On Wednesday, June 12, 2013 the Commerce Library will be hosting a program that details the Michigan Orphan Train that ran from 1854 to 1927. Most people do not know that over 12,500 orphans were place in Michigan alone. They came from New York and Boston and there are some well known public figures that came to Michigan on the Orphan Train. Thirty-nine percent of the riders were young girls…most were not adopted.
Dave and Al Eicher of Bloomfield Hills, Mi have done years of research on the Michigan Orphan Train and have the photos, files etc that readers of the Detroit Free will love. For more in-depth information on The Orphan Train in Michigan, you may contact Dave or All at 248-333-2010.

Download a flyer for the program from this link.

The Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan
and
The Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library
Presents
”Exploring Ontario Research”
With
Fawne Stratford-Devai

Click Here For A Flyer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2013

New Genealogical Records on the Internet

Oakland Society adds to digitized early township records

The Oakland County Genealogical Society (OCGS) has digitized the 1884, 1889, and 1893 tax assessment rolls for Independence Township, Oakland County Michigan. Volunteers created an index of the names in the records, and the index is available on the Society’s website at http://www.ocgsmi.org. The index and images are also available at the Oakland County Historical Resources website at http://www.OaklandCountyHistory.org. The digitization was funded from the Society’s Ruth S. Kennedy Oakland County Records Preservation Fund.

The release of the databases marks  an addition to the Society’s 1890 Census Substitute Project, which focuses on locating and digitizing Oakland County records created between 1884 and 1894. The 1884 and 1894 State of Michigan Census for Oakland County and the Federal Census for 1890 for Michigan no longer exist, so replacement data is very useful to genealogical researchers.

The OCGS Board of Directors has allocated additional spending from the Kennedy Fund to continue the 1890 Census Substitute Project. Custodians of Oakland County records which are suitable for inclusion in the project are encouraged to contact the project director, Pamela Epple, at 1890sub@ocgsmi.org. Donations to the Kennedy Fund are appreciated, and may be made with a check to OCGS at the Society address.

Founded in 1977, the Oakland County Genealogical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to locating, publishing and safeguarding public and private genealogical records; and to encouraging and instructing in the science of genealogical research and compilation through workshops, sharing, and other educational means. Donations, gifts and legacies are tax deductible. OCGS meets at the Troy Community Center in Troy, Michigan; a meeting schedule and more information are available on the Society website at http://www.ocgsmi.org. The Society is a charter member of Oakland County Historical Resources.

OaklandCountyHistory.org is the work of Oakland County Historical Resources (OCHR), a 501(c)(3) consortium of libraries, genealogical and historical societies, which seeks historical materials pertaining to Oakland County, Michigan to make them searchable and accessible to the public. OCGS is a member. OCHR offers affordable membership options to organizations dedicated to preserving Oakland County history. Please contact Karen Knox, director of the Orion Township Public Library for membership information, (248) 693-3000.

Contact: Pam Warren

Telephone: 248-250-8139

E-mail: pwarren@ameritech.net

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OCGS has become an Ambassador for the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference. In case you were not at our last meeting or missed getting a brochure, you can get information about the conference on a special website. The conference will be held at Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 21-24, 2013.

Several members of the Society have already registered and will be attending. Don’t miss this chance to attend a national conference so close to home.

It has come to our attention that at least some of the Quarterlies which were mailed this week were stapled together incorrectly. We are working with the printer on corrective action, including prevention of future occurrences. It is possible to removed the staples and re-staple the cover in the correct orientation.