The Clay Family Society (CFS) is a member-supported historical and genealogical organization that values scholarly rigor, ethical collaboration, and respect for personal data. To support those values, CFS maintains a small, coherent set of governance documents that define expectations for conduct, data stewardship, intellectual property, and the use of Society resources. These documents are not intended to burden participation, but to create a shared framework of trust and accountability.
At the foundation of this framework are our Privacy Policy and GDPR Statement, which explain what personal information CFS collects, why it is collected, how it is protected, and the rights individuals retain over their data. These policies apply to all visitors and members and reflect CFS’s commitment to responsible data handling, whether information is collected through the website, membership processes, genealogy tools, or Society communications.
The Terms & Conditions of Use establish the general rules for using the CFS website and associated online resources. They define acceptable use, limitations of liability, and the relationship between users and the Society. These terms apply broadly to all users, whether or not they are members, and provide the legal and operational baseline for accessing CFS digital services.
The Code of Conduct articulates behavioral expectations within the Society’s collaborative spaces, including research groups, communications, events, and online interactions. Genealogical research depends on trust, evidence-based reasoning, and respectful disagreement; the Code of Conduct exists to protect those conditions and to ensure that collaboration remains constructive and inclusive.
For members, additional clarity is provided through the Member Agreement Addendum, which supplements the general Terms of Use. This document outlines expectations specific to membership, including appropriate use of member-only resources, shared research materials, and Society-supported tools. It reflects the mutual responsibilities that come with deeper access and participation.
Finally, the Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy addresses ownership, attribution, and permitted use of original research, documents, images, and compiled data shared within CFS. Genealogical work often builds cumulatively across generations of researchers; this policy seeks to balance openness with proper attribution and respect for contributors’ intellectual labor.
Together, these governance documents form a unified system. They are reviewed periodically, updated as needed, and applied with an emphasis on education and good faith rather than enforcement. Questions about any policy are welcome and should be directed to the Society using the contact information provided on this site.