The Clay Family Society exists to advance collective knowledge, not isolated trees.
Research collaboration within the Society is voluntary but disciplined. Members are encouraged to form Workgroups, share primary records, analytical notes, DNA evidence, hypotheses, and unresolved questions in a way that others members can examine, critique, and extend. The goal is not speed, but cumulative accuracy.
Archives present historical materials; Research explains how evidence is evaluated and produced.
Whether you’re just beginning your Clay research or have spent decades studying a particular branch, the Society welcomes careful, evidence-based participation.
Genetic evidence is treated as a distinct evidentiary class, governed by its own analytical framework, confidence thresholds, and documentation standards.
Participation is also subject to the Society’s published governance policies, including its Code of Conduct and privacy-related policies, which apply to all contributors and members.
Research Partners
CFS collaborates with independent organizations whose research complements the Society’s mission.
Meet Our Research Partners