Farmington Genealogical Society

Welcome to Farmington Genealogical Society!

 
 
    50 Year Certificate
    Farmington Genealogical Society 
    Presented by
    The Michigan Genealogical Council,   
    May 11. 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
The Farmington Genealogical Society has been serving the family history community with information on Farmington, Oakland County, Michigan for fifty years!  We are celebrating our Golden Anniversary and are moving into our second half century with renewed energy.
 
The Farmington Genealogical Society meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through May, except December, at the Downtown Branch of the Farmington Library, located at 23500 Liberty Street in Farmington, Michigan.  Click this link to Google Map. Our meetings begin at 6:30 pm and our speaker presentation begins at 7:00 pm. 
 
Our website provides interest for our members and non members alike.  Our meeting schedule with program topics can be viewed in our Calendar of Events, our Publications include physical volumes that are available for purchase and digital publications available in our members only area.  We have the funeral home documents for the Thayer-Rock Funeral Home (July 1937 through December 2016) and Passenger Crew Lists for Canada to Michigan crossings (February 1901 through December 1952).
  
Also check us out on Facebook, and join our Facebook group.
 
 

Need a way to start writing your family stories?

In the November-December Issue of our newsletter, Footprints to the Past, our member, Steve Luty, writes of his experience using the Skep Space technique.  Becky Burns hosts a Writer's Group at the Farmington Hills Library on the second Tuesday of the month (go to the Farmington Hills Library site and click on Events). Steve's article in our current issue explores his discovery that a lot of writing can be completed in short (10-20 minute) bursts.  So, you might want to consider dropping in on a session to get a feel for what you can do.  Who knows, that article you promised Sue you would might someday submit might actually happen.

Genealogy Books Available

We received a bequest from one of our founding members, Peter Sheldenbrand, for his entire Genealogy Library!  A list of these items was supplied earlier directly to our membership and a number requested items in the treasure chest have been claimed (these are the items on the attached list that are shaded).  The good news is that there are a great number of items still available. List was updated 15-July-2023.
 
Terms of acquiring any item(s) - a free-will donation to the Farmington Genealogy Society*
 
* you will need to work out the transfer of the chosen items once our coordinator verifies the item(s) you want are still available.  Items will be processed on a first come, first served basis.  The inventory is currently stored in Farmington Hills, so it is preferred that you are able to make local arrangements to collect the items chosen. If you need to have the item(s) sent via USPS, we require that you cover the postage in addition to the amount you intend as a donation. 
 
So look at the list CLICK HERE, and send your selection and mode of transfer to info@mifarmgs.org .  

Michiganology

The Michigan Archives Website,  Michiganology.org contains a number of digital treasures including the actual images of Death Certificates (up through 1947 and rolling an additional year each January in compliance with the state 75 year limitation). Non-digital items, such as research and county guides, are available at the  Archives of Michigan pages on Michigan.gov. Check it out!


Associations

The Farmington Genealogical Society is a member of both the  Michigan Genealogical Council and the National Genealogical Society.
 
The Current  Michigan Genealogical Council Newsletter is available to download, read, or print.  Click on the link to find out more about the genealogical happenings around our State.
 

Evaluating Genealogical Evidence
Tue - 01/16/2024
Genealogical research can eventually reveal conflicting records. Well-versed in teaching genealogical and family history, Dan Fantore’s Evaluating Genealogical Evidence topic explores the value of the evidence that genealogical researchers uncover. The agreement of genealogical sources is explored as well as the importance of conflicts in evidence. The importance of evaluating the strength of evidence is stressed when there are discrepancies between sources. Strengths and weaknesses of common sources (census schedules, birth and death certificates) are presented. Challenges with indices and original versus derivative sources will be discussed. 
Where are the Early Dead of Detroit?
Tue - 02/20/2024
Professional genealogist Derek J. Blount gives a review of the early cemeteries of Detroit and what happened to them, and the people buried there. A discussion of where to find death records for the early days.
Creative Storytelling Techniques Borrowed from Photography
Tue - 03/19/2024
Speaker Laura Hedgecock. Topic summary coming soon.