Mar 24

The FamilySearch website and the Bloomfield Hills FamilySearch Center

Our April, 2025 meeting is April 1 at 7:00 p.m.

The talk will begin with an overview of the FamilySearch website and the Bloomfield Hills FamilySearch Center. The solution to a genealogical identity problem will also be discussed – Michael and Ann Wolf living in New Jersey from 1760 to 1800 are proved to be the same as Michael and Ann Wolf living in Ohio and Indiana from 1810 to 1843.  The solution involved a visit to the Allen County Public Library and finding family records collected by Lyla Spelbring, President of the Livingston County Genealogical Society before she died in 2011.

Speakers: David and Janeen Lambert of the Bloomfield Hills Family History Center.

The location of this meeting is the Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road Bloomfield Township Michigan, 48302.  If you are not able to drive to the Library, you may register in advance to join on Zoom using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9yYiNM4GRRqhZLDoucR57Q

 

 

Mar 17

Deadline for Article Submission for Acorns to Oaks

April 1, the deadline for article submission for the second quarter issue of Acorns to Oaks is fast approaching. Please send you articles to Qeditor@ocgsmi.org.

Mar 12

Commentating The Battles of Lexington and Concord

The events celebrate our nation’s founding milestone: the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The 250th anniversary presents a great time to tell this compelling human interest story to help us preserve historical memory, educate readers about an essential chapter of American history, and promote community engagement.

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need additional information. Thank you for considering these important historical commemorations.

Sincerely,

Jay R. Taylor

Chaplain & Trustee

Paul Emery Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution

jay.taylor@leader.com

Feb 24

Researching your Family History at the Library of Michigan

On March 4, 2025 AT 7:00 p.m., Adam Oster will present on the resources for researching your family history at the Library of Michigan. He will cover the Michigan Documents Collection, the Michigan Collection, Local Government Resources, and more.

Adam Oster is the Community Engagement Librarian for the Library of Michigan. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Grand Valley State University with a minor in Political Science and Secondary Education Certification. He also has a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University. Adam’s interests include genealogy and local history research.

The meeting will be held at the Bloomfield Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road Bloomfield Township Michigan, 48302.

If you are unable to drive to the Library, use this Zoom link to register to watch the presentation:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/A00IxzLPSI6JYvJIu7FdkQ

Jan 29

New Meeting Location

Beginning in February, 2025, We meet at 7 p.m., in the community room at the Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd, Bloomfield Township, Michigan. A Zoom registration link will be posted about a week before each meeting for those who cannot drive to the library.

Jan 19

Ethnic Resources Around Southeast Michigan

Our February 4 meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Bloomfield Township Library, 1099 Lone Pine Rd, Bloomfield Township, Michigan. We meet in the community room. A Zoom registration link is posted below ahead for those who cannot drive to the library.

Our President, Judy Nimer Muhn will present.

While the holdings of various libraries and archives are being shared this program year from the Librarians and Archivists, a collection of various records that aren’t online, that are helpful to researchers seeking ethnic information – about the incredible cultures and people who were courageous enough to venture to the United States and Canada and, ultimately, came to Michigan. Judy Nimer Muhn has researched in many of these more specialized collections for French-Canadian, Scottish, Polish, German, Native/First Nations and more. Join us for an opportunity to explore or think about the holdings of various collections that can help you!

If you cannot join us in person, register to view the zoom presentation here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zNnvUo7ERMmzbRiJx9bGIQ

 

Dec 31

January 7: Genealogical Resources at the Detroit Public Library

Our January meeting is on January 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 5500 N. Adams Rd. (between Long Lake and Square Lake Roads), Troy, MI 48098. A Zoom link will be posted a week in advance for those unable to drive to the meeting location. Mark Bowden, Coordinator for Special Collections at the Detroit Public Library is our speaker.

Mark’s presentation focuses on some of the unique genealogical resources for Michigan and Detroit research found at the Burton Historical Collection including: Detroit Death index, burial transit permits, Wayne County Coroner’s files, Roman Catholic Church records, naturalization records from Detroit Recorder’s Court, Michigan World War II service awards index, Michigan Korean war casualties index, and more!

Since 2010, Mark Bowden has been the Coordinator for Special Collections at the Detroit Public Library.  These collections include:  the Burton Historical Collection, the Rare Book Collection, the E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Arts, the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, and the National Automotive History Collection. During the last 19 years he has spoken to many groups about the genealogical resources housed in the Burton Collection.

If you are unable to drive to the Church, you may watch the presentation on Zoom.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DuCkaRwIRxaFYKaNAaDFZQ

Dec 13

Tell a Story!

Do you have a family story to tell?

We are all consumed with research, but there is joy in telling family stories and sharing with interested researchers.  We are always looking for articles for our Quarterly.

Would you like some help telling it?

Jay Taylor, the editor of Acorns to Oaks is happy to help you  tell your story. If you aren’t sure how to proceed, Jay wants to hear from you.

Send your stories, questions, or comments to: qeditor@ocgsmi.org.

Dec 12

Join the Society Board

Our Recording Secretary has been forced to resign due to family commitments. In addition, we are in need of a Vice President, an office which has been vacant for quite some time.

Here are the duties of the Recording Secretary:

Here are the duties of the Vice-President:

Please consider helping the Society! Contact President Judy Nimer Muhn: president@ocgsmi.org.

Nov 27

Researching Your Family’s History at the Archives of Michigan

This meeting is at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 5500 N. Adams Rd. (between Long Lake and Square Lake Roads), Troy, MI 48098 at 7 p.m. on December 3, 2024. A Zoom link will be added here a week ahead for those who cannot attend in person.

Kris Rzepczynski

Kris Rzepczynski

An introduction to the Archives of Michigan, this program
will explore the genealogical collections available there, including original source records, published resources, and online tools at Michiganology.  One of the larger family history collections in the United States, the Archives’ holdings emphasize Michigan, the Great Lakes states, New England, the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as Ontario and Quebec.

Our speaker is Kris Rzepczynski, a Senior Archivist at the Archives of Michigan, where he specializes in family history and Michigan research, Kris has worked in the genealogical community for more than 20 years. He holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University and a Master of Arts in History from Western Michigan University. He is a former Vice-President of Membership for the Federation of Genealogical Societies and a former President of the Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society.

This meeting is at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 5500 N. Adams Rd. (between Long Lake and Square Lake Roads), Troy, MI 48098 at 7 p.m.

If you are not able to drive to the Church, here is a Zoom link to register for the virtual program:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcOqvpjspG913JIcPDTsRGsJwZQhMNlyg

Please register in advance.

The handout for this meeting is available in the member’s area; you will need to login to download it.