WESTERN MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY ONLINE!

MONTHLY MEETINGS

On June 11th, we will 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. 

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.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

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June 11, In-person Meeting (1:30pm)

Ryerson Auditorium - Grand Rapids Public Library

The First Dutch Female Saints to Zion: 1853-1869

Presenter: Janet Sheeres 

In the summer of 1847 Dutch immigrants were flooding into West Michigan and Iowa. In that same summer Latter-day Saints were arriving in Utah. Many of these Mormon travelers were native-born Americans but among them were also many emigrants from European countries. Were there any women from the Netherlands on these wagon-trains? Who were they and how were they persuaded that Utah should be their destination? What did they experience on the trail, and once they arrived in Zion? Janet Sjaarda Sheeres has researched the history of Dutch immigrants women who settled in Dutch colonies, but now she has delved into the lives of the first Dutch immigrant women who made the journey to Utah. Join us for the trip  

Biography:

Janet Sjaarda Sheeres is an independent scholar, genealogist, and freelance author who researches and writes on the subject of family, church, and Dutch emigration/immigration history. Since she began writing about thirty years ago she has published three books, over 80 articles in various national and international historical and genealogical journals. Janet was born in the Netherlands, speaks fluent Dutch.  

RESEARCH TRIPS

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.

  

WMGS WRITERS GROUP

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.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AT MONTHLY MEETINGS

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!