Michigan Genealogical Council
Pre Seminar HELP SESSIONS

Scattered throughout the Library and Archives building (the Michigan Library and Historical Center) in Lansing, the MGC board members and other experts are offering “Help Sessions” at tables about specific topics.  Scheduled in the interval between the Delegate Meeting (ends about 12 noon) and the Lock In (at 6 p.m.), these tables will have experts in specific topics from 2-4 p.m.:  Pioneer Certificate Program, Beginners, French-Canadian, Indigenous, MGC databases, Germany, Church and Cemetery Records, DAR/SAR research, Irish, House Histories, and African-American research.  The Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan are hosting tables to guide researchers through their collections and help them get started using the building’s resources.

For these sessions, participants will sit around a table with the expert.  Bring your laptop or papers and be prepared with a short, direct question.  Discussion around the table could provide multiple sources of potential help, as well as identify resources available in the building that could be checked during the Lock In or immediately in the afternoon.  These help sessions around the table are not meant to be lengthy discussions about one family or ancestor, but rather to provide quick “next steps” to help a researcher.  Listening in to the discussion of what others are looking for can perhaps help with learning about the resources and ways to think about the research and resources.