Ceely, Ceilly, and Ceilley; however, all similar spellings or variants are included.

Purpose and Mission

Our purpose is to:

• Create community amongst present-day Seeleys, and
• Connect Seeleys to their family history.

To do so, the Society engages in a variety of activities including:

• Curating Seeley Family Information: Researching, studying, verifying, discussing, collating, publishing, disseminating, and preserving Seeley information for the education and benefit of its members and for posterity.
• Responding to Queries free of charge from all that inquire about Seeley ancestral lines.
• Publishing a Periodic Newsletter.
• Maintaining the Seeley Website with an abundance of information.
• Holding SGS Reunions every other year at locations across the U.S. and Canada.
• Organizing Trips on occasion to explore Seeley family history at notable locations.
• Funding SGS Research on members’ ancestors, history, and, where appropriate, “brickwalls.”
• Maintaining a Seeley Ancestor Database for use by the SGS Chief Genealogist.
• Coordinating DNA Testing to assist members with their research.
• Maintaining an SGS Facebook Page to provide a continual form of communication with members.
• Supporting The Seelye Research Center (SRC) in Abilene, KS, which is the archival home for Seeley documents, artifacts, and genealogies.
• Maintaing an SRC Document Index to assist researchers at the SRC.
• Producing Seeley Publications containing the descendants of immigrants Robert and Obadiah Seeley.
• Providing Items For Sale including:
  • A CD-ROM containing the three SGS publications, copies of SGS funded research, and a newsletter archive.
  • SGS T-shirts, tote bags, and other donated items.