GSWC -- The First 40 Years

1970s

1970s	Ralph and Lydia Muncy, Harold Jones appointed to revise Washtenaw County Historical Society (WCHS) bylaws.
1974	First meeting to discuss formation of a genealogy group at Lydia and Ralph Muncy’s on February 24.
	Adoption of Genealogy Society Bylaws, submitted to WCHS in April.

GSWC Charter Families

Leigh and Alloa Anderson

William and Polly Bender

Flora Burt

Harold Jones

Betty Knepper

Marguerite Lambert

Kathryn Lohr

Richard Miller

Doris Milliman

Ethelyn Morton

Ralph and Lydia Muncy

Dorothy Ouradnik

Patricia Shaneyfelt

Margaret Sias

James Wolf

1974	GSWC joined the Michigan Genealogical Council in May
	Officers are elected, June : Ralph Muncy, president; Polly Bender, secretary-treasurer; Harold Jones, Margaret Sias and Marguerite Lambert, members-at-Iarge. Ralph Muncy and William Bender were chosen as delegates to the Michigan Council with Lydia Muncy and Polly Bender as alternate.
	Informal discussions and donations of materials to form a library. Society produces a mimeographed "Newsletter" occasionally. Later replaced by Tombstone Connections.
	Kenneth Coe was the first Librarian. Marquerite Lambert, first Research Chairman.
1975	Programs added to meetings. Issued first publication "Dating Old Photographs."
1976	Continue meetings at members' homes.
1977	Annual meeting: voted to withdraw from WCHS. Alloa Anderson is program Chaiman.
	First meeting at Washtenaw County Community College (WCC) on the first floor of the LMC Building, March 27. The library also located at WCC.
	Meeting attendance averages 55 members per meeting.
	Annual meeting on June 26. Voted to withdraw from the Washtenaw Historical Society.
	The Michigan Genealogical Council Seminar is hosted by GSWC at the EMU Hoyt Conference Center on September 11.
	Amended Bylaws are adopted on September 25.
	Began publication quarterly with Mary Lou Barry as editor.
1978	Quarterly publication rename Tombstone Connections.
	A Genealogy Workshop is held at the Ann Arbor Public Library in April.
	WCHS acknowledged withdrawal of the Genealogy Section in June.
	First edition of Directory of Cemeteries of Washtenaw County, Michigan published.
	Marguerite ("Peggy") is the first Research Chairman. She started the index file of Washtenaw queries which is in use today.
	Meeting held at WCC Liberal Arts & Science building in Lecture Hall #1 on Dec 3.
1979	First Issue of Family History Capers published, April. Judy Punnett, editor. It replaced an earlier publication, Tombstone Connections, containing mostly society news and announcements.

1980s

1981	Nancy Krohn elected Family History Capers editor. News included records of Washtenaw County, genealogical contributions from members, and queries.
1982	Workshop held in October at the Holiday Inn on Jackson Rd on "Researching Ancestors in Germany" with Dr. Robert Ward.
1983	Workshop held in October on the "British Isles," presented by Arlene Eakle.
1984	The library moved to the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Family History Center at Hill and Tappan in the in the fall.
1984-5	Meetings at Hale Auditorium, U of M Business School from January to May.
1986-7	Meetings at Concordia College, room 109.
1987	"Irish Workshop" in October with Donna Reid Hotaling.
	Membership grown to 321 members and organizations.

1990s

1990	Workshop in April with Everton Publishers.
1991	Seminar with Wendy Elliot at WCC Lecture Hall 1 on November 10.
	Reprints of Chapman's “History of Washtenaw County” go on sale, December 10.
1992	Continue to meet at WCC in Lecture Hall 2.
	Alloa Anderson receives the Lucy Mary Kellogg Award (Grand Traverse Genealogy Society).
1993	Marty Carr and Karen Walker resign as long time Cemetery Committee chairs.
1994	Workshop in January at WCC with Everton Publishers.
	Marcia McCrary becomes president of GSWC.
1996	Board discusses creating a web presence at January meeting.
	The New York Research Special Interest Group meets at Connie Olson’s on February 7.
	Dr. DeWitt Dykes receives the Lucy Mary Kellogg Award (Mid Michigan Gen Society).
1997	Membership at 378 in January.
	Sharon Brevoort takes over the fledgling website, reports it up and running in April.
	Washtenaw County, Michigan, Plat Maps 1856 and 1864 published, contract signed in September, to come out January 1998. Edited by Mary Liskow and Nancy Krohn.
	Second edition of Directory of Cemeteries of Washtenaw County, Michigan published.
	Workshop with Desmond Allen at the Morris Lawrence Building, WCC on November 7.
1998	Janet Rohrbacher receives the Lucy Mary Kellogg Award (also member of Livingston GS)
1999	25th Anniversary of GSWC celebrated at Cobblestone Farm in June. A joint meeting with Cobblestone Farm members featuring a potluck with ham and cake..Marcia McCrary speaks on the Campbell and Ticknor families. Silver stickers also purchased.
	GSWC WorkshopLeslie Smith Collier on Oct. 19. The workshop folder features 25th Anniversary stickers. Carolyn Griffin chair.

2000s

2000	Michigan Death Records (1889-1892) transcription project through MGC begins in February. Dick Miller coordinator for GSWC.
	Last meeting at the LS&A Building at WCC, May.
	The Society contributes money and helps promote the Stockbridge Genealogical Society newspaper microfilming project in June.
	Meetings move to St Joe Hospital Patient Education Center in September.
2002	The Library moves from Hill Street to Huron Towers on January 24 to February 1 for building renovations at Hill Street.
	Membership at 410 in May.
	The GSWC Library moves back to Hill Street in September.
	GSWC Workshop with Sandra Luebking at WCC on October 26.
2003	Mary Lou Duncan receives the Lucy Mary Kellogg Award (DSGR and Irish Gen Society).
2004	Hints of a library move to Saline emerge in March.
	Library moves to the new Saline LDS church in Saline in July.
	30th Anniversary cake at December meeting. Judy Chrisman and Marcia McCrary present histories of their respective organizations. Copies of Mary Liskow’s History of the GSWC are available.

2010s

2011	New website goes online in January, hosted by EasyNetSites.
	Nancy H. Krohn wins Michigan Genealogical Council's Lucy Mary Kellogg Award in September.
2012	Collaboration with the Washtenaw County Vital Records Office to provide a genealogy volunteer every Thursday from 10-2 begins in April. Rob Steward volunteer coordinator.
	Family History Capers index reaches 96,482 names in June.
2014	40th Anniversary celebration in May.
	Dick Eastman, nationally known speaker, presents three lectures as part of the 40th anniversary.
	GSWC Bylaws revised.
2015	Published an update to the 1990 History of the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan.
2016	Connie Olson wins the Michigan Genealogical Council's Lucy Mary Kellogg award in November.

11-7-13 Marcia McCrary

rev: 2-14-15 jet (from McCrary draft7 4-19-14)

rev. 1-13-16 jet (from McCrary 1-13-16 notes)

rev. 2-2-17 jet