The archival holdings of the AFAOA began with the research efforts of Edith Austin Moore as she searched for her Austin ancestors. From 1922 until her death in 1979 Edith compiled a collection of Austin genealogies and research data and eventually produced books or manuscripts on eight Austin lines. To further her Austin research, in 1942 Edith and her brother, Henry Warner Austin, founded the Austin Family Association, which later became the Austin Families Association of America. Janet Austin Curtis continued her work, followed by Bonnie Austin Bigolin from 1990 to 2001, and Liz Austin Carlin since then.
We currently have more than 70 databases representing over 172,000 individuals who are either surnamed Austin, have married an Austin, or are children of an Austin. Our databases are updated regularly. Since we first posted our data online in 1991, we have made our data freely available for non-commercial use by everyone.
- 2026 - Became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization incorporated in Michigan
- 2026 - Transitioned website to responsive technology for use on smaller mobile screens.
- 2023 - Monthly Members Webinar Series Initiated
- 2020 - Initiated partnership with Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center (ACPL-GC)
- 2018 - All databases migrated to The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding (TNG) software.
- 2011 - AFGS research data preserved by AFAOA and made available for research on this web site.
- 2010 - New website operating software implemented.
- 2003 - Austin-Austen DNA Project funding jointly sponsored with AFGS.
- 1998 - Some Descendants of Richard Austin of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1638 published.
- 1995 - AFAOA genealogy web site created.
- 1991 - AFAOA Database Computer Project begun.
Research requests are free for AFAOA members and simple inquires from the geneal public will also be honored. If you have a more in-depth research request we suggest you consider joining AFAOA and supporting our charitable and educational mission or consider making a donation. If you send a search request, please include family group sheets (or equivalent information) on each Austin generation as far back as possible, always citing your sources with photocopies of documentation where possible. The more information you provide us, the better the search we can do for you.
