Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 143
Decatur, Michigan 49045
Celebrating 22 years of promoting family/local history research and preservation in the Michigan counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren.
- Officers
- Van Buren Echoes Quarterly
- VBRGS Library
- Online Card Catalog
- Upcoming Events
- Pioneer Certificate Project
- Southwest Michigan Military Registry Project
- Newspaper Preservation Project
- Volunteers
- Research
- Membership
- Publications
- Van
Buren County in WWII
- Web Links
- Pictorial History Book
- New England Histoic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)
- Ancestry.com
Officers: (2009-2010)
President, Toni Benson 269-423-4771 tbenson@vbdl.org
Vice-President, Joyce Beedie 269-657-4409 jmbeedie@comcast.net
Secretary, Gerald Phillips zernialgus@yahoo.com
Treasurer, Carol Kesteloot 269-668-2548 kestcar_65@msn.com
Immediate Past President,Ken Elston 269-468-4948 kdelston100@sbcglobal.net
Trustee, Conrad Burton withoutwax@btc-bci.com
Trustee, Suzanne Breed 269-375-5016
Membership, Ann Flora 269-684-1353 ASasha@aol.com
Echoes Chairperson, Carol Kesteloot 269-668-2548 kestcar_65@msn.com
GenWeb Co-ordinator, Joan Jaco 269-427-7408 joanjaco@cybersol.com
FGS Delegate, Judith Halseth 269-657-4269 judith.halseth@wmich.edu
MGC Delegate, Toni I. Benson 269-423-4771 tbenson@vbdl.org
Librarian, Toni I. Benson 269-423-4771 tbenson@vbdl.org
Hospitality, Joyce Beedie 269-657-4409 jmbeedie@comcast.net
Pioneer Chairperson, Carole Kiernan 269-921-1872 carolekiernan@msn.com
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Van Buren Echoes
"Van Buren Echoes," quarterly of the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, is published every August, November, February, and May.Submissions and queries should be turned in no later than August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1, respectively.
Items accepted include family stories/anecdotes, original source material, history, etc. VBRGS will publish a book/item review for any newly published material in exchange for a copy of the book/item. Please include description, cost, and address.
Please send all submissions, queries, or review books/items to: VBRGS, P.O. Box 143, Decatur, Michigan 49045.
Library
The Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society's library holdings consist of books, manuscripts, photos, periodicals, vertical files, card files, and digitally preserved records. An complete online catalog is now available in sections: Donations of materials in any form relating to the counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, as well as general Michigan & genealogy materials are welcome. VBRGS reserves the right to use these materials at its discretion. Those items that are not catalogued may be reproduced onto archival quality materials, or may be sold as part of collection funding.The VBRGS library is housed in the Local History Room of the Webster Memorial Library, Van Buren Dictrict Library, 200 N. Phelps Street, Decatur, Michigan. Phone (616) 423-4771. The Local History Room is open any time during the library's business hours. Summer hours are: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library is partially staffed by Local History Librarian Toni Benson and partially by Local History Room volunteers.
The collection includes:
Vital & court records for the counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo & Van Buren Bloomingdale Leader newspaper (microfilm)All items are non-circulating. A complete bibliography of all catalogued items is available at the Van Buren GenWeb website. (Use Ctrl-F to help locate keywords.)
Covert Times newspaper (microfilm)
Marcellus News newspaper (microfilm)
South Haven Daily Tribune newspaper (microfilm)
Berrien County Record (Buchanan) newspaper (microfilm)
Area histories
Family histories
Census and census indexes (state, federal, and special)
Pictures
Yearbooks
City & telephone directories
Family & locality vertical files
Southwest Michigan Military Registry
Southwest Michigan Pioneer Certificate Archives
Periodicals (VBRGS has a periodical exchange with many
of the genealogical societies in Michigan)
The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) online database is now available at Webster's Memorial Library and is also available in the Family History Room. This is available through a subscription provided by the VBRGS. You may access the homepage of the database at http://www.nehgs.org/research/database/all/default.asp although you may not search from home without the subscription.
Ancestry.com is available at the Webster's
Memorial
Library through the Library of Michigan. This is also available
in
the Family History Room.
The Webster's Memorial Library is a branch library of The Family History Center which is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. Microfilm may be ordered from the FHC library in Salt Lake for a small fee and kept in the Decatur library for about a month. You may search for films at Family History Library Catalog For more information contact tbenson@vbdl.org
Upcoming Events
January 26, 2009 - 7:00 p.m. Webster Memorial Library, Decatur - Genealogy Roundtable - come and bring your questions and/or successes.February 23, 2009, 7:00 p.m. Webster Memorial
Library,
Decatur – To be Announced.
March 23, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library,
Decatur
– "Secrets to Researching Your Swedish Ancestry", presented by
Bill Johnson. Bill has had quite a bit of experience working with
his own Swedish ancestry and will share tips with us and also will
provide a case study.
BACK TO BASIC BRIEFS, 6 p.m.
(this is a new pre-meeting series that we are starting that will focus
on basic genealogical practices.)
April 27, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library,
Decatur
– "Your Digital Copy Machine". Wayne Loney will be giving a
presentation on using your digital camera for making copies and other
ways you can use it for genealogical and personal use. Bring your
camara with you.
BACK TO BASIC BRIEFS, 6 p.m.
(this is a new pre-meeting series that we are starting that will focus
on basic genealogical practices.)
May 25, 2009 – MEMORIAL DAY – no meeting.
June 22, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Webster Memorial Library,
Decatur
– Annual meeting and potluck. Bring your favorite dish to pass
and
your own table setting for some great home cooking, member fellowship
time
and annual elections.
July 27, 2009, 7 p.m. – The program for the evening
will be "What's in a Name? The Case of the Missing Ancestor" by
Caryn Adler. Caryn has ties to Paw Paw and has given a serie of
classes on how to write your Family History. Note - meeting will
be held at The South Haven Historical Society at the Hartman School in
South Haven.
August 24, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library, Decatur
– to be announced -
BACK TO BASIC BRIEFS, 6 p.m.
(this is a new pre-meeting series that we are starting that will focus
on basic genealogical practices.)
September 28, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library, Decatur
– Our speaker for the evening will be Jean Wilson Hibben, PhD,
MA, CG who resides in Lake Mathews, CA. Her program is titled
"Breaking the Ties That Bind" and addresses a family that settled
in Decatur for a period of time before moving on to Iowa and Tennessee.
BACK TO BASIC BRIEFS, 6 p.m.
(this is a new pre-meeting series that we are starting that will focus
on basic genealogical practices.)
October 26, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library,
Decatur
– The program for the evening will be "An Overview of MelCat" presented
by local history librarian Toni Benson. MelCat, the Michigan
Electronic Library internet site, inclludes many hidden gems that will
enhance your research.
BACK TO BASIC BRIEFS, 6 p.m.
(this is a new pre-meeting series that we are starting that will focus
on basic genealogical practices.)
November 23, 2009, 7 p.m. Webster Memorial Library,
Decatur
– To be announced.
December - No meeting
PIONEER CERTIFICATE PROJECT
Direct descendants of Allegan, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren County settlers may make application for a pioneer certificate in four categories by proving their ancestor's residence prior to the following dates:
- Pioneer - Allegan County - September 1, 1835 (organization of county); Cass County - November 7, 1836 (first election of count officers); Berrien County - February 25, 1837 (Berrien Springs named county seat); Kalamazoo County - October 2, 1835 (first newspaper published in county); Van Buren County - March 18, 1837 (organization of county).
- Founder - April 30, 1861. Marks the first call for Civil War troops in Michigan. (Same for all five counties.)
- Settler - January 1, 1891. Marks the beginning of the "other" great depression (second only to the Great Depression of the 1930's). (Same for all five counties.)
- Builder - March 4, 1933. Franklin D. Roosevelt's inaugural address beginning the country's resurrection from the depression.
Fee: Each category must submit $10.00 with each application. This is non-refundable. Additional certificates for parents, siblings, descendants of applicant, or other close relatives, may be obtained for $3.00 each, but must also be submitted with proof of relationship. For those who wish to submit multiple applications, the fee will be waived after the first two if no certificate is desired. Certificates for 3 or more applications, if desired, will be $3.00 each.
Procedure:
- Applicants must complete application (typewritten or black ink).
- Provide proof of residence for pioneer in Allegan, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, or Van Buren County for designated time period.
- Provide proof of direct blood descent from pioneer to applicant.
- Label each piece of documentation in upper right hand corner for what generation it applies (i.e., Generation #1, Generation #2, etc., with Generation #1 being applicant).
- Staple proofs in generation order to the back of the application.
- Send completed application and proofs with check or money order for $10.00 to:
Accepted primary sources include: vital records, land/plat records, census records, probate records, tax assessments, church records, school records, court records, directories, military records, naturalizations, and records that were recorded at the time of the event. Family histories, county histories, newspaper clippings and other second-hand information will not be accepted as proof of residence or lineage. These items may be submitted as supporting evidence.
Accepted sources include: In addition to the primary sources listed above, the following secondary sources will be considered: diaries/journals, bible records, private papers, etc. Documentation should provide proof of descent for each generation.
Applicants are encouraged to include proofs for all information submitted on application, but are required only to show blood descent.
VBRGS - Pioneer Certificate Project
P.O. Box 143
Decatur, MI 49045
All proofs must include complete source, i.e. book, page, volume, location of original documentation, etc. This may be printed on back of each proof. Please do not send original documents. Copies are acceptable, but must be legible.
Applicants do not need to be members of VBRGS to apply. Any applications in need of corrections or additions will be returned to applicant with instructions. Applications will be subject to approval of the Pioneer Project Committee. All applications and proofs become the property of VBRGS.
Applicants are encouraged to submit any additional family information, group sheets, biographies, photos, etc.
Military Registry, Southwest Michigan
The Southest Michigan Military Registry is a project to record participation during war or peacetime for anyone who served in any branch of the military who resided in the Michigan counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren sometime during their lifetime.The project database listing completed registries can now be accessed online at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mivanbur/military.htm.
Participation may consist of any service of any length for the United States or any foreign country, including training, but that participant must have resided in southwest Michigan at some time during his/her lifetime.
The goal of the Military Registry project is to provide a central collection of information on southwest Michigan's servicemen and women. Registries will be placed in the project archives housed as part of the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society (VBRGS) collection in the Local History Room of the Van Buren District Library, Decatur, Michigan. Entries will be indexed in a project database on the Van Buren County GenWeb internet site, and lists will be published in the Van Buren Echoes, quarterly of VBRGS, and selected local newspapers.
Registration is free and may be done by anyone who can provide proof of service for a partcipant living or deceased. Such proof of service must accompany the registration and may consist of a newspaper item, obituary, service papers, pension papers, phto of tombstone with military reference, cemetery records, unit histories & rosters, military organization records (such as American Legion, GAR, etc.), or any other printed documentation describing service.
Registration forms, may be duplicated as needed and should be filled out as completely and accurately as possible. This form may be typed in online or on your word processor, and printed out. Submission of supplemental personal and family information is encouraged. Such items may include family group sheets, pedigree charts, photos, obituaries, vital records, bible records, etc.
Completed registrations with service proof and supplemental information should be mailed to: VBRGS - Military Registry, P.O. Box 143, Decatur, MI 49045.
Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society is a regional family/local history interest group whose objectives include the collection and preservation of materials relating to the Michigan counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren. The Membership year is June 1 to May 31.
Newspaper Preservation Project
The Van Buren Regional Society conducts an ongoing search for newspapers of southwest Michigan in the counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren, that are not yet microfilmed or otherwise digitally preserved. Already located and filmed are scattered issues of the Covert Times, Lawrence Times, and the Bloomingdale Leader, with several other titles pending filming. A complete inventory of newspapers currently on microfilm, missing issues, and located missing issues is maintained by VBRGS.VBRGS also conducts on ongoing project of newspaper clipping for the obituary and local history files in its holdings. Through gift subscriptions, currents items are clipped by volunteers from the following newspapers: Paw Paw, Decatur, Marcellus, Watervliet, Plainwell, Allegan, Saugatuck, Buchanan, Niles, New Buffalo, South Haven, Kalamazoo, Vicksburg, Benton Harbor and Dowagiac. The other newspapers of southwest Michigan are still needed. Also, VBRGS will accept any past issues of any SW Michigan newspaper for clipping.
If you have any knowledge of original newspapers that you suspect may be unmicrofilmed or wish to donate a subscription or past issues of any southwest Michigan newspaper, please contact VBRGS at tbenson@vbdl.org
Volunteers
Volunteers are an integral part of the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society. There are two basic way to volunteer:If you are interested in providing any kind of volunteer
assistance
either at home or at the Local History Room of the Webster Memorial
Library,
please contact Toni I. Benson at tbenson@vbdl.org
or call (616)423-4771.
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Research
The VBRGS does not conduct a research service due to lack of staffing. We do, however, provide a list of private researchers for the counties of southwest Michigan. Inclusion on the list is not an endorsement and VGRGS is not responsible for research conducted by private researchers.For a copy of the list or to have your name included as a researcher for any area in southwest Michigan, send complete address information along with search area and fee schedule to tbenson@vbdl.org
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VBRGS Membership
Membership year runs from June 1 through May 31. With your paid membership, you will receive issues of Van Buren Echoes quarterly. You are also entitled to submit unlimited free queries or other items of Van Buren regional interest the inclusion in the Echoes. Members also are encouraged to attend meetings, programs, and special events.Membership is $17.00 for single or $20.00 for family. Outside of
the continental United States is $22.00. We have recently added new
options
for membership. They include Life Membership - $250.00.
Sponsor
Membership - $25.00 or more - Comes with a free gift. Collection
development donation - ????. Membership fees may be sent by check
or money order to The Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, P.O. Box
143, Decatur, Michigan 49045. If you would like a membership card
returned, please enclose a SASE.
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Publications For Sale
The following are among publications available from the VBRGS. Please send a check or money order made out to VBRGS, P.O. Box 143, Decatur, MI 49045 for any of the following items:
Cemetery
Records of Van
Buren County, Paw Paw Township, Volume 3 - Pioneer, Clapp and St.
Mary’s
Cemeteries,
1997, 159p., maps, index,
Cemetery
Records of Van
Buren County, South Haven Township, Lakeview Cemetery Burial Records, 1997,
3 volumes, 900+
pages, index,
Cemetery
Records of Van
Buren County, Paw Paw Township, Volume 2 - Cuddeback & Wildey
Cemeteries, 1995, 132p., maps, index
Cemetery
Records of Van
Buren County, Porter Township,
100p., maps, index
Cemetery
Records of Van
Buren County, Pine Grove Township,
183p., maps, index
(These
five cemeteries available on one CD-Rom for $15.00)
Looseleaf,
$14 & $4 shipping & handling.
1998.
Looseleaf, $22 & $4 shipping & handling.
1999.
Looseleaf, $12.00 & $4.00 shipping & handling.
Looseleaf, $14 & $4 shipping & handling.
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Web Links and Mailing LIsts
Also visit the Van Buren County GenWeb site which is now sponsored by VBRGS and provides general historial information, addresses and databases.VBRGS Mailing Lis
To subscribe to the list send an e-mail to VBRGS-L-request@rootsweb.com
with
the word
subscribe in the body of the mess
To subscribe to the digest mode send an e-mail to VBRGS-D-request@rootsweb.com
with the word subscribe in the body of the message.
For questions contact Joan
Jaco -List-Owner
For
more
information about the Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society, send
e-mail to:
tbenson@vbdl.org
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