Welcome to the Michigan Genealogical Council

Here is a finding aid for your Michigan State Representative and State Senator in Lansing.   All you need to type in is your zip code.

23 June 2009

Fellow Michigan Genealogists:

The Library of Michigan continues in suspense.  At a recent staff meeting, the State Librarian, Nancy Robertson, informed the staff that she was applying for the position off Director of the Capital Area District Library in Lansing.  As of 19 June, an appointment for her to be interviewed for this position is scheduled before the first of July.

At the same staff meeting, the State Librarian informed the staff that Judith Moore, head of the Library of Michigan Foundation, had accepted a position with the University of Michigan in its Development department (ie fund-raising).

New hours for the Library of Michigan beginning 7 July have been officially announced.  The Library will be open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.  This will provide some 6 hours of fewer public services than at present, but it does end the confusion of whether the Library is open Monday and Thursday all day.

The Legislature continues work on a budget for the fiscal year 2009-2010 - huge cuts will be made and all avenues of fund-raising explored.

Please contact your legislators and express that your wish that the Library of Michigan remains in its purpose-built building, housing books written by and about Michigan people for over 150 years, plus books published in Michigan.  Emphasize that you are willing to see the Library hours cut very greatly, but that you are NOT willing to see it closed completely and the building emptied, at great cost, for another use.  

Joanne Harvey
Michigan Genealogical Council President and Legislative Chair

The Michigan Genealogical Council was organized on April 6, 1972 in Lansing, Michigan by representatives from ten Michigan genealogical societies and representatives from the Library of Michigan.

They set as their objectives; to locate, preserve, publish and deposit in suitable repositories, records of value to genealogists and to initiate activities which encourage and assist those who are involved in genealogical research.

Membership in MGC is open to any genealogical or family history society, amateur or professional with a primary interest in genealogy.

The first MGC sponsored seminar was hosted by Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society on 16 September 1973. Subsequent seminars were held annually for many years, hosted by member societies around the state. The variety of locations provided an opportunity for more society members to attend these educational seminars and to create interest from the general public.

During the Bi-Centennial year 9,338 persons received Centennial Family Certificates which were granted upon proof that their ancestor lived in Michigan on or before 1876. Documents received as a result of this project will be most valuable to future researchers. Their supportive records are now preserved on 81 reels of microfilm in the Abrams Collection at the Library of Michigan

The Council and its delegates have completed many projects over the years. We have grown in membership societies and also decreased. We are at a time now that economics plays a roll in attendance of delegates. The decisions to change the day, week or number of meetings falls into an important position in the success of this group.

We welcome and encourage participation in many forms; serve on a committee, run for elected position, do committee work, or make suggestions for projects and programs. We need input to continue to make this Council a success.

Our new web site and methods of communication will be a big help. We as delegates have a responsibility to the societies we represent and to the Council. Good communication is a key to any organization's success. Let's work together to keep the Council and its' goals going forward to benefit us and those that follow us. This year we are 36 years old. Let's keep it going.

Excerpts from "The History of MGC" speech given at the May 6, 2008 meeting for our 36th anniversary.
Barbara Curtindale, Historian and active delegate since 1977.

Delegate meetings are in Lansing, Michigan, in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Please check the Community Calendar for the exact dates and times.

The MGC Newsletter is published four times per year.

Michigan Genealogical Council Officer List:   

• President - Joanne Harvey harveyfti@webtv.net   
• Vice-President - Sue Irvine vicepresident@mimgc.org   
• Recording Secretary - Delegate - Sam Pardee sampardee1@aol.com   
• Recording Secretary - Board - Yvonne Koos yvonnekoos@comcast.net   
• Corresponding Secretary - Cynthia Grostick corrsecretary@mimgc.org   
• Treasurer - Laurine Griffin griffinretired@yahoo.com   
• Trustee - Lynne Gregory LLgenie@aol.com   
• Trustee - Al Hart alhart1@charter.net   
• Trustee - Lucindia Wilson wilson45lucindia@gmail.com

Contacting the Michigan Genealogical Council:
  
• Michigan Genealogical Council
  P.O. Box 80953
  Lansing, MI 48908-0953
• E-mail migencouncil@att.net