Waterford Genealogical Society 2025 Genealogy Seminar

2025 Waterford Genealogical Society Seminar

Co-sponsored with the Waterford Township Public Library (WTPL), it was formerly called the lock-in and now occurs during regular library hours.

Check-In: 12:30 P.M.
Welcome/Announcements: 12:45 P.M.
Classes: 1:00 P.M. – 5:45 P.M.

FREE Wi-Fi
If you have a laptop or tablet with wireless capabilities, you are welcome to bring it and have access to all the Library’s databases: Ancestry-LE, My Heritage-LE, FamilySearch.org, and American Ancestors—NEHGS.
Bring a USB flash drive to save information.

WTPL is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library

Pre-registration is requested. Click here for additional information and a mail-in registration.

2025 Lansing FamilySearch Seminar

2025 Lansing FamilySearch Center Seminar

The Lansing Family Search Seminar, a cornerstone of the Mid-Michigan genealogical community since 2002, offers a comprehensive learning experience. Our presenters share their expertise in a wide array of topics, including Michigan-specific resources, DNA analysis, historical records, international research, and essential skills like story writing, AI-assisted research and digitizing family photos. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced researcher, you’ll find valuable insights and practical guidance. Join us to connect with your heritage. Check out this registration guide: Registration Guide.

You can find biographies and course descriptions at this site: 2025 Lansing FamilySearch Seminar Information Site.

2025 Barbara J. Brown Family History Seminar featuring Kelvin L. Meyers

Every year, the Archives of Michigan and the Michigan Genealogical Council host a seminar to promote family history awareness and teach genealogy research skills. The event is generously supported by the Abrams Foundation in loving memory of Barbara J. Brown. We are delighted to be hosting Kelvin L. Meyers, who will join us onsite in Lansing and via Zoom.

The Archives of Michigan is pleased to continue offering this flagship annual gathering as a hybrid event. In addition, the Archives of Michigan will offer the following additions to this year’s seminar:

A free pre-seminar session on military records on Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. (for online access, please register separately).
A continental breakfast for onsite attendees on both Friday and Saturday at no additional charge.
Lunch for onsite attendees on both Friday and Saturday at no additional charge.
Extended research hours in the Archives of Michigan reading room.
Recordings of seminar sessions available to registrants for 30 days following the event.

Register now for the 2025 Barbara J Brown Family History Seminar!
Registration fee: $55

Download the flyer.

The Archives of Michigan is excited to welcome Kelvin L. Meyers as this year’s featured speaker! Kelvin Meyers is a fifth generation Texan and professional forensic genealogist since 1996.

Kelvin is a frequent speaker to genealogical societies and family associations throughout the United States. Kelvin works with several mineral companies in Texas researching heirs throughout the US and the world to holding in Texas and specializes in southern brick wall problems for clients.

Kelvin currently serves as the President of the Forensic Genealogy Special Interest Group of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and in 2016, published Research in Texas for the National Genealogical Society’s Research in the States series.

The Dallas Genealogical Society awarded Kelvin the Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck Distinguished Service Award in December of 2018. Kelvin is also a fellow of the Texas State Genealogical Society.

Genealogical Society of Monroe County 45th Annual Spring Seminar
featuring Adam Oster and Jeff Mason

The 45th annual GSMC seminar is on May 10th, 2025. Join us for four one-hour-long lectures related to genealogy. There will also be door prizes, exhibitors, and vendors.

Adam Oster is the Community Engagement Librarian for the Library of Michigan. He will speak on “Yearbooks, alumni lists, and other school-related records” and “Michigan County Poor Farms”.

This year, we have a food truck with “The Big Jerrowski” selling their delicious comfort food.

The afternoon presentations will be by Jeff Mason. Jeff is an experienced genealogist and speaker. His topics will be: “Breaking Down Brick Walls & Reviving Dead Ends” and “Death & Taxes – 2 Things You Cannot Afford to Miss – A Genealogical Perspective”.

Join us for a day of learning and connecting.
For additional information and registration, visit the GSMC website or download their flyer.

Lighthouse Stories: Offshore Outposts with Ric Mixter

Michigan is home to over 120 lighthouses, which not only mark harbors but also guide ships
around underwater obstructions. These beacons are located anywhere that ships may travel,
meaning many of them are in the middle of the Great Lakes, including the most remote
lighthouse in the United States, Stannard Rock. It was here that an explosion ripped through a
machinery building, killing the chief keeper and wounding a young electrician sent to the light
to perform maintenance. In an exclusive interview, Ric Mixter shares an eyewitness account of
the man who was wounded in the the explosion with his story of awaiting rescue on the deck
with two other men.

Ric also shares scientific missions now taking place on these remote outposts, including
Spectacle Reef in the Straits of Mackinac. Stories from Lake Superior’s Huron Island are also a
highlight of this talk, with an interview from a young man whose father was stationed off
L’Anse.

Also featured is the million dollar rehab of DeTour Reef, including stories from the men who
were stationed in the St Mary’s River for several months out of the year.

Ric Mixter is a former three term president of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association,
and a frequent contributor to Beacon magazine. This presentation is a must for lighthouse fans
and people interested in how men survived working on these desolate towers.

DRGS Annual Potluck Dinner

Dinner will be at 6:00 pm, Program and meeting will follow at 7:00 pm.

Doors open at 5:30 pm

Military Collection
with Scott Galeski

Join Scott as he brings many of his relics to the meeting and talks about one of the biggest military collections in Michigan.

Easy as Pie: Using Foreign Language Newspapers in Your Genealogical Research with Karina Robinson

Foreign Language Newspapers published in the U.S. and abroad can be wonderful genealogical resources even when you do not know the language they are printed in. We’ll discuss why this resource can be helpful to your research, how to use foreign language newspapers when you aren’t familiar with or fluent in the language, and where to easily access these under overlooked resources online.

Rouge River Revived – How people are bringing their river back to life with John Hartig

The Rouge River was long known as one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. A mid-1980s tipping point awakened watershed residents that raw sewage was overwhelming their river. Today, people have overcome apathy and are working together to bring their river back to life.

Advanced Tips and Tricks for Genealogy Research with Dolores Shearon

Whether beginners or experienced genealogists, eager learners can always pick up new information to make their research more efficient — and more enjoyable. Here’s a sample: When you name your family tree on one of the big genealogy websites, don’t get cutesy. Instead, set out some “cousin bait” by titling it with the major surnames you’re researching (e.g. Jones-Miller-Moore-Brown Family Tree). Ready to learn more? This presentation will bring you curated pointers on an array of research topics, with a handout that will get you pumped to go home and try them out!