At the Western Michigan Genealogical Society monthly meeting on Saturday 10 November, 2018, longtime WMGS member and volunteer Shirley DeBoerCG was presented with the Michigan Genealogical Council’s Lucy Mary Kellogg Award.
MGC President Katherine Willson and Awards Chair Chelsea Johnson with Lucy Mary Kellogg Award winner Shirley DeBoer.
See below for picture gallery. Photos by Lisa Christensen and Roger Moffat.
The 2017 Volunteer Appreciation Day was held on 1 April – and that’s no April Fools’ Joke!
The awards were a handmade keyring of wound wire and small gems in the shape of a tree – very nice!
And then there was cake.
THANKS TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS – YOU ARE WHAT KEEPS WESTERN MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY GOING!
Western Michigan Genealogical Society’s 2016 Volunteer Appreciation Day for our 2015 Volunteers was held on Saturday 2 April 2016 – an unexpectedly Wintery day as it turned out…
70 Volunteers helped us out last year and their names were on slides that rotated in sequence while the presentations were being made. Of that 70, 30 made it to the meeting to be part of this celebration.
All photos by Lisa Christensen and Roger Moffat
Western Michigan Genealogical Society’s 2014 Volunteer Appreciation Day for our 2013 Volunteers was held on Saturday 5 April 2014.
The presentation of Volunteer of the Year was made to Nancy Guzzo.
The recognition of the rest of our volunteers followed and those who were present were presented with their appreciation token and assembled for a series of group photos. These photos are below and are provided by Roger Moffat and Lisa Christensen. continue reading…
We greatly enjoyed having Tony Burroughs as the speaker for our 2011 Got Ancestors?! Genealogy in Black & White and Blue & Gray seminar. I met Tony again at the recent FGS 2013 conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana and he mentioned to me a new project he’s been working on. This project is to try and identify by name the Black sailors who took part in the (naval) Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. As noted below, Tony himself has recently identified that one of his ancestors – Oliver Perry Smothers – was a sailor on board Commodore Perry’s ship during this battle.
Below is what he sent me about this project.
On the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, Tony Burroughs, founder and CEO of the Center for Black Genealogy, announces “Hidden Heroes: Identifying Blacks in the Battle Lake Erie.” September 10, 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of one of the most famous battles in U.S. Naval history that took lace during the War of 1812. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry captured an entire British fleet for the first time in world history. Estimates were 10 to 25% of the approximate 600 men were Black, but because naval records didn’t indicate race historians have only been able to identify ten by name. continue reading…
6 April 2013 was WMGS Volunteer Appreciation Day. The Winners of the Writers’ Competition were announced and were presented with their Awards, and the 2012 Volunteer of the Year – Jan VanWyck was announced. Pictures are below.
President Don Bryant presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jan VanWyck
President Don Bryant presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jan VanWyck
President Don Bryant presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jan VanWyck
President Don Bryant presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jan VanWyck
Click to View the whole photo gallery continue reading…
Archives of Michigan welcomes family heritage collection from Library of Michigan
The Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have agreed to move selected Family Heritage Collections currently housed in the Library of Michigan to the reading room of the Archives of Michigan.
The move will continue the state’s stewardship of the collection and better align the resources of both organizations. The collection will remain in the Michigan Library and Historical Center, where it can be easily used with related research materials held by both organizations. The move will take place this summer with a rededication planned during the Abrams Genealogy Seminar on July 13, 2012.
“The collection will increase the public services provided by the Archives of Michigan,” said State Archivist Mark Harvey. “We are pleased to join it with archival documents that are used by family heritage researchers and committed to continuing to build it with the help of the genealogical community. Over time, the Archives plans to expand its hours and online services.” continue reading…
The first group lined up with their awards.
The second group of Volunteers.
The Third Group have received their awards.
The 2010 WMGS Awards were presented at the Saturday 4 December 2010 membership meeting.
Seven Awards were announced and/or presented:
AGO Organisation Award: Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department of the Grand Rapids Public Library
AGO Individual Award: Dawn Kelly
Communication Award: Lisa Christensen
President’s Award: Janet Jensen
Volunteer of the Year Award: Patrick Rademaker (he will be presented with his award at the January meeting)
Shirley M DeBoer Education Award: Wanda Schottler
Ken Gackler Award: Marlene Fabbro
Every few months the Grand Rapids Public Library has a “genealogy lock in” on a Friday evening. They are very popular and well attended. Western Michigan Genealogical Society helps out with volunteers to assist the researchers, many of whom are just getting started in their genealogy. Below are a few pictures from the most recent Lock In.
