The Bay County Genealogical Society of Michigan was organized in 1968. Anyone with an interest in genealogy or history, is welcome to become a member.

THE CLARION:
The Clarion is the quarterly newsletter published by the society.  The Clarion provides subscribers with previously unpublished materials relevant to Bay County genealogy, such as marriage, birth and death transcriptions. 

LIBRARY:
The society library contains many local records and books of historical or genealogical value. Our research library may be used by scheduling with the society Librarian, Lottie Harrington.  Check the Library Holdings Listing for information on the society's holdings.
Library Holdings Listing

RESEARCH:
The Society accepts limited requests for assistance, mainly for those who are home-bound or living outside of Bay County. Requests may be submitted by e-mail, or regular postal mail.  The postal mail MUST contain the postal address of the sender. Requests should be limited to one or two names, such as a husband and wife.   The requester is responsible for copying and postage fees.  The request should include a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope).  Requests will be presented at our monthly meeting. The requester will be notified, by e-mail or postal mail, of the accumulated charges.  The charges must be paid in US funds only to the BCGS (Bay County Genealogical Society) before any materials will be sent. Please send all your requests to the society address.
Copying costs typically run from 10 cents to 25 cents for photocopies, 25 cents to one dollar for microfilm/microfiche copying, and two dollars for non-certified Court House records (within the limits of the Michigan legislative acts - birth records are sealed for 110 years, unless you can provide a death record).
Please note in your request what resources you have already consulted.  The BCGS will normally refer to the following in our collection:

•     BCGS Surname Card File (an index of the Members ancestral/pedigree charts)

•     Federal Censuses and Indexes

•     Vital Records Indexes

•     Cemetery Indexes

•     County Histories

•     Atlases

•     City/County Directories

•     Family Histories and Biographies

•     High School Yearbooks

•     BCGS Obituary Indices

•     Obituary Scrapbook

The BCGS is an all volunteer organization, as such, we are unable to do extensive free research or to cover the costs of copying or postage for the multiple requests we receive annually.

The BCGS maintains a list of local researchers who accept paid research requests.  Any research request beyond one or two names will be referred to these local researchers.  These researchers are members of BCGS who provide this service independently.  The fees vary from researcher to researcher, cost for research plus copying and postage is to be determined with the researcher.  A current list of researchers will be supplied upon request through e-mail or regular postal mail. 

How to Start Your Search for Your Ancestors

VOLUNTEER HELP:

Volunteers from the BCGS are at the Wirt Library to help people with their research at the following times:

Tuesdays - 11 am to 2 pm
Wednesdays - 2 pm to 5 pm
Saturdays - 1 pm to 4 pm

MEETINGS:
The society meets on the second Wednesday of the month, excluding July and August, at 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Our December meeting is usually a pot luck .

MEMBERSHIP:
Annual membership dues are $20.00 for family, or $15.00 single, per year. (Jan. through Dec.)
See the Schedule for meeting place. Meetings start at 5:30 pm, and usually end about 7:30 pm. Several speakers are featured during the year. Society Members receive The Clarion, currently published quarterly.
Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. We have many experienced and patient people who are willing to instruct beginners. If you are interested in finding your roots in Bay County Michigan, you have found the right place to begin.