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The Western Michigan* Genealogical Society (www.wmgs.org) was founded in 1954 with the purpose of preserving and making available for genealogical research the records of our ancestors; encouraging and assisting members in genealogical research; promoting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging the deposit of genealogical records in established libraries and archives.

*Includes Kent County and the counties immediately surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and Allegan Counties. There is some extension beyond these counties into other areas of the Western Lower Peninsula.

Reflections on the Gi-Gikinomaage-min (We are all Teachers) Project

December 9, 2016 No comments

Reflections on the Gi-Gikinomaage-min 3:00 – 3:45 PM

Reflections on the Gi-Gikinomaage-min (We are all Teachers) Project

Belinda Bardwell

Sponsored by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society & Kutsche Office of Local History

Launched in November 2014, the Gi-gikinomaage-min (We are all Teachers) project aims to document the urban Native American experience in Grand Rapids. The local Native American community grew dramatically in the last half of the 20th century as a result of a little-known federal program still impacting American Indian lives today. The Urban Relocation Program created one of the largest mass movements of Indians in American history. This talk invites you to learn more about the Gi-gikinomaage-min project, based in the Kutsche Office of Local History at Grand Valley State University.

This presentation is part of the 2017 History Detectives program on Saturday, January 28, at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library. continue reading…

General Genealogy , , , , ,

A Modern Vision Realized: The Mid-Century Park School Development Program

December 9, 2016 No comments

The Mid-Century Park School Development Program: Riverside2:00 – 2:45 PM

A Modern Vision Realized: The Mid-Century Park School Development Program

Pam VanderPloeg

Sponsored by the Grand Rapids City Archives

In 1951, a successful Grand Rapids Public Schools millage vote launched a twenty-year building program to solve the crisis of aging, overcrowded schools and the post-World War II baby boom. A collaboration between the schools, prominent West Michigan architects and the Grand Rapids Park Department, led by landscape architect Fred See, created beautiful modern schools set in expansive parks in old and new neighborhoods, and brought national recognition. The story of how that project unfolded, and of the fate of those schools today, will be told through original and contemporary photos and images.

This presentation is part of the 2017 History Detectives program on Saturday, January 28, at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library. continue reading…

General Genealogy none

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

December 8, 2016 No comments

stivers-e-from-archives-a-to-z-exhibit1:00 – 1:45 PM

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Rediscovering Emma Cole’s 19th-Century Grand Rapids Flora

Julie Stivers, Garrett E. Crow, and David P. Warners

Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Museum

In 1901, Emma Cole published Grand Rapids Flora, a catalog of plants growing without cultivation in the vicinity of Kent County. Enormous changes have taken place since those days, yet her book remains the most complete account of plants specific to our area. Who was this high school teacher, world traveler and Kent Scientific Institute botanist? Where were her favorite spots for wildflowers? Do they still exist? Julie Stivers will speak about the life of Emma Cole. Professors Warners and Crow will describe their work with Calvin College students to rediscover Emma’s haunts and assess their natural quality today. There are interesting surprises as we observe the changes over more than 100 years.

This presentation is part of the 2017 History Detectives program on Saturday, January 28, at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library. continue reading…

Grand Rapids Public Library, Libraries, Local History , , , ,

Fall Bus Trip, part 3

December 6, 2016 No comments

The Two Feet of Haynes

Our research, on the recent bus trip to Allen County Public Library by WMGS, was planned to be a team effort between my wife and me. She would identify exactly what we need to look at, and I could fetch it and review. We would focus with accuracy at the exact sources we needed. Shortly after arrival and getting situated, I was handed the slip with what to get and this whispered assignment, “look up Haynes in 929.2.” continue reading…

Allen County Public Library, General Genealogy, Libraries , ,

Making Waves: Michigan’s Boat Building Industry, 1865-2000

December 4, 2016 No comments
vintage boats

Making Waves: Michigan’s Boat Building Industry

11:30 AM-12:15 PM

Making Waves: Michigan’s Boat Building Industry, 1865-2000

Scott M. Peters

Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission

Michigan’s late-nineteenth century emergence as the boat-building industry’s hub drew together talented designers, builders, and engine makers to produce some of the fastest, most innovative boats ever created. Entrepreneurs like Christopher Columbus Smith, John L. Hacker, and Gar Wood established some of the nation’s top brands and brought the prospect of boat ownership within reach for every American consumer.  Michigan boat builders also left their mark on history—from developing the speedy runabouts favored by Prohibition-era rum-runners to creating the landing craft that carried Allied forces to Europe and the Pacific. Making Waves explores this intriguing story of people, processes, and products—of an industry that evolved in Michigan but would change boating across the world.

This presentation is part of the 2017 History Detectives program on Saturday, January 28, at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library. continue reading…

General Genealogy, Grand Rapids Public Library, Local History , , , ,

Selling Grand Rapids: Expositions in the Furniture City, 1878-1965

November 30, 2016 No comments

10:30-11:15 AM

Grand Rapids' Furniture CitySelling Grand Rapids: Expositions in the Furniture City, 1878-1965

Scott St. Louis

Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Historical Society

Grand Rapids’ late-nineteenth century business leaders were ambitious and optimistic: striving for the greatest profit from available resources, they rationalized production workflows, integrating the latest technologies into their factories. They also took advantage of the railroad network connecting Grand Rapids to an emerging consumer economy, reaching new levels of prosperity through an industry on the verge of unprecedented growth: domestic furniture production. Local leaders established semi-annual furniture expositions and collaborated to make Grand Rapids’ name synonymous with excellent household furniture on an international scale. With the help of a supportive community, leaders also resolved to prevent similar efforts in other cities from eclipsing their own. Their success transformed the physical and economic landscape of Grand Rapids.

10th Annual History Detectives: Sleuthing for Local History

Saturday, January 28, 2017, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

 *Limited Seating – Space is limited and seating is offered first come, first served. There will be an overflow room available with a simulcast video presentation. continue reading…

Grand Rapids Public Library, Local History , , ,

10th Annual History Detectives: Sleuthing for Local History

November 28, 2016 1 comment

Saturday, January 28, 2017, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

 *Limited Seating – Space is limited and seating is offered first come, first served. There will be an overflow room available with a simulcast video presentation.

 The first presentation of the day this year features the Dutch immigrant population…

9:30 – 10:15 AThe Dutch Immigrant MidwifeM

Present, But Not Counted: Dutch Immigrant Midwives in Grand Rapids

Janet Sjaarda Sheeres

Sponsored by the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council

Though stories of male physicians are adequately represented in medical histories, accounts of female midwives have been woefully neglected. And what histories of early American immigrants ever ask, “Who delivered the babies”? Adding to her body of work on invisible Dutch women, Janet Sjaarda Sheeres has uncovered ten midwives working in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Grand Rapids, and thirty more in other Dutch colonies. She will address why these women chose work delivering babies; who their clients were; what hardships they faced; and why they are not in our histories. Sheeres’ findings also shed light on midwives serving other ethnic communities and why they have been sidelined in early historical records.

This presentation is part of the 2017 History Detectives program on Saturday, January 28, at the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library.

General Genealogy, Grand Rapids Public Library, Local History none

Fall Bus Trip, part 2

November 27, 2016 1 comment

As promised in the first bus trip post, here are some personal thoughts from some of the Bus Trip attendees.

“The Microfilm reader room is the ACPL’s best kept secret”

“I found the PHD dissertation about the Dred Scott fall from grace”- Claudia Day continue reading…

Allen County Public Library, General Genealogy, Libraries none

Traffic Violations, Criminal Complaints and Marriages: Records of a Justice of the Peace

November 25, 2016 No comments

Adam OsterOur next monthly meeting:

Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 1:30 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium, Grand Rapids Public Library

Topic this month: Traffic Violations, Criminal Complaints and Marriages: Records of a Justice of the Peace

Justices of the Peace served as local magistrates empowered primarily to administer summary justice in minor cases, to commit for trial, and to administer oaths and perform marriages. Using the records of former Paris Township Justice of the Peace Earl H. Keyes, discover the role in which the justices played in local courts. See examples of records from the collection and learn how you can use them for researching your family’s history.

Adam Oster is a librarian at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch of Kent District Library. His responsibilities include providing reference services, readers advisory, outreach as well as computer class design and instruction. 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.

Mini-Class Saturday, December 3rd (12 Noon – 1:00 p.m.)

Topic: How to Begin Doing Genealogy

New to Genealogy? Does it seem overwhelming? Learn the first steps to begin.

Instructor: Linda Guth
Location: GRPL Lower Level Computer Lab

 

General Genealogy, Local History, Meetings, News , , ,

Fall Bus Trip to Allen County Library

November 19, 2016 3 comments

Our fall bus trip has just ended and it was a great success. We left early Wednesday morning, November 16.  Sue Irving always treats us to a morning rest stop break, including donuts, coffee and juice. We arrived about 11:30 at the Allen County Public Library. This is a high energy time as we rush off to the second floor to find our tables, seats and electrical outlets. We spend the day happily finding books, reading, working on our computers, talking to each other and taking short breaks to clear our heads.

continue reading…

Allen County Public Library, General Genealogy, Libraries none
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