Royal Belgian Genealogical and Heraldic Office

Not to be confused with Council of Heraldry and Vexillology.

The Royal Belgian Genealogical and Heraldic Office^[1] (French: Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique or OGHB)^[2] is a private genealogical and heraldic society in Belgium. It was founded in 1942^[3] as an ASBL and has over a thousand members interested in genealogy and heraldry. While it publishes exclusively in the French language, it covers all regions of Belgium.

The Royal Belgian Genealogical and Heraldic Office

Native name	Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique
Company type	ASBL
Founded	1942
Headquarters	Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Key people	Bertrand Maus de Rolley (president) François-Xavier Geubel (VP) Philippe Petit (general secretary)
Members	1000+
Website	oghb

Its main purpose is the historical study of families without distinction of social class or profession as well as the auxiliary sciences of history, such as genealogy and heraldry.^[4]

The OGHB benefits from royal patronage and government subsidies and is thus considered as having a somewhat greater status than a purely private society.^[1]

It used to record the arms of persons and families before this task was taken over by the Council of Heraldry and Vexillology for the French Community and the Flemish Heraldic Council for the Flemish Community.^[5]

Publications

The association publishes a number of publications:

• Le Parchemin: a bimonthly review with table and index. ^[6][7]
• Le Héraut: quarterly link sheet with practical information and announcements.^[8][7]
• Les Recueils: works, each issue of which includes a major study (most often genealogical).^[9][7] Example: the living heraldic armorial.^[10]

Board of directors[11]

Mr François de PIERPONT	president
Mr Bertrand MAUS de ROLLEY	vice-president, general treasurer
Mr François-Xavier GEUBEL	vice-president
Mr Philippe PETIT	general secretary
Mr Marc BELVAUX	secretary of redaction of the Parchemin
Mr Damien BREULS de TIECKEN	responsible for logistics
Mr Christophe DEFOSSA	director of the Recueil
Mr Bernard de HAAN	administrator
Mr Renaud HACHEZ	administrator
Mr Baudouin D'HOORE	archivist
Mr Frédéric de MONTPELLIER d'ANNEVOIE	director of the Parchemin
Mr Jean-Jacques van ORMELINGEN	administrator
Mr Cédric PAUWELS	administrator
Count Baudouin d'URSEL	administrator
Mr Bernard VANDERMEERSCH	administrator

See also

• Family history society
• Belgian heraldry
• Council of Heraldry and Vexillology
• Flemish Heraldic Council
• Heraldry societies
• Association Royale des Descendants des Lignages de Bruxelles

References

1. "Foreign Armorial Grants and Registrations for Americans | Grants and Registrations | Education & Resources | American Heraldry Society". www.americanheraldry.org. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
2. "Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
3. "LES CINQUANTE ANS DE L'OFFICE GENEALOGIQUE L'HERALDIQUE ET LA GENEALOGIE OUVERTES A TOUS". Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-13.
4. "Office Généalogique & Héraldique de Belgique". Woluwe Saint Pierre (in French). Retrieved 2019-12-13.
5. "Héraldique en Belgique | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
6. "Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
7. "OGHB1: page d'accueil". wallonia-asbl.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
8. "Le Héraut | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
9. "Le Recueil | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
10. "Armorial de l'Héraldique vivante | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
11. "Conseil d'administration de l'Office | Association Royale Office Généalogique et Héraldique de Belgique". oghb.be. Retrieved 2019-12-13.