Welcome to Western Michigan!

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2021 WMGS Writing Contest has concluded and the winners have been selected. Here are the results!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

• First place: Bob Bush,
  “The Meanest Man in America”
  ($100 & WMGS membership)

• Second place: Barb Bettes,
  “The Skeleton in Our Family’s Closet”
  ($75 & WMGS membership)

• Third place: Amy Russell,
  “An Outlaw for an In-law” ($50)

• Fourth place: Mary Milne Jamba,
  “They Can’t All Be Heroes” ($25)

• Honorable Mentions:
  Linda Guth, Kay Crabtree and Mary M. Lane

Keep watching for the announcement of next year's contest.

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The Next Bus Trip is scheduled for Monday - Tuesday, October 25-26 * 

Allen County Public Library

Western Michigan Genealogical Society’s
Bus Trip to Fort Wayne’s
Allen County Public Library

Registration form (PDF) now available for download at this URL

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COVID-19: Updates from the Grand Rapids Public Library can be found at their website. https://www.grpl.org/

They have also created an outstanding resource page for property research, genealogy and local history. And of course, Ancestry is now available from home, as well as American Ancestors. Link: https://www.grpl.org/digital-resources-research/

A GRPL or other library card number is required for some resources.  Don't have one? A temporary e-card for residents of the city of Grand Rapids is offered at https://www.grpl.org/temporary-e-cards/

Have a KDL library card?

  *           For logging onto the Wi-Fi at a GRPL library, use your KDL number with *no* punctuation -- no spaces, no hyphens.  Use your password as you would at a KDL library.

  *           For using https://www.grpl.org resources that say "Library Card Required", instead use https://kdl.org/online-resources

 From elsewhere in Michigan?  See https://mel.org  > link "eResources" or "Participating Libraries".

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The Western Michigan* Genealogical Society was founded in 1954 with the purpose of preserving and making available for genealogical research the records of our ancestors; encouraging and assisting members in genealogical research; promoting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging the deposit of genealogical records in established libraries and archives.  

JOIN WMGS...
Membership Information is online.
 

*Includes Kent County and the counties immediately surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and Allegan Counties. There is some extension beyond these counties into other areas of the Western Lower Peninsula.

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A resource site for historical and genealogical organizations & repositories within West Michigan www.commoncorners.com

New WMGS Publication!
STATE LAND PATENTS, KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Originally compiled by Western Michigan Genealogical Society in 1984, this publication was redone and improved in 2010. Original land patents given by the Michigan State Government from approximately 1840-1879. These are very important records, as Kent County had more state land for sale than any other county in lower Michigan at that time.

Soft cover, 114 pages REVISED, 2010  .........................$14.00

View all publications here

Donations

Please consider making a tax deductible donation in support of genealogical research, education, and preservation in West Michigan. The Western Michigan Genealogical Society is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. More information...

List of Acquisitions and Donations

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(To search our databases, Click Here)

 

LATEST NEWSLETTER:

Summer 2021

Weather Cancellation Procedure

Be known. Get a Badge.

WMGS Name Badge

ATTN. MEMBERS:
NEW BENEFIT
Free BRICK WALL help