Ford Genealogy Club April 13, 2000, Agenda

Brief introduction of those attending for the first time:

  • Name?
  • How long have you been interested in genealogy?
  • What are the geographic area, time periods, and surnames you are searching for?

    Reports:

  • President's Report
  • Vice-President's Report
  • Treasurer's Report
  • Secretary's Report
  • Newsletter Report
  • Other

    Old Business:

  • -

    New Business:

  • Election of Club Officers Conducted by Steve Forester - Candidates are:
    President: Chuck Oslund
    Vice-President: Mike Saulsberry
    Treasurer: Mark Krugman
    Secretary: -none-

    We were unable to have an official club meeting on Thursday, April 13. Only 8 members present. The Club constitution requires that 9 members must be present before a meeting can be held.
    Due to lack of quorum, we will postpone elections to next month - Thursday, 11 MAY 2000.
    The Club received a check from FERA for $122 - rebate from Entertainment Book & Auto Show Ticket sales.
    George Newton distributed the Club Newsletter, The Reasview Mirror.
    Those who did not attend tonight's non-meeting missed hearing about one of the best kept secrets in Southeast Michigan:


    Paid Speaker Presenatation: Leslie S. Edward
    Executive Administrator
    Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society
    405 Oakland Ave.
    Pontiac, MI 48342
    (248) 338-6732
    FAX 338-6731
    e-mail: ocphs@wwnet.net - Address for OCPHS questions
    Web Page http://wwnet.net/~ocphs/ - Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society Home Page

    Here is some of the information Mark was able to gather as Leslie spoke:

    There are currently 39 board members (was 45) and about 325 current members in the Society. Leslie is the only paid staff person and she began in July, 1999. Many others volunteer under her direction.
    History of society: Began in 1874 as Oakland Pioneer Society, and this year is the 125th anniversary of OCPHS, which formed by combining Pioneer & Historical Societies in 1962.
    Originally records were held at courthouse and later in other buildings, some in glass cases, and other non-optimal ways.
    In 1945, Moses Wisner property was purchased by the Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society. It was originally built about 1845, In 1859 a Greek revival style mansion was built and it was used for entertaining by Moses Wisner, the 22nd governor of Michigan. The library is in the carriage house now. The property also contains a museum.

    The library and & reading room features:

  • While Oakland county is the main focus, there is additional information on Southeast MI & Detroit, including histories
  • Many items have been collected over the last 125 years
  • Many scrapebooks were put together by early society members - the earliet from 1833 by Ezra Jewel, the first Society Secretary.
  • Box collections & small manuscripts collections (too small to put in box).
  • Lillian Drake Avery (a DAR member and Secretary) began accepting early box collections.
  • 22nd MI infantry information (Civil War)
  • a large photogarph collection
  • map collection: many of the early Michigan Altases, including 1857, 1906, 1908
  • 36 file drawers of index cards w/ obits - over 800 listings.

    The Museum feature a variety of artifacts and implements concerning Oakland County history.
    Grounds are also known as Pine Grove Historical Museum (Moses Wisner called his estate Pine Grove).

    OCPHS has a scanner, copies may be made if original in good condition - Leslie's discretion - $0.25 per page.
    If unable to copy, ok to bring in hand scanner (Herb) or digital camera to digitize items or pages, with permission.

    More information:

  • Library is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Tours of buildings by appointment.
  • Leslie brought handouts that describe in much better detail a description of the holdings of OCPHS.
  • Visit the OCPHS Web site for additional information: Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society

    Mark will add web site to fgc library page http://www.wwnet.net/~ochps

    Thanks to Mark for taking notes on Leslie's talk.


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    FGC April Meeting Last updated April 16, 2000. Comments?