Jan 19

Weaving Stories from Memories, Memorabilia, and Research: Honoring (Military) Ancestors

Transform scattered family traditions, memorabilia, and research findings into meaningful stories that honor your ancestors. Recognizing America250 celebrations, using veteran stories as examples, we’ll look at techniques to weave old photos, vague memories of family stories, and genealogical records together to write connectional stories which bring our ancestors’ past to life. The meeting is at the Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township, MI 48302.

If you are unable to drive to the library, you may view the meeting via zoom. Please register in advance using this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Am_trML9R_uYbw_UCYTBOA

Speaker: Laura Hedgecock

Author Laura HedgecockMy passion for helping others share their stories stems from a gift left by my grandmother. Shortly before her death, Hazel Crymes passed on an old spiral notebook filled with a lifetime of memories, which she dubbed her “Treasure Chest of Memories.”  Grandma’s writings included childhood memories, stories of her children as they grew, good recipes, and wisdom she had gathered along the way.

Grandma’s “Treasure Chest,” as well as my own experience in genealogy, photography, scrapbooking, writing, and my own journey compiling such a “Treasure Chest,” inspired me to empower memory collectors with down-to-earth, practical advice and creative ideas.

 

 

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Am_trML9R_uYbw_UCYTBOA

Dec 31

Using Artificial Intelligence for Genealogy

This session will demystify Artificial Intelligence and its role in modern genealogy. You will learn the basic concepts and see practical demonstrations of how AI can help you analyze documents, summarize findings, and enhance your research process. No technical experience is required.

This presentation will be in- person and via Zoom.  We hope you will attend in person, but if you are unable to drive to the Library you can register in advance using this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_vSLaW0uTzuw8mlxOpv7Jg

A Registration link will be provided to members via email  a week  in advance and posted on our website and Facebook page for friends of the Society a few days in advance. We have 100 virtual seats, so be sure your membership is up-to -date to ensure you can attend via zoom.

 

Steve Little, AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society, founder of AI Genealogy Insights, and co-host of The Family History AI Show, is a leader in integrating AI and genealogy. With graduate training in computational linguistics and natural language processing and a previous career building information systems for libraries and archives, his work now focuses on endogamy, pedigree collapse, and AI’s applications and limits in genealogy.

 

Nov 23

Ancestors Calling: Synchronicity, Science and Sources

Please note: the Elevator at the library is out of service. If you cannot manage the stairs, please register to attend online. Sorry for the inconvenience. 

December 2, 2025, 7 p.m. – Judy Nimer Muhn – Ancestors Calling: Synchronicity, Science and Sources
Our ancestors want us to find them! Using our intuition, developing our luck, creating vision boards and using classic detective techniques, YOU can have their help and do thorough genealogical research. Learn how to tap in to some key scientific principles and hands-on techniques to drive your discoveries.

The location is the Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township, MI 48302

If you are unable to drive to the library, you may

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uaT20uTSSGelGXsBK_nhcA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Judy Nimer Muhn

Writer, speaker, blogger, presenter and researcher. Judy has been researching her family tree from the age of 12, specializing in French-Canadian, Acadian, Native American, Scottish and Michigan, Ontario and Quebec research. Beginning as a professional genealogist in Europe in 1993, she has lectured at the National Genealogical Society’s conferences, RootsTech and RootsTech Connect, Federation of Genealogical Societies, as well as conferences in Europe and around the United States. She is currently writing a book of the matrilineal descent of her oldest female ancestor from Normandy, France. Traveling extensively around the world, Judy has visited and researched in the villages and archives of Germany, France, Scotland, Quebec, and Ontario where her or her husband’s family lived as well as the lineages of her Native family. Owner of Lineage Journeys, she conducts research for clients and offers presentations in churches, libraries and organizations.

Judy is a board member and chair of the Awards Committee of the National Genealogical Society, President for the Oakland County Genealogical Society, Vice President and Social Media co-chair for the Michigan Genealogical Council, Secretary for the GeneaBloggers, Delegate to MGC and NGS for the French Canadian Heritage Society, a founder of the English-Speaking Genealogists of Europe, NATO Chapter and a former AOL Genealogy Forum leader. A member of the National Genealogical Society, GeneaBloggers, Association of Professional Genealogists, Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan, Ontario Genealogical Society, Quebec Family History Society, Gratiot County Genealogy & Historical Society, Clan Elliot USA and Clan Campbell USA, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and many more.

Nov 05

Colonial Research in New England

Our next meeting is Saturday, November 8, 2025, 11 a.m.– John Beatty – Genealogical Research in Colonial New England

This is our joint meeting with the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research John Beatty, Senior Librarian at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library will present a talk examining a few of the many published sources as well as local records for the states that comprise New England (MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, VT). He will outline the record-keeping systems of those colonies and offer guidance on finding both published and unpublished records.

The location: Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township, MI 48302

If you are unable to drive to the library, you may view the presentation via Zoom. Registration if required, here is the registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3417618230911/WN_mbzC71U8QNuLnFws5KKBOA

 

 

Speaker: John Beatty

John D. Beatty, CG, has been a reference librarian in The Genealogy Center since 1984 and also serves as its principal bibliographer. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in History from the University of Michigan in 1982, and a Master of Arts degree in History and Library Science with honors from that university in 1984. He became a Board-certified genealogist in 2014. ​He is the author of sixteen books on local and family history, including works on German and early American families, abstracts of town vital records from Biddeford, Maine, and annotated narratives from the Irish Rebellion of 1798, as well as numerous articles on a variety of genealogical and local historical topics. In 2006, he served as principal editor for volume one of a two-volume History of Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, 1700-2005, the first history of Allen County produced since 1917. ​Because of a diversified family background, he has genealogical expertise in a variety of areas. He has conducted original research on families from colonial New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, and Kentucky, as well as on seventeenth and eighteenth century families from Ireland, Germany and Switzerland. He serves as archivist for the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, and his interests also include local Fort Wayne and Allen County history.

Oct 31

Library Display!!

Our Library Display is live at the Pontiac Public Library! Check it out during the month of November!

Oct 30

November 8th meeting, 11 a.m.

Genealogical Research in Colonial New England
November 8 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Free

November 8, 2025, 11 a.m.– John Beatty – Genealogical Research in Colonial New England
This is our joint meeting with the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research John Beatty, Senior Librarian at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library will present a talk examining a few of the many published sources as well as local records for the states that comprise New England (MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, VT). He will outline the record-keeping systems of those colonies and offer guidance on finding both published and unpublished records.

The location: Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Township, MI 48302. We will meet in the Community Room on the first floor. Please join us!

Members are receiving a zoom link today, in case they are unable to drive to the Library. If you are a current member and did not receive the link in your email, please accept our apology. You can obtain the link at the top of the “member’s only” page, after you sign in. Sign in on the right sidebar, or here:

Member Area

The registration link for the public will be posted on our website and Facebook page on Tuesday, November 4.

Oct 28

OCGS Library Display

Ruth DuFrense and  Richard Fellrath have created an updated display. The display is ending it’s current run at the Bloomfield Township Public Library on October 30. Look for the display at the Pontiac Library in November and the West Bloomfield Public Library in February. Thanks to two great volunteers!

Oct 15

Oxford Township Added to the 1890 Census Substitute Project

The 1886, 1889 and 1892 assessments of Oxford Township, Oakland County, Michigan have been added to the Oakland County Genealogical Society 1890 Census substitute project. The assessments contained 2,012 individual records and were digitized, and indexed, proofread by members of OCGS, and used with permission of the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum. The images are available for download in the database, which can be accessed at: https://ocgsmi.org/1890-census-substitute-project/. This addition increases the project’s record total in the database to 15,591. The database if free to all researchers.

The 1890 project lists Oakland County, Michigan residents identified in various records between 1884 and 1894. This index was created, proofread and edited by volunteers associated with OCGS. A PDF image will open when clicking a link associated with an item. We would like to include more records in the database, please contact us if you hold any records containing surnames of Oakland County residents between the years of 1884 and 1894.

Aug 29

New Program Year!

The Society is ready for an exciting new program year. We hope you will join us for our presentations and programs. Your membership may be expiring soon , please check by logging in to see your expiration date, and renew if that is the case.

Download the  2025-26 program schedule.

Here is a message from our President:

August 2025
Dear Members,

With cooling temperatures and anticipation of our return to genealogical activities after a great summer with family and friends, and perhaps some travel or finding new resources and records of your ancestors, we are excited about our new program year!

Our society’s program is attached and you’ll notice some great speakers coming soon to help you with your research.  Notably, we are excited that Steve Little, the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society, is sharing key information about the use of AI in genealogy, and a list of others in 2026 who are focusing on the recognition of America250 with presentations spanning key portions of our country’s history – presentations last year were a great starter for this important year.

Also, in that regard, the Michigan Genealogical Council (MGC) and its member societies are fundraising for the Veteran Bounty Land Records (VBLR) digitization at the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA).  Your support as a member is encouraged with your donation to this important drive – our most recent Quarterly had more detail about this (please reach out if you need help) – and we encourage you to donate to this fund now as OCGS will report to MGC our fundraising efforts as the state prepares to send a statewide contribution to the VBRL collaborative effort.  Donate now here https://ocgsmi.org/donations/

Our first TWO meetings of the year – September at St. Stephens Church in Troy, October at the Bloomfield Township Library – are Help Sessions or “Ask a Genealogist”!  Our board is ready to help you with the next steps in your research so bring your laptop, notebook or key questions and receive help!  Check the program list and website for details.

I’m very excited that the Michigan Genealogical Council’s Fall Seminar features expert Curt Witcher of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Please see the information about Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15 at the Michigan History Center in Lansing to learn more about research tools and information from Curt AND our own Archives and Library staff presentations!

We NEED YOUR HELP! We need a Vice President, Recording Secretary and help with posting about our society activities and resources online in Facebook and other social media platforms – please check out these volunteer jobs on the website.

Join us for the upcoming meetings of the Society and keep in touch also through the Facebook group especially if we need to host on Zoom due to weather or other issues.

Hope to see you soon, Judy (judynmuhn@gmail.com or president@ocgsmi.org)

Judy Nimer Muhn
President

Aug 21

Help Make Additions to the 1890 Census Substitute Project

Great News! With the permission of the Northeast Oakland Historical Society we have imaged three volumes of Oxford Township assessment records. We will add them to our 1890 census substitute database as soon as they are indexed.
It will take less than an hour to complete a group, which will be sent to you via email.
Let us know if you can help!