2025 MGC Fall Family History Event featuring Curt Witcher, FIGS, FUGA

The Michigan Genealogical Council is proud to announce the 2025 Fall Family History Event, featuring Curt Witcher, in collaboration with our partners, the Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan.

Presented in-person or virtually on Zoom

Join us for these exciting topics.

9:00 am - 9:15 am - Welcome and Introductory remarks

9:15 am - 10:15 am - Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries – Curt Witcher
So often, genealogists miss the tremendous research treasures in libraries and archives because they are not effective researchers. This talk focuses on (1) understanding the four major types of libraries and their missions/roles, (2) organizing one’s data in a manner in which it can be both effectively and efficiently presented to a librarian or record custodian for review and consultation, (3) developing techniques for “scouting” a research facility before arriving, and (4) functioning in a wide variety of research facilities.

10:30 am – 11:30 am - Perilous Assumptions: Revisiting Those First Finds with Kris Rzepczynski, Archives of Michigan
Despite the best of intentions, many family history researchers - particularly as beginners - make incorrect assumptions about records that don't quite fit. This program will explore false assumptions, revisiting those mistakes, and the family history discoveries that may await.

11:45 am-12:45 pm - Mining The Mother Lode: Periodical Research – Curt Witcher
Significant quantities of family & local history data are published in the newsletters, journals, quarterlies, and magazines of the world’s historical and genealogical societies. Yet so many genealogists leave periodical literature untouched when conducting their research and investigating secondary sources of data. This lecture identifies the major types of periodical literature, what indices are available and how they can be most effectively used. Special attention is given to the Periodical Source Index as the largest and most comprehensive subject index in the genealogical field.

12:45 pm–1:30 pm - Lunch – complimentary for onsite attendees

1:30 pm-2:30 pm - Michigan Souvenir Books – Visual Context to Our Family History Research – Adam Oster and Matt Pacer, Library of Michigan
Official souvenir books are publications produced to commemorate special events, exhibitions, or celebrations. As printing technology evolved, their use expanded to include tourism campaigns that attracted visitors to destinations across Michigan. Learn about the history of these publications and discover how they provide both images and context for your family history research.

2:45 pm-3:45 pm - High Tech and High Touch of 21st Century Genealogy – Curt Witcher
This topic is devoted to challenging genealogists and those in leadership positions in the genealogical community to be aware of how technological advances continue to change the way genealogy is being done, and change the expectations for the organizations that want to thrive in the genealogy space.

3:45 pm-4:00 pm -Closing Remarks

Bios

Curt Witcher, FIGS, FUGA
Curt Witcher is the Director of Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library, managing the widely acclaimed Genealogy Center as well as the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research. He is a former president of both the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, and the founding president of the Indiana Genealogical Society. Curt currently serves on the Indiana State Historical Records Advisory Board, the Indiana Historical Society’s publications committee, and the executive committee of the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana’s Board of Directors. He also serves on the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society board of directors as well as an advisor for the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne.

Curt is distinguished as a fellow of both the Indiana Genealogical Society and the Utah Genealogical Association. Over the decades he led collaborative national efforts to preserve and make more accessible historical data. For those efforts he has received the Federation of Genealogical Societies' Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award and the National Genealogical Society’s P. William Filby Award for outstanding, life-time contributions to genealogical librarianship. Curt’s passion for finding families’ stories and his belief in the power of those stories to change lives has been recognized by numerous organizations. He is the recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s 2019 Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary contributions to the field of history, the 2024 “I Love My Librarian Award” from the American Library Association for outstanding public service, and a 2024 Distinguished Hoosier Award from the Governor of the State of Indiana.

Adam Oster is the Community Engagement Librarian for the Library of Michigan. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Grand Valley State University with a minor in Political Science and Secondary Education Certification. He also has a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University. Adam’s interests include genealogy and local history research.

Matt Pacer serves as a Reference Librarian, Donation Coordinator, and Rare Book Room curator for the Library of Michigan. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wright State University, a Master of Arts in Military History from Kansas State University, and a Master of Library and Information Science from Wayne State University.

Kris Rzepczynski is a Senior Archivist at the Archives of Michigan, where he specializes in family history and Michigan research. Kris has worked in the genealogical community for almost 25 years. He is a former Vice President of Membership for the Federation of Genealogical Societies and a Past President of the Mid-Michigan Genealogical Society.

FAQs—In-Person Attendees

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
There is free parking on-site adjacent to the building.

What can I bring to the event?
You may bring a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or paper to take notes.

A sweater or light jacket is recommended due to temperature fluctuations in session rooms throughout the day.

Be sure to bring your questions and enthusiasm, too!

Will you be able to accommodate my special diet?
We will be unable to take special orders for the lunch service. If you have dietary restrictions, please feel free to bring your own lunch.

Photography and audio or video recording of presentations are prohibited without the presenter's advance consent.

Will handouts or a syllabus be available?
A couple of days before the Fall Family History Event, all attendees will receive an email with a link to the downloadable syllabus (handouts).

On-site attendees can purchase an optional printed paper syllabus for $7.50. The printed syllabus must be ordered with your registration.

Is there a Friday evening lock-in connected with this event?
Yes, there is a lock-in on Friday evening at the Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan. The Lock-In begins with pizza and pop from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

The Archives of Michigan and Library of Michigan will be open to registered Lock-In attendees from 6:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2025.

Registration is limited to attendees initially. If space remains the week of the Fall Family History Event, registration may be opened to all at the discretion of the Archives of Michigan. The Archives of Michigan is handling the Lock-In registrations, and the registration link information will be included with the confirmation email to attendees.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Only if you are not the registered attendee or did not receive an email confirmation that you are registered.

FAQs—Virtual Attendees

Will presentations be available for later viewing?
No, these sessions will not be recorded. The event will be available live, in real-time only.

Is it OK if the name on my registration doesn't match the person who attends?
Please advise us if another person will be using your registration before the event day. Use [email protected] to contact us with this information.

What software is required to attend this webinar?
This is a webinar using the Zoom Webinar platform. For the best experience, use the Zoom viewer app.

What do I need to attend?
A computer, tablet, or smartphone is needed to attend virtually.

No camera or microphone is required of attendees who will be in view and listen mode.

We will handle questions to the presenter via the Q&A and chat screens built into the Zoom platform.

Host or Publisher Michigan Genealogical Council