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All 2025 Programs for the Public take place over Zoom. All programs require registration to attend.
Thursday, January 2, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Ancestry.com Library Edition is a comprehensive family history database with access to a wide range of historical documents, images, and public records. Learn advanced techniques for navigating Ancestry.com’s vast collection of records and other strategies as you enhance your family history research skills.
Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
As Aristotle noted, “Man is by nature a social animal”—we have family, society, and throughout history we have moved with them. This is true even researching in and around a system meant to extinguish familial bonds, like the institution of American slavery. This session includes tips, tricks, and examples of how researching neighbors, witnesses, coworkers, and friends can further your research.
Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
MyHeritage Library Edition is a family history database available through the Michigan eLibrary with access to a wide range of historical documents, images, and public records. Go beyond the basics of navigating MyHeritage and learn advanced strategies for discovering records within its collections.
Thursday, April 3, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Researching the history of your home or building is not hard, but can be a time intensive process. Learn about the vast assortment of resources that are scattered amongst varying government agencies and archives. Explore strategies for identifying architectural styles of a building as well as how to research a home that no longer exists.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Register For This Program
Cemeteries and headstones contain a wealth of information about ancestors and a location's most prominent citizens, but more research is required beyond the gravesite. Dig into the types of information available at the Library of Michigan when researching cemeteries and unearth best practices for cemetery research.
Thursday, June 5, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
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Yearbooks, alumni lists, and other school related records can be rich in details about the people in your family tree. Discover the activities and clubs that ancestors participated in during their school years. Learn to uncover details about both your family members and the communities they lived in. Explore the ways of finding these valuable resources both in-print and online.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom* - Moved to 2nd Thursday to avoid 4th of July holiday
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Vital records are one of the foundational resources used in family history research. Explore how these records have evolved in Michigan and where to find them. Discover what vital records are available through the Library of Michigan as well as alternative resources to use when a vital record is lost.
Thursday, August 7, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
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Explore the digital options for saving your family history research. Explore the variety of desktop and web-based applications researchers can use for organizing their data. Review best practices for both using these applications and uploading digital scans of records to the software.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Register For This Program
Michigan newspapers provide an extensive amount of content for communities across the state. Learn about strategies for finding relevant family history information. Explore the many newspaper resources available onsite and online through the Library of Michigan and from other institutions.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Register For This Program
FamilySearch.org is a free, online genealogy platform that helps users trace their family history and build family trees. It offers access to billions of historical records, documents, and resources from around the world, allowing individuals to research their ancestry and connect with their family story. Explore ways of accessing Michigan resources on FamilySearch.org along with other tools that can assist your research.
Thursday, November 6, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Register For This Program
Fold3 provides online access to military records, including the stories, photos, and relevant personal documents. Discover advanced strategies for using Fold3 as you uncover the accounts of men and women who served in the armed forces.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM, Zoom
Register For This Program
The early settlement period of Michigan is often a challenging area for researchers. Explore ways to navigate these barriers through content at the Library of Michigan that spans the Old Northwest, the Territory of Michigan, and the initial decades following Michigan’s statehood. Learn about key resources for researching this period, including the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections.
Registration is required for all Zoom sessions. To register, select the Register For This Program link under the Name/Date of each program you wish to attend. You will be required to provide your name and email address. A link to the Zoom session for each program will be emailed to you on the day you register as well as the day of the program. All Zoom programs will be recorded.
For questions, please contact the Library of Michigan at Librarian@Michigan.gov or 517-335-1477.
Links to recordings of current and previous years Zoom sessions are available on the Video Tutorials section of our Family History page.
Updated: 12/30/2024