The Virginia V. Irvin Volunteer Hall of Fame was established in 2006 to honor exceptional service rendered to, or through, the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society or one of its Affiliated Societies. Service may be of a one-time nature (e.g., creation of an index or other research tool), or may be ongoing for several years. The award will be presented annually at the WSGS Gene-A-Rama Conference each spring. The honoree will be a guest of WSGS with full conference registration and banquet paid.

To nominate an individual, WSGS or Affiliated Society members may fill out the application form and submit it to the WSGS office via e-mail or U.S. Postal mail by the deadline of February 1st. Service to be honored should occur in, or be ongoing through, the calendar year preceding the award. The honoree will be notified of their honor in March of the award year.

The late Mrs. Virginia V. Irvin distinguished herself through years of volunteer service to the Wisconsin genealogical community rendered through the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society, in which she served in many capacities including the creation of cemetery transcriptions, serving as Queries Editor and as Assistant Editor of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter, maintaining the Publications program of WSGS, operating the WSGS Bookstore, and as Editor of the WSGS Newsletter for over fourteen years, single-handedly producing a publication noted for timeliness, reliability and usefulness of content. She also concurrently served as Treasurer of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society and brought the Society from a state of financial disarray to one of true financial stability to the extent that the Society was able to make significant material contributions to research resources in Wisconsin through major gifts to the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin State Genealogical Society.

2007 Virginia V. Irvin
2008 John A. (Jack) Brissee
2009 Wendy K. Uncapher