The Somerset & Dorset Family History Society was set up in 1975, and has over 4,000 members registered world-wide. It is a registered charity (No. 1010351) and is affiliated to the Federation of Family History Societies.

The Society has produced a number of publications including census indexes for Somerset and Dorset for 1841, 1851 and 1891. A limited series of Parish Register transcripts is also available, with much more extensive transcriptions available in the Research Centre. Somerset and Dorset indexes are maintained for marriages, burials and monumental inscriptions, as well as baptisms for Somerset. A collection of pedigrees is also indexed, and requests for searches in all these indexes may be submitted by post.