2025 Barbara J. Brown Family History Seminar is May 9-10; Registration is Open

Registration for the Barbara J. Brown Family History Seminar on May 9 to 10, 2025, is now open.

Every year the Archives of Michigan and the Michigan Genealogical Council host a seminar to promote family history awareness and teach genealogy research skills. The event is generously supported by the Abrams Foundation in loving memory of Barbara J. Brown. The seminar is hosting Kelvin L. Meyers, who will be joining the seminar onsite in Lansing and via Zoom.

The Archives of Michigan is pleased to continue offering this flagship annual gathering as a hybrid event. In addition, the Archives of Michigan will offer the following additions to this year’s seminar:

• A free pre-seminar session on military records on Friday, May 9, at 10 a.m. (For online access, please register separately).
• A continental breakfast for onsite attendees on both Friday and Saturday at no additional charge.
• Lunch for onsite attendees on both Friday and Saturday at no additional charge.
• Extended research hours in the Archives of Michigan reading room.
• Recordings of seminar sessions available to registrants for 30 days following the event.

The seminar registration Fee is $55. Register now for the 2025 Barbara J. Brown Family History Seminar!

Friday, May 9, 2025

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast (onsite only)
Join us early for a complimentary continental breakfast. Stay for the pre-seminar or get in a few extra hours of research before the seminar starts.

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Extended open hours at the Archives of Michigan (onsite only)
The Archives of Michigan's reading room will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dive into research before and after the seminar.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Pre-seminar Session: Military Records at the Archives of Michigan (separate registration, hybrid)
Interested in learning more about military records at the Archives of Michigan? Join us for this pre-seminar offering. The presentation will be open to the public as well as seminar attendees.

12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Seminar Registration
Lunch provided by the Archives of Michigan (onsite only)

1:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
Session 1. Welcome and Remarks
Mark Harvey, State Archivist and Judy Nimer Muhn, Genealogical Council

1:40 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Session 2. Seeking A Higher Source: The Resources of Faith Communities (hybrid)
Judy Nimer Muhn, Michigan Genealogical Council
Key events in our ancestors’ lives were often documented in the faith communities in which they worshiped. Exploring the records and their importance across faith communities, Judy will provide information on the types of records, locations of archives and access to records, and the key ways that these records can enrich your family’s history.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Session 3. Dealing with Record Loss: Fire, Flood, or Theft, Strategies to Overcome the Loss (hybrid)
Kelvin L. Meyers, Featured speaker
We all face it: record loss. Whether the courthouse burned, the clerk tossed them, the relative, autograph hunter, lawyer or surveyor took them, they succumbed to heat, humidity, insects or fading ink or war or distance from the courthouse which was a barrier to their creation – the records that we want – the records that could answer our questions aren’t there. The solution: In many cases it’s possible to overcome the problem, but it requires diligence, perseverance, and willingness to look beyond the obvious.

4:20 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Session 4a. New Updates to Michiganology (hybrid)
There are many exciting changes on Michiganology! Archives of Michigan staff will highlight these updates and share information about future improvements coming this summer.

Session 4b. Behind-the-scenes tour of the Archives of Michigan (onsite only)
Are you curious about where records are kept in the archives? Join staff at the Archives of Michigan for a behind-the-scenes look of the archives and its holdings. 

 

Saturday, May 10, 2025

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Seminar registration and continental breakfast (onsite only)

8:50 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Session 5. Digitizing Michigan’s Probate Records (hybrid)
Kris Rzepczynski, Archives of Michigan
This session will explore the Archives of Michigan’s efforts to digitize historic probate records from across the state, including a project overview, current status, future counties, and an exciting update on Wayne County records. Attendees will also see how to navigate the FamilySearch web site and search in the online collections there.

10:10 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.
Session 6. The Hand That Rocked the Cradle Could Rule the World (hybrid)
Kelvin L. Meyers, Featured speaker
Half the people on your pedigree chart are female and may be the most difficult to identify. Identifying female ancestors is a challenge for all genealogists. She changes her name when she gets married and identifying her parents may become time-consuming. With the basic knowledge of sources created about and by women, and how to locate these sources, finding the females in your family may not be so hard after all.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Session 7. “City Directory Under the Counter”: Exploring an Underutilized Resource (hybrid)
Jessica Trotter, Researcher & blogger
City directories are an amazing resource to track urban dwellers between the Census years, but many researchers do not realize the fabulous range of information about communities that can potentially be gleaned from them.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch provided by the Archives of Michigan (onsite only)

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Session 8. My Ancestor in Court (hybrid)
Kelvin L. Meyers, Featured speaker
From the County Court to the Supreme Court, court records may hold clues and answers to questions that you have about your ancestor. Suits in equity, trespass to try title, a suit brought by next friend, what do these terms mean and what can you learn from these suits? Case studies will be used to illustrate the types of records found and their use in solving problems.

2:50 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
Session 9. Resources for Researching Michigan’s Roots (hybrid)
Matt Pacer, Library of Michigan
The roots of Michigan’s heritage often intersect with the migration of people coming from other states and foreign countries. Explore the origin points for the settlers that transitioned Michigan through the founding of the United States, the acquisition of the Northwest Territory, the organization of the Michigan Territory, and the decades following statehood. Discover online resources that retrace Michigan’s story back to its earlier roots.

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Extended open hours at the Archives of Michigan (onsite only)
The reading room will remain open until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

For speaker bios, see the seminar webpage.

 

See you at our favorite library!
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