Michigan Genealogical Council

12/11/2025

Did you miss our Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA, IGSF, speaking at our Fall Family History Seminar? Well you can still catch this recording of a presentation he made to MGC's November delegate meeting. How do we welcome more people into genealogy?

This presentation highlights that changes that have taken place in 21st century genealogy — who is engaging in family history and family heritage pursuits,…

12/09/2025

The MGC is excited to welcome Steve Little, the National Genealogical Society’s AI expert, as the speaker at our January delegate meeting. This talk will focus on the use of artificial intelligence and LLMs by genealogical societies. How can these powerful tools help your society? Join the MGC on Zoom at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 for this important discussion. The link will be sent to delegates and presidents, but you can register to attend! Tap or click below for more information.

Discover how Artificial Intelligence can streamline the management of your genealogical society. This session covers practical tools for generating social media content, creating automatic meeting transcripts, and drafting member communications. Learn how to save time and increase engagement through...

12/09/2025

Our latest quarterly newsletter is live! Get the latest council news and read all about our Lucy Mary Kellogg honoree for this year, an update on Veteran Bounty Land Records fundraising efforts, and more.

Click here

11/17/2025

This Second Empire style mansion was built in the 1870s by Doctor Joseph Loop. A native of New York, Loop moved to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1843. he and his wife, Jane Gardner Loop pioneered this land in Sanilac County in 1854, and after graduating from the University of Michigan medical department in 1855, he opened a practice in Port Sanilac. When this home was built, he kept an office on the lower floor, and serviced a forty-mile circuit, bringing medical care to much of the county. Doctor Loop died in 1903 at the age of ninety-three, leaving the home to his only child, Ada. She and her husband, the Reverend Julius Harrison passed it in turn to one of their sons, Captain Stanley Harrison. In 1964 he deeded it to the Sanilac County Historical Society for a museum.

If you love exploring the Thumb or reading about its unique places take a look at my new book "Lost In Michigan's Thumb" Link is in the comments

11/17/2025

A reformer and women’s rights activist, Eva R. Belles is remembered primarily through scant details in Belles v Burr, a Flint suffrage case in which the Michigan Supreme Court decided…

11/16/2025

It's a wrap!! The 2025 MGC Fall Seminar was a great success - 5's all around! Thank you to Curt Witcher, the Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan, our wonderful Board who hustled, hauled, welcomed, offered help and answered questions and more!! So much learning, fun and great conversations - oh and we ate well too 😉

11/15/2025

Congratulations to the 2025 Lucy Mary Kellogg Award recipient, Donnie Boursaw of the Roscommon County Michigan Genealogical Society!
pictured: Donnie Boursar, 2025 recipient and Jessica Trotter, MGC LMK Chair

11/09/2025

Round 2 of the America250MI History Grant Program opens TODAY! Submit your application by the January 15 deadline.

The America250MI grant program will help fund projects of all sizes that interpret, preserve or explore Michigan's history. Applicants can seek funding for a variety of projects, including but not limited to educational programming, capital improvements, exhibits, collections management and interpretive signs.

Projects may focus on any historical subject that has helped shape the Michigan of today.

Eligible applicants include tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofit history organizations and local units of government. All applicants must include at least one organization devoted to history. Current grant recipients from Round 1 are eligible to apply for Round 2, but they cannot apply for the same funded project.

The grant program will prioritize projects that involve collaborative community partners, make a lasting impact and align with the America250MI 5 Guiding Themes (Unfinished Revolutions, Power of Place, American Experiment, We the People and Doing History).

Up to $1 million is available in Round 2 grant amounts across three tiers:
Tier 1: $2,500-5,000
Tier 2: $5,001-25,000
Tier 3: $25,001-50,000

Learn more at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/about/releases/2025/10/30/round-2-of-america250mi-grants-opens-nov-1.

10/30/2025

https://mimgc.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/2025-mgc-fall-family-history-event-features-a-research-lock-in/
The Archives of Michigan and Library of Michigan will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with pizza and refreshments provided by the Michigan Genealogical Council available to registrants from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A registration link will be provided to seminar registrants, and separate registration is required for the Lock-In. During the lock-in, you can research one or both sides of the building.

Use the Library of Michigan for its rich published resources. These include the Michigan Collection and the Michigan Newspaper Collection. You will also find Michigan City Directories, county histories, yearbooks, maps, and publications of Michigan genealogical societies.

Use the Archives of Michigan to access their collections of original Michigan government documents. They also have naturalization records, probate records, and other court case files. The Abrams Foundation Family History Collection is a treasure of published materials. It covers the feeder states and provinces our Michigan ancestors came through before settling in Michigan.

The Archives of Michigan and Library of Michigan will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with pizza and refreshments provided by the Michigan Genealogical Council available to registrants from 5:00 p.…