The Western Michigan Genealogical Society and

GR Reads
Present:

Local and
Family History
Resource Fair

Find Unique Local Resources
Meet Local Authors
Learn New Research Techniques
Discover Methods for Preservation
Tour GRPL Local History Department
Have Documents Translated
Attend Terrific Classes
Ask Experts - Get Answers

Save Your Familys History!

Saturday, June 26th 10:30 am - to 4:30 pm
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library St.
Free Parking!!!
 Local and Family History Resource Fair
Class Schedule - 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
4TH FLOOR 1ST FLOOR
VANDERVEEN CENTER FOR THE BOOK ADULT COMPUTER TRAINING ROOM

WHERE DO I START: Where should I look first
10:30 for information about my family? Wanda Schottler is
to an experienced genealogist and has presented a num-
11:15 ber of beginner classes on a variety of topics. In this
session she will illustrate how to use simple tools for
organizing and recording your family records, and how
to utilize convenient genealogical forms.
CENSUS RECORDS - THE GENEALO-
GISTS SECOND RESOURCE. The presentation
consists of a brief overview of census records, their
purpose, organization, enumeration and access. Bill
Grinstead is currently serving as the education coor-
dinator for WMGS.

LOCATING YOUR ANCESTORS USING GETTING STARTED WITH FAMILY TREE

LAND RECORDS: Karen Blumenshine describes MAKER 9. Computer savvy Kaye Fish will show
11:30 why genealogists should use land records to find their you how to maximize your use of this software pro-
to ancestors. She will answer the following questions: gram. You will learn how to set up preferences after
12:15 Where are those records found? How do you go about installation and how to begin entering information.
finding the right deed and property and, what infor-
mation can you find in a deed? She will also discuss
other information that is available using in Land

LIBRARY TOUR: Tour the GRPL Local His- FREE GENEALOGICAL DATABASES
12:30 tory Department on the 4th floor with an experienced AVAILABLE AT WMGS.ORG. WMGS Presi-
to Librarian. Discover all of the terrific historical and dent and Webmaster, Don Bryant, will present an
1:15 genealogical resources that are available at the Grand overview of searchable western Michigan databases
Rapids Public Library. Assemble by the desk near the available at WMGS.ORG. Youll learn how to search
entrance to the 4th Floor. and discover tips on pinpointing and maximizing
your results.
LAST DOCUMENTS: Shirley DeBoer, CG SM will
discuss the why and how of finding an individuals
1:30
death record along with steps to take when one cannot
to
be found. Substitute sources that surround a person
2:15
will be suggested so that a maximum of information is
available to not only connect to an ancestor in the U.S.
or overseas but also to enhance family history.
Be sure to visit the authors
SAVING LIVES....ONE STORY AT A TIME:
and resources available in the
Theres an old saying that people die twice once 3rd Floor Ryerson Auditorium
2:30 when they physically die, and a second time when they before and after classes or
to are forgotten. This mini-session, led by Deb Moore, tours.
3:15 personal historian, will focus on making you and your
ancestors unforgettable by adding the stories behind
the names and dates on your family tree. Tips and
techniques will be presented to help you get started
preserving the stories of five (or more!) generations of
your family.
LIBRARY TOUR: Tour the GRPL Local History TIPS AND TRICKS FOR USING ANCES-
Department on the 4th floor with an experienced Li- TRY.COM: Sue Irvine will show us some neat
3:30 ways to search for ancestors using ANCESTRY.
brarian. Discover all of the terrific historical and genea-
to COM. Bring a knotty ancestral problem to work on.
logical resources that are available at the Grand Rapids
4:30 It will also help to bring along a four-generation
Public Library. Assemble by the desk near the entrance
to the 4th Floor. chart, or other information that will narrow your
search.
 C

Information

GRPL ROOM GUIDE

I - WMGS RESOURCE FAIR INFOR- V
MATION DESK

R - RYERSON AUDITORIUMC -
LOWER LEVEL ADULT COMPUTER
CENTER

V - VANDER VEEN CENTER FOR

THE BOOK

T- ASSEMBLE HERE FOR 4TH

FLOOR TOURS
T
 PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS,
AUTHORS and PRESENTERS
Alpine Township Historical Society Sue Irvine
Mary Rasch Alt Norma Lewis
Karen Blumenshine Lowell Historical Society
Don Bryant Mecosta County Genealogical Society
Sue Carpenter Michigan GenWeb
Lisa Christensen Roger Moffat
Jan Cortez Debra Moore
Daughters of Union Veterans Muskegon Genealogical Society
Shirley DeBoer CGSM Connie Navaro
Jay De Vries Bobbi Schirado
Thomas Dilly Wanda Schottler
Kaye Fish Gail Snow
Grand Rapids Historical Commission Sons of Union Veterans
Grand Valley State University Then and Now Genealogical Society
Veterans History Project The WMGS Book Sales Table
GRPL Fourth Floor Staff The Womans Relief Corps of the Civil War
Ionia County Genealogical Society Wyoming Historical Commission
Bill Grinstead

Western Michigan Genealogical Society Membership

An annual membership to WMGS is $20 and begins on January 1st of each year. Membership benefits include:

10% Discount on all items at the Sales Table

Four Issues of Michigana per year
Discounts on Seminar Registrations
Free Brick Wall Help
Discounts on Bus Trips to distant repositories
Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities
Membership advantages also include free query placement in Michigana, access to the large collection of
genealogical books and records in the Local & Family History Room of the Grand Rapids Public Library and use of
the private files of the Society. Visit WWW.WMGS.ORG for more information about Society and its projects.

WMGSMeetings
Meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month September
through June, or as stated in the Newsletter. The Newsletter and a
Calendar are always available online at <www.wmgs.org>. We meet at
the Main Branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street,
at 1:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public for free.

To Become a Member or to Ask a Question, Contact:

Membership@wmgs.org
or
WMGS
Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library Street NE,
Grand Rapids, MI49503-3268.