History Of CCGS

The Calhoun County Genealogical Society was established in 1988 with four specific goals in mind:

To gather and preserve information of genealogical value
To encourage the deposit of such information in suitable depositories
To aid genealogists in the study of family history through the exchange of knowledge
To publish and promote Calhoun county and other genealogical materials

CCGS Information: Contact Brenda Leyndyke

Please note: The Calhoun County Genealogical Society currently does not have a staff able to answer specific queries about your family.

EARLY CCGS BEGINNINGS

1988-1992

We were at Salt Lake City researching our family histories, and while resting with a cup of coffee, [Pat Geyer, Valerie Radee, Marilyn Hennon, Joan Von Holten, Peggy Sindt, and Martha Smith,] we decided Calhoun County needed a Genealogical Society. That's how the society began! All were from Albion, and we had made two trips out here. Five of us were teachers.

We met many times at the Albion Library and with the help of John Fox, Albion librarian and genealogist, and Marlene Plassman, Ramona Short, and Mary Dunes, we established the Calhoun Genealogical Society. Many of the details included developing articles of incorporation, a logo, slate of officers, goals and objectives, meetings and locations of, programs, dues, developing a newsletter, keeping records, and the list went on.. .and on. Carol Callard, librarian at the genealogy section of the State of Michigan Library also helped.

Peggy Sindt was the first president. Valerie Radee was the first secretary. The first order of business was to plan a program, and to reach out for people to come, and to develop membership. The Albion Public School became our source for publicity, and for copying all our printed materials, and provided a place to hold our larger seminars. Pat Geyer was program chair.

Our first seminar was held September 24, 1988 at the Albion Public Library with Barbara Madison speaking on the subjects of genealogical records and available resources. Barbara was the President of the Michigan Genealogical Council. Twentynine members attended.

In 1988 John Fox started our project of transcribing and publishing rural area cemetery records beginning with Rice Creek Cemetery in Calhoun County. By the end of 1988 the 'original membership list' included 98 members.

In 1989 we sponsored a research trip to the State of Michigan Library with 22 members taking part. [Two members were so engrossed in their research that we lost them. Finally, they were found way back in the stacks deep in a pile of books.]

August 3, 1989 our second annual meeting was held at Kellogg Community College. Eighty-seven members joined to hear nationally known Ron Bremer, Specialist of Family History at the LDS Library of Salt Lake City.

October 7, 1989 we held a seminar at Albion Senior High School that drew a large number of genealogists from across the state. The speakers included William

Schoeffler, Educational Director of the New England Genealogical Society of Boston, MA, John Brundage, Calhoun County Judge of Probate, Carol Callard, Head of Special Collections at the State of Michigan Library, Lansing, and Donann Easterwood, daughter of an Orphan Train child. Each offered information about the resources available in their area of concern.

May 22, 1990 we sponsored a field trip to the LDS library at Kalamazoo, and to the Archives collection held by Western Michigan University.

June 20, 1990 Ron Bremer, from Salt Lake City, Utah, presented another program at

Albion High School to a large group of genealogists entitled "The World of Genealogy."

In 1991, at our third annual seminar, the following resource people took part; Carol Callard, Librarian, Genealogy, State of Michigan, Lansing Marlene Steele, Librarian, Willard Library, Battle Creek, MI.

John Hammer, Volunteer from LDS Family History Library, Kalamazoo.

26 Sept, 1992, The fall seminar was held at Albion High School. Curt Witcher, Allan County Genealogical Library, Librarian, spoke about the resources available in researching Civil War ancestors. He gave information concerning the systems being used to gather information about Civil War veterans. [This is now available on the Internet.]

Arlene Eakle from Salt Lake presented her book "The Source" at this seminar. Her book [786 pages] is the classic guide for researchers working on their family history. It includes many references still not available on the Internet.

In these early years, and later, many area resource people helped with providing interesting programs for our group. Volunteers from the Society stepped forward and chaired projects such as answering queries, helping with field trips, recording civil records for microfilming, writing for the newsletter, taking leadership roles in the society, acting on boards at the state and local level, developing library resources, publishing work done for the society, attending local, state and national conferences, teaching 'how to find your family story' and on and on.

The lists of accomplishments of the Calhoun County Genealogical Society are a credit to the dedicated founders and certainly to all those who have followed.

Compiled by Valerie Radee, Charter Member #7 Patricia Geyer, Charter Member #1

August 24, 2008

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This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated
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The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical
research only and is not for commercial use of any type

CCGS Home Page	History of CCGS	Index to Generations
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Pioneer Certificate Instructions	Pioneer Certificate Recipents

CCGS History

CCGS Information: Contact Brenda Leyndyke

Meeting Minutes