Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County

Purpose of the Society
The mission of the Society is to aid and assist members in genealogical studies, to encourage the collection and preservation of family and public records, and to promote the exchange of genealogical information.

Indexes to Family History Capers
Capers Subject Index

Capers Name Index

Download sample issue

Publications in the Society's Holdings
Library Catalog
 * Contains over 2,600 records searchable by location or category, or both | View categories
 * Records are sortable on any column. Searches may be saved as a PDF file.
 * Extensive holdings for Washtenaw County, Michigan, including township-specific records, except Lyndon
 * Holdings for most U.S. states other than Michigan are small or moderate in size
 * No holdings for Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wyoming
 * Significant holdings for Canada, British Isles, continental Europe

Lookup Services
How to Submit Research Requests Library Information
 * Research is usually limited to the materials available in the GSWC library.
 * Non-members may submit queries with a reference to Washtenaw County for publication in Family History Capers at no charge.
 * All queries are indexed for future reference.
 * The library is presently in a storage facility and closed to the public.
 * Meanwhile, the Research Committee has access to it to answer queries.


 * The Society is seeking a new home for its library.

How to Do Research in Washtenaw County
Finding Your Washtenaw County Ancestors - login required to view some content
 * Archives and Libraries - local and regional repositories Society members visit
 * Atlases and Maps - see also "Washtenaw County Cities, Villages, and Townships"
 * Bible Registry and Surname Index - over 10,000 names
 * Cemetery Records
 * Cemeteries in Washtenaw County - cemeteries are listed by location - login required to view some content
 * An asterisk (*) indicates that the GSWC Library has a copy.
 * Items in red are available online to GSWC members only.
 * A map and description of each location appears in the publication Directory of Cemeteries of Washtenaw County Michigan available from the GSWC Store or find in a library.
 * Transcriptions available online may be only partial readings.
 * Indexed Cemetery Records - surnames may be searched without login, but content may be viewed only with login
 * Bethlehem Cemetery, Ann Arbor
 * St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Bridgewater Township
 * Mt. Hope or St. John's Cemetery in Freedom Township
 * Zion Lutheran or Rogers Corners Cemetery in Freedom Township
 * Census Records
 * Church Records
 * City and County Directories
 * Courthouse Records
 * Families of [Western Washtenaw County ] - Chelsea District Library's Family History Index, formerly known as the Obituary File
 * Genealogical and Historical Societies
 * Land Records
 * Local History
 * Military Records
 * Newspapers and Obituaries
 * Queries and Lookups
 * Research Assistance and Where to Write
 * Vital Records
 * Washtenaw County Bibliography and Publications
 * Selected Bibliography for Washtenaw County by Location and Topic
 * Selected Bibliography for Washtenaw County Research by Title
 * Selected Bibliography for Washtenaw County Research by Topic
 * Washtenaw County Cities, Villages, and Townships
 * Washtenaw County Web Pages

Cost of membership and how to join:
Cost of membership and how to join

Membership brochure. (PDF)

Unlimited online access to:

 * Family History Capers archive
 * News-Pages archive
 * Washtenaw County cemetery transcriptions
 * See table below for more information

Family History Capers
Periodical published quarterly since 1979. Contains Bible records, church records, municipal records, articles from historical publications, queries, interviews with GSWC members and In Memoriam. The last quarterly edition (number 4) includes subject and name indexes for the volume. Distributed electronically and, in limited instances, in print.

News-Pages
GSWC News-Pages are produced and distributed quarterly, with Family History Capers. News-Pages contain information about upcoming membership meetings, Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings, write-ups of the lectures and classes, news from the Board, opportunities and announcements of interest to genealogist, and volunteer recruitment.

Free Lookups:
Members may submit a query about any ancestor in any locality at no charge.

General Membership Meetings
Dates. Sept. 24, 2023, Oct. 22, 2023, Dec. 3, 2023, Jan. 28, 2024, Feb. 25, 2024, Mar. 24, 2024, Apr. 28, 2024. On May 19, 2024, a special program will be held to celebrate the Society's 50th anniversary.

Time. 1:30pm - short business meeting, announcements, recognition of newcomers, and breakthroughs; 2:00 - speaker; 3:00 - break; 3:15 - class.

Location. Auditorium at Trinity Health St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor, 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti, MI. January, February, March 2024 Zoom only. Directional signs will be posted. Map.

Zoom links. There is a different invitation to register and "join meeting" link for each meeting. Links may not be shared.

Registration required for attendance via Zoom. Members will be sent an invitation to register about a week before the meeting. A link to join the meeting will be sent to the member after registration.

Instructions for guests attending via Zoom. Please send an email message to [mailto:info@washtenawgenealogy.org info@washtenawgenealogy.org] at least three days before the meeting to request an invitation to register. After registration, a link to the meeting will be sent.

Description: Two programs are offered each meeting on a wide variety of topics, including ethnic research, immigration, migration, localities, military records, repositories, DNA research, Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, online resources, research skills and methods, organizing, writing.

Listings. Home page | Meetings & Events | Lecture and Classes in 2022-2023.

Board Meetings

 * The Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm via Zoom in September, October, November, January, February, March, May, and July.
 * Call for Reports messages are emailed to Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs, and those who perform specific tasks for the Society six days before the Board meeting.
 * Action items are emailed to attendees by one week after the Board meeting.
 * Members of the Board are all volunteers.

Special Interest Group Meetings

 * DNA
 * German
 * Ireland and UK

Current Projects
Find-a-Grave Memorials, entering and maintaining

Cemetery reading and proofing

Answering research requests

Maintaining the Digital Bible Records Name Index and other indexes

Maintaining the website and Facebook page

Writing and publishing Family History Capers and News-Pages

Finding a new location for the Society's library

Planning for 50th anniversary celebration in 2024

Past Projects
2021 Capers Subject Index updated.

2019 Church records in repositories compiled.

2015 News-Pages digitized and uploaded.

2012 Indexing completed for 1884 census of Washtenaw County.

2012 Capers Name Index online.

2012 GSWC volunteers at county clerk’s office.

2004 Index for Mann book published.

2002 Index for Christman book published.

2002 Index for Shackman book published.

2001 Index for Stephenson book published.

1998 Assistance with MGC GENDIS project.

1997 Cemetery directory updated.

1997 19th C. plat maps index published.

1990 Chapman’s county history reprinted.

1984 Michigan Death Record Project.

1984 Index for 1894 census for Washtenaw County published.

1983 Ancestor Surname Index.

1982 Keffer transcription project.

1978 Washtenaw cemetery directory published.

1978 Surname index cards project.

1976 Washtenaw County Historical Commission oral history project.