Palm Harbor Area Genealogy Society began in April 1983. The first formal meeting was held on May 16, 1983 in the Palm Harbor Library located, at the time, in the basement of the Old Methodist Church (which is now the Reba Sutton White Chapel at the corner of Georgia Avenue and 12 Street near downtown Palm Harbor). The original group of members were an offshoot of a genealogy class taught by Shirley Kaufhold at the Palm Harbor Library. By July 1983, the Board of Directors realized the membership consisted of residents from many different areas of Pinellas County, rather than just from Palm Harbor, so the name was changed to Suncoast Genealogy Society (known as SGS) and a post office box was set up at Crystal Beach for a permanent mailing address. The next change came in July 1988 when the new Palm Harbor Library opened to the public and SGS followed by holding regular meetings at that location. 

The next step was taken on October 30, 1989 with incorporation status being granted and a new set of bylaws created. The official name became Suncoast Genealogy Society, Inc. SGS makes its home and now receives mail at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor, Florida 34683.  SGS oversees the Genealogy Corner of the Palm Harbor Library, including the Genealogy Information Wall, and holds meetings and classes in the meeting room facilities.