Welcome to the Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County
The Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan (GSWC) has welcomed anyone interested in genealogy and local history for over 50 years. With more than 200 members, we offer resources and programs for both beginners and experienced family history researchers.
About us: We encourage you to learn about our society by visiting the About Us page and exploring the helpful links in the footer.
Visibility of pages: Some pages are hidden until you log in as a member.
To log in to this site you will need a password that has at least 8 characters, an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, and a number. If you have an old password, it may not work. Please click on "I forgot my password" on the login page and create a password that meets these new requirements.
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On this page:
- Benefits of Membership
- Washtenaw County Resources Open to All
- Upcoming Meetings
- Washtenaw County Resources for Members
- Next Steps
Thank you for visiting the GSWC website. We hope your visit will be productive—and that you’ll return often.
Benefits of Membership
Membership opens the door to many opportunities and helps sustain our volunteer-run society.
- Attend GSWC meetings to stay current in the world of genealogy
- Online join and renewal with instant access to protected content
- Email notifications of upcoming meetings and events
- Access to the full membership list. Members control what information is visible.
- Access to Washtenaw County and Michigan resources to help your research
—your membership helps shape the future of our society and the direction of your own research.
Volunteer and Make a Difference
GSWC is powered entirely by volunteers. Whether your skills lie in:
- writing, editing, speaking, or teaching
- research, cataloging, indexing, or data entry
- administration or marketing
- field work (reading gravestones or photography)
—you can find a niche here, or try something new. Join us and experience the satisfaction of helping others.
Washtenaw County Resources Open to All
Meetings and Programs
- Eight general meetings per year
- Business meeting and featured speaker
- Small discussion groups led by GSWC facilitators
- Hybrid (online and in person) and Zoom-only meeting types
- Free and open to the public
Research Tools
- GSWC Library Catalog (2,000+ items) - (The catalog has not been migrated yet.)
- Family History Capers Name Index (143,000+ entries) (The name index is pending.)
- Queries referencing Washtenaw County or surrounding areas are accepted and indexed
- And much more . . .
Lectures and classes information for 2026-2027 to download and post. Meetings are free and open to the public.
Upcoming Meetings
Ancestry's Pro Tools
Trinity Health Ann Arbor & online via Zoom
After a short business meeting starting at 1:30pm, Leah Larkin will present, via Zoom, “Ancestry's Pro Tools.” Then, following an intermission, we will break into two groups at the auditorium and two groups online. One group will discuss today's topic and the other will discuss genealogy research questions that have been submitted to GSWC ahead of time and researched by the GSWC team. Please submit your questions to info@washtenawgenealogy.org. | Flyer to download and post
Genealogy Questions & Family Stories
In person at Trinity Health Ann Arbor and online via Zoom
Get Help • Share Discoveries • Connect with Fellow Researchers GSWC is offering an opportunity to get help and help others. Join us in Breakout Room 2, at 3pm on October 25, 2026 after the business meeting and program—on Zoom or in person. Do you have a genealogy question that a fellow researcher might help answer? Are you stuck on a problem with your family tree? Or have you worked through a research challenge, discovered useful resources, or uncovered a family story you’d like to share? Here’s your chance! Please submit your question or story no later than October 10, 2026 to the GSWC president.
Growing Genealogy’s Future: Attracting and Engaging Younger People
Trinity Health Ann Arbor Auditorium & on Zoom
After a short business meeting starting at 1:30pm, Sarah Day will present, via Zoom, “Growing Genealogy’s Future: Attracting and Engaging Younger People.” Then, following an intermission, we will break into two groups at the auditorium and two groups online. One group will discuss today's topic and the other will discuss genealogy research questions that have been submitted to GSWC ahead of time and researched by the GSWC team. Please submit your questions to info@washtenawgenealogy.org.
Washtenaw County Resources for Members
Indexes and Databases
- Cemetery records
- Bible Registry Index (9,000+ names; 2,000 surnames)
- Archives and libraries (local and regional)
- Bibliographies and links to digital volumes, when available (in progress)
- Members surnames database (member-generated; 300+ entries)
- Identify others researching the same lines
- Send and receive blind messages
- Most useful for *Washtenaw County* area names!
Family History Capers (quarterly journal)
- Access to all archived issues
- Downloadable digital editions
- Name and subject indexes
- Members may submit queries for any geographic area for publication
News-Pages (quarterly newsletter)
- Access to all archived issues
- Downloadable digital editions
Washtenaw Newspaper Clippings
- Indexed compilation of obituaries, death notices, marriage announcements, birth notices, and other life-event items transcribed from Washtenaw County newspapers
- Spans the 1840s through the early 20th century and is the result of decades of volunteer effort
- Brings together material extracted from many newspapers into one searchable reference organized by decade and surname
Indexed Ancestor Charts Collection
- Access to the member-generated collection via the Ancestor Charts Chair
- Members are encouraged to submit ancestor charts (pedigree charts), especially if their ancestors have a Washtenaw County connection
- Fillable four-generation ancestor charts are provided by GSWC
Knowledge Base - New!
- Designed to help you research Washtenaw County, Michigan ancestors using original records, indexes, and local resources.
- Get oriented and choose the right next step.
Next Steps
- Explore the site and try filtering records on the library catalog page by name, subject, or location (go to Library Catalog)
- Need a library lookup? Submit a request to the Research Team, which meets every Monday at the library (go to Research Request page)
- Want to visit the library? Ask the Research Team to arrange a visit (send email message to the Research Team)
- Ready to become a member? Use our convenient online form (open the join form)
If you have questions about our website or the Society, please contact us at
info@washtenawgenealogy.org or by the contact form (which is also always available in the footer).