History of GSWC

The Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County Michigan Incorporated (GSWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes family history research and education in Washtenaw County, Michigan and genealogy more generally. It was founded in 1974 as a section of the Washtenaw Historical Society, but became an independent entity in 1977.

 

Since then, it has grown to several hundred members and has published several books and indexes related to genealogy, which are available as file downloads. Its workshops and seminars in the 1970s and 1980s, hosted in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Friends of the Ann Arbor Public Library, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the Daughters of the American Revolution, were a significant influence on the growth of genealogy as a hobby locally. GSWC has participated in several projects to preserve and transcribe local records, such as cemeteries, vital records, and family Bible records, which have been published in its quarterly journal, Family History Capers or made available online. A distinctive logo was adopted in 1983.

 

GSWC hosts regular program meetings and interest groups on various topics and regions of interest and has an active research team to field your research questions. Its library of genealogical materials is open to the public by appointment. GSWC is a member of the Michigan Genealogical Council and the National Genealogical Society and has maintained a presence on Facebook since 2011. GSWC celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.

 

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• An obituary book—a listing of members' "In Memoriam" notices published in Family History Capers—and a scrapbook of member obituaries are at the GSWC Library.​

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