
Subscription Instructions
MEMBERSHIP:
Information
Application
Membership questions?
Email
membership@wmgs.org
Western Michigan
Genealogical Society
c/o Grand Rapids
Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI
49503-3268
Email - wmgs@wmgs.org
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MEETINGS & EVENTS
Meeting Calendar |
Genealogy Classes |
Writer's Workshops
MONTHLY MEETINGS
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We
meet at
1:30 p.m. in the Ryerson Auditorium of the Grand Rapids Public Library
on the first Saturday of the month, September through June. Should the first
Saturday fall on a holiday weekend, another day will be scheduled. The June
meeting is often times changed to the 2nd Saturday. Unless a special
program, each meeting has a one-hour lecture on a genealogy related subject
by a knowledgeable speaker. For the time being, membership meetings are held virtually - via Zoom. Books
and charts are sold at our meetings and a "Hospitality Hour" follows.
Looking at a genealogical book on the internet? See if it’s for
sale at the WMGS sales table. Our books are sold for same price
as the Internet….but at our sales table and as a member of WMGS that
same book has a 10% discount and you don’t pay for shipping. Talk
to Lisa and Wanda about items you don’t see. All meetings are free and open to the public. REMINDER: Parking is
free at the library on Saturdays.
Just make sure you validate your parking exit ticket in the machine in
the first floor lobby.
Please review our weather
cancellation policy so you'll be aware how we'll inform you when it is
necessary to cancel a meeting.
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May 7, 2022 Virtual Meeting (1:30pm)Virtual presentation via Zoom Webinar Click for Zoom Meeting Link
“Finding Fabulous (and Free) Genealogy Websites”
Presenter: Mark MullinaxWant
to research your family tree but don't want to spend a fortune doing
it? Every U.S. state and many foreign countries have websites devoted
to genealogy and family history that can be accessed for FREE! This
presentation shows a variety of popular and less well known genealogy
websites you can access from home at absolutely no cost to you!
Biography:
Mark
Mullinax is a professional genealogist with more than 35 years
experience in family history research. He has been a contributing
researcher for family history books and has written articles for a
variety of magazines and newsletters. He is a member of several
professional organizations including the National Genealogical Society,
the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the American Library Association, the
Michigan Historical Society and the International Molyneux Family
Association. He lives in Grand Rapids and commutes to Brighton District
Library weekly where his goals include assisting others in their
efforts to learn about their ancestors, helping preserve the history of
Brighton and Livingston County and making that history easily
accessible to others.
Handout available here.
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WMGS Member’s Genealogy Classes
Updated announced dates & topics. Classes are one or one & a half hour as noted below.
Use this link that follows for your Zoom connection to the April 30th and June 25th class presentations:
Researching Marriage RecordsSaturday, April 30th Noon - 1:30 PM
Virtual class by ZoomIn
honor of my upcoming wedding, I decided to conduct a Marriage Genealogy
class. For genealogists, marriage records are often the most
important building blocks of family trees. Weddings are an important
rite of passage in all major world religions and cultures.
Understanding this event can give you insight into the journey that
made your family who they are today. Instructor: Linda Guth Researching Death RecordsSaturday, June 11th Noon - 1:00 PMIn person class at the GRPL, in the VanderVeen Room on the Family History floor. With death & obituary records, you can uncover details like: Time and location of death Cause of death Birth information Next of kin and family origins These
valuable death records are rich in genealogical information.
Let’s find out what information we can dig up on our ancestors. Instructor: Linda Guth A Walk Among the Tombstones: Preparing for a Cemetery TourSaturday, June 25th Noon - 1: 30 PM Virtual class by Zoom Discover how you can plan and prepare a successful cemetery tour. Instructor: Elaine Kuhn
Formed in 2015,
the Western Michigan Genealogical Society's DNA Interest Group
(DIG) meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month in the Grand
Rapids Public Library's VanderVeen Center on the 4th floor. Meetings are held 7 p.m. (NO DIG MEETINGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)
Questions,
comments or program suggestions are welcome! Please contact Roger Moffat -
DataMaster@wmgs.org |
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Allen County Public
Library

Western
Michigan Genealogical Society’s
Bus Trip to Fort Wayne’s
Allen County Public Library The Bus Trip is scheduled for Wednesday - Thursday, April 20-21 has been canceled * * subject to change depending on Fort Wayne Library conditions as we get closer.
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We help and support each other's desire to write about our
families with a kind eye and lots of humor. Everyone is welcome. Please see current information on the Writers Group page.
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OTHER ACTIVITIES AT MONTHLY MEETINGS
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Refreshments: Many WMGS members are great cooks!
They share homemade cookies and other goodies with us during our social
time! Social time for gene-people is as must! Who else wants to
listen to how you found G-G-G Grandpa except another WMGS member?
If you can bring cookies, contact Joann Fast, our Hospitality Chairperson.
WMGS Book Sales: WMGS stocks quite a large number of new books
and materials for your inspection. We feel that most people want to
browse through genealogy books before they purchase. Valuable genealogy
materials are difficult to find in the normal bookstores. Got ideas?
Want to help? Let us know! Watch for our Christmas Special
in December!
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