Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society - Detroit, MI

03/25/2026

Sponsor spotlight! We want to take a moment to highlight our Lake Erie level sponsors for our upcoming Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference.

Many thanks to the Bentley Historical Library, the Clarke Historical Library, Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society, Grand Rapids Public Museum, J. Ferrantino Charitable Foundation, Michigan Council for History Education, Monroe County Museum System, and Oakland University Library for their support of our organization's many efforts to provide history programming, education, and more. They are a few of the many sponsors making this conference possible. Thank you!

The Local History Conference takes place at Oakland University on March 27-28. We can’t wait to see you there!

03/21/2026

Applications are now open for the Kenyatta D. Berry African American Research Scholarship for the 2026 APG Professional Management Conference. Introduced in 2023, this scholarship recognizes an aspiring professional with a significant interest in developing a career in African American genealogy and is open to the public.

The recipient receives registration to the APG Professional Management Conference, which will be held virtually 14–17 October 2026.
Application deadline: 30 April 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Learn more and apply: https://www.apgen.org/berry_african_american_researc.php

02/27/2026

FHWGS sponsored breakout.

Did you see the 2024 film The Six Triple Eight starring Kerry Washington? The film is inspired by the first and only Women's Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism—and grueling working conditions—they were committed to serving their country with honor and distinction.

This year’s Local History Conference features a breakout session about the women whose bravery inspired the film. Join Vida Joiner Frost of the Wolverine Chapter 67 WACVA-AWU to learn all about Essie Woods, a member of the 6888—the first Black all-women Battalion in U.S. military history. They served in France and England during WWII. Their mission was to clear a massive backlog of undelivered mail, taking on its motto "No mail, Low Morale."

Want to hear this breakout session? Join us at Oakland University March 27-28 for the Local History Conference! Save your seat today at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/michigan-perspective-local-history-conference

02/27/2026

Early bird pricing for the 2026 NGS Family History Conference ends this Saturday, 28 February! Register now and secure your savings before the deadline.

Still staring at the same brick wall? Still meaning to finally untangle that DNA mystery or migration puzzle?

The conference is where breakthroughs happen. Where you learn a strategy in a session and apply it immediately. Where hands-on workshops, labs, and panel discussions move you from theory to action. Where you connect with mentors and researchers who understand exactly what you are working through.

If you are ready for clarity, momentum, and meaningful progress, this is your moment. https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/2026registration/

02/11/2026

Join us as we participate in the Library of Congress Douglass Day 2026 event. We’ll gather virtually to celebrate the incredible legacy of Frederick Douglass with three dynamic activities:

Transcribing History: Dive into meaningful historical work as we collaborate to preserve and share key documents.

Cake Decorating Fun: Honor Douglass’s life with creativity (and frosting!) by baking and decorating cakes. It’s as delicious as it sounds!

Connect with others: Be part of a nationwide celebration honoring the legacy of Frederick Douglass.

To register click here https://bit.ly/4aoBsd4

02/05/2026

In 1926, Black history was first formally recognized, but long before that moment, African American families were already doing the work of remembrance.

When access to records was limited or denied, our ancestors relied on oral history, church registers, funeral records, family photographs, and memory passed from one generation to the next. This was genealogy born out of necessity.

From the very beginning, Black history survived because Black people made sure it did. 100 Years. How We Remembered.

01/08/2026

Attention Detroit-area history buffs! Registration is NOW OPEN for the 68th Annual Michigan in Perspective: Local History Conference, held again this year at Oakland University. Join us on March 27-28, 2026, for a weekend jam-packed with fascinating historical content of all kinds with fellow history buffs from all over the area.

We have a ton of great content slated for this year’s conference—five keynote sessions, including “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “A Conversation with Jim Hoffa Jr.,” and 20 illuminating breakout sessions. Join us and take a deep dive into topics such as the myths of Eloise Asylum, The Great Detroit Fire of 1805, Essie Woods and the First Black All-Women Battalion, the life of John DeLorean, a century of Hockeytown, Detroit and the 1925 Sweet Trials, Isle Royale’s Wolf-Moose Project, art and fashion in Indigenous politics, and many more. There will also be an optional exclusive evening reception at Rochester Hills Museum—add-on ticket required—a robust hall of history vendors, and more. We can’t wait to see you there!

Explore the full conference booklet and take advantage of early-bird savings by saving your seat TODAY at https://hsmichigan.org/programs/conferences/michigan-perspective-local-history-conference

01/07/2026

Discover how Artificial Intelligence can streamline the management of your genealogical society. This session covers practical tools for generating social media content, creating automatic meeting transcripts, and drafting member communications. Learn how to save time and increase engagement through...

12/11/2025

This presentation highlights that changes that have taken place in 21st century genealogy — who is engaging in family history and family heritage pursuits,…

11/14/2025

Robyn recommends and provides brief highlights from Melvin Collier's new book, From Fragments to Foundation.

11/13/2025