Welcome to the Michigan Genealogical Council
40th Anniversary
On April 6, 1972, delegates from ten Michigan genealogical societies met at the State Library in Lansing for the purpose of organizing a coordinating body. Those present were:
- Bay County Genealogical Society - Marjery Dove and Hilda Taylor
- Dearborn Genealogical Society - Marian Parkhurst
- Detroit Society for Genealogical Research - Lucy Mary Kellogg, Harriet M. Wheeler and Peter J. Schaldenbrand
- Flint Genealogical Society - Wayne Seltzer and H. O. Dexter
- Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society - Richard Welch
- Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society - Kathryn Warner, Arthur W. Farrall and Donald de Zeeuw
- Owosso Genealogical Society - Dorothy Mastrodonato
- Saginaw Genealogical Society - Ruth F. Zorn, Mattie Crump and Flora Jacquish
- Western Michigan Genealogical Society - Ruth Evans and Phyllis Thwaites
- Genealogical Association of Southwestern Michigan - Victor and Bernice Teisig
- and representing the State Library - Richard Hathaway and Mary Jane Trout.
On that day, under the leadership of Wayne Seltzer this organizational statement was formulated.
- This organiaztion shall be known as the Michigan Genealogical Council.
- Membership: A maximum of two representatives can be sent by established genealogical societies, societies concerned with genealogical pursuits, i.e. patriotic, ethnic, etc., libraries of historical societies with large genealogical collections. (The last two have since been deleted.)
- The Responsibilities of the Council: The Council shall act in an advisory capacity, however, its suggestions shall not be binding upon member societies.
- General Purpose: Through cooperation and coordination to further the pursuit of family history and to act as a clearing house for news and activities of the state societies and other interested organizations.
At the following meeting, temporary chairman, Wayne Seltzer, became President, Victor Reisig, Vice President and Mary Jane Trout, Secretary. (We had no need for a Treasurer.) Committees were named and members appointed and we were "off and running!"
Reflecting over our activities of those ten years, three major projects stand out: our 1st publication, "Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan", our Centennial Certificate and annual seminars. These were stellar accomplishments for a fledgling organization. Not only did we distinguish our name but we established ouir treasury as well and Yulon Smith was elected to be our Treasurer.
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 Workshop was hosted by Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society on 16 September 1973. Subsequent Workshops 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 Workshops and to create interest from the general public.
Delegate meetings are in Lansing, Michigan, in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Please check the Community Calendar for the exact date, time and location.
The MGC Newsletter is published four times per year.
Contacting the Michigan Genealogical Council:
Michigan Genealogical Council
P.O. Box 80953
Lansing, MI 48908-0953
E-mail migencouncil@att.net
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