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Welcome to GSWC!
The Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan (GSWC) welcomes anyone interested in genealogy and local history, whether they are beginning or more experienced family history researchers. Attending GSWC meetings will help you to keep current in the world of genealogy. Thank you for visiting the GSWC website. We hope your visit will be productive and that you will return often.
Announcing - Washtenaw Research, Cemetery Records, News Item Names, and Special Interest Groups are now for members only.
Announcing Online Join New members are now empowered to create their own username and password and receive instant access. No more waiting! Your membership will expire one year from the date you join.
To renew your membership, log in and go to your member profile. This is a *big change* for some, especially if you have never logged in before. If you have questions, please contact the membership chair.
Member Benefits:
We publish a quarterly journal called Family History Capers and hold eight general meetings with a business meeting and program from September to May. We are facilitating small group discussions following each program meeting. Each group will have an assigned GSWC facilitator. Individuals attending via Zoom will have the option to participate by joining a breakout room in Zoom. Please see About Meetings for new content on readiness skills for Zoom meetings with breakout rooms.
 Our website features an extensive list of Washtenaw County and Michigan research links and resources; databases; and indexes. Washtenaw Research, our most important page for genealogical content, has twenty categories and its own page navigation. The Bible registry has over two thousand surnames and over nine thousand individual names. The library catalog has over two thousand items. The surnames database has over three hundred names. Family History Capers is indexed by name and subject. Cemetery Records lists area cemeteries, provides details about the cemetery, and some cemeteries have transcriptions recorded.
Visitors:
We invite you to explore the site. The Bible registry has over two thousand surnames and over nine thousand individual names. The library catalog has over two thousand items. The surnames database has over three hundred names. Family History Capers is indexed by name and subject.
On the Members Surnames page if you spot a name of interest, email a member directly by clicking on the envelope icon by that name. On the Library Catalog page, try filtering the records by name, subject, or location. If you need a library look-up, please submit a request to the research committee, which meets every Monday at the library. Contact the research team to arrange for a visit to the library. We hope you find enough benefit to join our Society! If you have any questions about our website or Society, please contact us at info@washtenawgenealogy.orgGSWC Hybrid Meeting, Nov 23, 2025, 1:30pm
 After the brief business meeting starting at 1:30pm Mark Thompson will present, via Zoom, "Researching Letters and Documents with Artificial Intelligence." Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming genealogy research! Join Mark Thompson as he reveals how AI can help you uncover the family history treasures hiding in your family documents and letters. Intended for people new to AI, this accessible webinar will show you how to simplify turning your family archives into a goldmine of useful information. Don’t miss this opportunity to blend tradition with new technology!
 Next we will break into small groups in the auditorium area and on Zoom to discuss social media: In what ways are you using social media to share your family history with the younger generation? Who is using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest or other social media to engage family members? A second topic is ChatGPT. Your choice! A GSWC facilitator will be assigned to each group to facilitate discussion. This new feature of GSWC meetings was requested by our members.
Registration is not required to attend in person at Trinity Health Ann Arbor. How do I get a link to join the Zoom meeting? Members will receive an email invitation to register about a week prior to the meeting. Non-members, please send a request to register to info@washtenawgenealogy.org (must be received by *November 20*). A handout will be available during the meeting and in members-only download.
Family History Capers - Current Issue
 Volume 49 - Issue 1. October 7, 2025. Contents include Bridgewater Township Schools, Part 3; Washtenaw County Farm Bureau and Washtenaw Junior Farm Bureau Membership 1944 (Part 4); “The Mixing Bowl”: A 1937 Publication Of Zal Gaz Caldron No. 7 Daughters Of Mokanna, Ann Arbor, Michigan; William Deubel and Sally Purdy Family Bible Record; Library report; Preston B. and Cornelia E. (Robinson) Rose Family Bible Record; Book Review: “Around the World in 80 Graves-Travel, Tombstones & Transformation”; In Memoriam.
To read the current issue of Capers online, first log in. Then, select Capers Current Issue under *Members* in the menu. To read older issues go to Washtenaw Research > Capers Archive. To find a copy of Family History Capers at a library near you open WorldCat list. 2025-2026 Lectures and Classes
Click here for a list of program topics and our meeting schedule through May 2026. Please download it and post it where it will do the most good. [updated 11/5/2025] Become a Member!
Membership in GSWC will give you full access to society collections by unlocking member-only indexes, databases, cemetery records, and archives. It will open up opportunities for you to meet like-minded people who will hear you. As a member you can help grow our surname database and receive messages from others with similar lines. As a member you can help us to maintain high quality programming and website content. You can help to ensure the continuation of our society and to shape its future.
Our work is done entirely by volunteers. We have projects you may be interested in, as listed on the Volunteer page. Whether your skill set lies in writing, editing, speaking, teaching, research, administration, marketing, cataloging, indexing, data entry, or field work (reading gravestones! photography!) you can find your special niche here. Or, try something new! Join us and experience the satisfaction of helping others.
Become a Donor!
GSWC will provide matching funds up to $300.
Campaign runs through October 2025.
Our Memberships and Social Media
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