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

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 He will outline the record-keeping systems of those colonies and offer guidance on finding both published and unpublished records.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:

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

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!

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

The Oakland County Genealogical Society presents a special “Help Session” on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. There is no charge and all are welcome.

This special session will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 5500 N. Adams Rd. (between Long Lake and Square Lake Roads), Troy, MI 48098.

Join us around a table and share with members of the Society to get some guidance with your research. Bring laptops or paper records with your questions. All are welcome, beginners to advanced researchers.

For questions email president@ocgsmi.org.

Transcription Projects 

One stated purpose of the Society is preserving records. We have concentrated on local record sets that major companies are not interested in and several projects are underway, or will be soon. Time to help us fulfill this important mission.

Quarterly Editor Jay R. Taylor has arranged access to several volumes of Oxford Township assessments.  Three volumes have been commercially digitized, thanks to donations to the Ruth S. Kennedy Fund.. We need help indexing the records so we can add them to our 1890 census substitute project. If you are not familiar with the project, take a look at the here.  Volunteers will are sent a group of 10 images and a spreadsheet. The volunteer types the first name, surname, and file name into three columns of the spreadsheet.  Each group takes about 30 minutes to complete. The volunteer returns the completed spreadsheet, and deletes the images from their computer.

In addition to the volumes being professionally digitized, we have an additional volume which does not fit the 1890 project.

There is never pressure to complete a project quickly, and help is always available!

Email Pam Warren, info@ocgsmi.org to help us out!

The deadline for submissions for the third quarter issue of Acorns to Oaks is fast approaching. We are all enjoying Michigan’s summer but hopefully you can send in your articles by July 1. Remember that our Editor, Jay R. Taylor, is happy to help if you need help.

Please send your articles to: qeditor@ocgsmi.org on ore before July 1.

Thank you.