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Western Michigan Genealogical Society church records collection at the Grand Rapids Public Library

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 096

Scope and Contents

The records, 1838-1990, vary greatly in scope, depending on the church. In some cases only a single page with minimal data is available for a church. In other cases extensive data is available on births, deaths, marriages, baptisms and confirmations. The records of several smaller churches were part of the records of other churches. These are noted throughout the finding aid.

Dates

  • 1837-1990

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to the records of Third Presbyterian Church of Grand Rapids (Ch. # 64) requires the written approval of the Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard St., Philadelphia, PA 19147. The record for this church, however, consist only of a one-page, brief history.

Biographical / Historical

The Western Michigan Genealogical Society, organized on 25 October 1954, is a volunteer organization devoted to furthering genealogical study. The group publishes Michigana and participates in a publications exchange program with other genealogical groups. In addition the society also actively collects or reproduces and indexes records that may be useful in research. The effort to microfilm church records is part of this latter mission. The filming stretched over four years, 1986-89, and includes over 180 churches in West Michigan.

For more information on the Western Michigan Genealogical Society see the wmgs.org website

Extent

5.9 Linear Feet (15 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Western Michigan Genealogical Society church records collection is the result of a project conducted by the WMGS to borrow and microfilm historical files from churches throughout the Western Michigan community. The project was begun in 1974 and completed during the late 1980s. Some 243 church organizations eventually contributed to the project. Many of these, but not all, are represented here.

The number of documents contributed varies from church to church, from one page to several volumes, or from 1 to as many as 88 microfiche per church, plus in some cases paper photocopies. The bulk of the documents date from 1837 to 1920, though for some churches materials are found as late as 1990. The primary types of data in the documents are records are births, deaths, marriages, baptisms, confirmations and memberships. Church histories, directories and lists of officers can also be found.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Western Michigan Genealogical Society, accession number 1989.001

Related Materials

Area Archives

Those seeking information on Christian Reformed Churches may wish to use the archives at Heritage Hall at Calvin College, Richard Harms, Archivist.

Those wishing additional information on area Catholic Church congregations may wish to contact Father Dennis Morrow at the Diocese Archives.

Other individual local churches have their own historical files, and may also have files in regional or national archives for their denominations.

GRPL Sources

Coll. 088, John Whalen McGee Collection of Church History Publications, Photographs and Genealogical Research (primarily Irish Catholic)

Coll. 102, Duncan E. Littlefair Sermons & Biographical Data Collection

Coll. 125, Robinson Studio Photographs Collection. See the searchable database for indexing to Grand Rapids Herald images articles related to area churches from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Coll. 270, Gathered At the River. Items collected during the early 1990s Grand Rapids Humanities Council which resulted in the 1993 reference publication, “Gathered at the River.”

Coll. 277, Hellenic Horizons. Providing some information on the Greek Orthodox community

Coll. 299, Eduard Adam Skendzel Polonian Historical Collection. Providing references on Grand Rapids and Michigan Polish congregations.

Coll. 299X, Eduard Adam Skendzel Church References Collection. Providing reference sources for non-Polish church congregations.

Coll. 311, Fountain Street Church Collection

Coll. 347, GRPL Churches Reference Documents Collection

Personal Name Index

A personal name index by Kathleen Tabb and Evelyn Sawyer is located at the GRHSC Service Desk, and covers Church Nos. 1-178, although it may not cover all of the records for those churches.

Also available is the WMGS searchable index http://data.wmgs.org/ChurchRecords/

Geographic index to churches

Ada

  1. First Baptist - Ch. # 95
  2. First Congregational - Ch. # 96
  3. Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 97
  4. Second Congregational - Ch. # 98

Alaska

  1. Alaska Baptist - Ch. # 72
  2. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 88
  3. North Brownville Baptist - Ch. # 72

Algoma Twp.

  1. Algoma Church of Christ - Ch. # 23
  2. Algoma Religio-Philosophical Society - Ch. # 29
  3. Algoma United Brethren - Ch. # 22
  4. Church of Christ - Ch. # 23
  5. Religio-Philosophical Society - Ch. # 29
  6. St. James's Episcopal Mission - Ch. # 80
  7. United Brethren - Ch. # 22

Allegan

  1. Allegan Wesleyan - Ch. # 216

Allendale

  1. Allendale Christian Reformed - Ch. # 168
  2. Allendale Reformed - Ch. # 188

Alpine Twp.

  1. Ballard Church of Christ - Ch. # 13
  2. First Baptist - Ch. # 7
  3. First Congregational - Ch. # 7
  4. Holy Trinity Roman Catholic - Ch. # 18
  5. Trinity Congregational - Ch. # 7

Alto

  1. Alto Baptist - Ch. # 66
  2. Alto German Methodist - Ch. # 24
  3. German Methodist - Ch. # 24
  4. Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 89

Bauer

  1. St. Johns Lutheran - Ch. # 226

Beaverdam

  1. Beaverdam Christian Reformed - Ch. # 167
  2. Beaverdam Reformed - Ch. # 193

Big Rapids

  1. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 132

Borculo

  1. Borculo Christian Reformed - Ch. # 195

Boston

  1. Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 89

Bostwick Lake

  1. Bostwick Lake Congregational - Ch. # 6
  2. Congregational - Ch. # 6

Bowne

  1. Bowne United Brethren - Ch. # 93
  2. Mennonite - Ch. # 92
  3. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 112

Bowne Center

  1. Bowne Center Methodist - Ch. # 89

Bowne Twp.

  1. Seventh Day Adventist - Ch. # 26
  2. West Bowne Methodist - Ch. # 25

Burnips

  1. Burnips Methodist - Ch. # 219

Byron Center

  1. Byron Center Adventist - Ch. # 27
  2. Byron Center Christian Reformed - Ch. # 120
  3. Byron Center United Methodist - Ch. # 2
  4. Church of Christ - Ch. # 28
  5. Disciples of Christ - Ch. # 28
  6. St. Sebastian Roman Catholic - Ch. # 129
  7. United Methodist - Ch. # 21

Caledonia

  1. Caledonia United Brethren - Ch. # 58
  2. Caledonia United Methodist - Ch. # 90
  3. Holy Family Roman Catholic - Ch. # 112

Cannon

  1. Congregational - Ch. # 99

Cannonsburg

  1. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 100
  2. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 31

Carson City

  1. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 143

Cascade

  1. Cascade Christian - Ch. # 32
  2. Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 91
  3. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 112

Casnovia

  1. Casnovia Methodist - Ch. # 109
  2. Chapel Hill Methodist - Ch. # 109
  3. Chapel Hill Methodist - Ch. # 111
  4. Free Will Baptist - Ch. # 43
  5. Kent City Methodist - Ch. # 109
  6. Kent City Methodist - Ch. # 111

Cedar Springs

  1. Cedar Springs Congregational - Ch. # 33
  2. First Baptist - Ch. # 14
  3. Free Methodist - Ch. # 34
  4. Methodist-Episcopal Society - Ch. # 35

Conklin

  1. St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic - Ch. # 140
  2. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 141
  3. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran - Ch. # 79

Corinth

  1. Corinth Congregational - Ch. # 30

Courtland

  1. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 84

Cutlerville

  1. Cutlerville Christian Reformed - Ch. # 171

Decatur

  1. First Reformed - Ch. # 218

Drenthe

  1. Drenthe Christian Reformed - Ch. # 165
  2. Drenthe Reformed - Ch. # 229
  3. Drenthe Scottish Presbyterian - Ch. # 196

Eastmanville

  1. Eastmanville Christian Reformed - Ch. # 177

Elbridge

  1. St. Joseph's Indian Roman Catholic - Ch. # 133

Fisher Station

  1. First Congregational - Ch. # 47

Gaines Twp.

  1. United Brethren - Ch. # 55

Graafschap

  1. Graafschap Central Park Reformed - Ch. # 227
  2. Graafschap Christian Reformed - Ch. # 160

Grand Haven

  1. Church of the Dunes - Ch. # 176
  2. First Christian Reformed - Ch. # 183
  3. First Presbyterian - Ch. # 185
  4. First Reformed - Ch. # 198
  5. Second Christian Reformed - Ch. # 169
  6. St. John's Lutheran - Ch. # 184
  7. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 142
  8. St. Paul's United Church of Christ - Ch. # 173

Grand Rapids

  1. Ahavas Israel - Ch. # 149
  2. All Souls Universalist - Ch. # 17
  3. Alpine Avenue Christian Reformed - Ch. # 115
  4. Ames Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 75
  5. B'Nai B'Rith, Julius Houseman Lodge - Ch. # 152
  6. Bates Street Christian Reformed - Ch. # 118
  7. Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed - Ch. # 117
  8. Bethlehem Lutheran - Ch. # 77
  9. Central Christian - Ch. # 62
  10. Central Reformed - Ch. # 122
  11. Central Seventh Day Adventist - Ch. # 156
  12. Coldbrook Christian Reformed - Ch. # 117
  13. East Street Chapel - Ch. # 75
  14. East Street Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 52
  15. Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed - Ch. # 116
  16. First Christian Reformed - Ch. # 118
  17. First Christian Scientist - Ch. # 155
  18. First Congregational - Ch. # 125
  19. First Free Methodist - Ch. # 61
  20. First Methodist - Ch. # 19
  21. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 19
  22. First Presbyterian - Ch. # 4
  23. First Reformed - Ch. # 122
  24. First United Methodist - Ch. # 19
  25. First Wesleyan Methodist - Ch. # 123
  26. Fourth Reformed - Ch. # 117
  27. Franklin Street Christian Reformed - Ch. # 174
  28. Fountain Street - Ch. # 127
  29. Fountain Street Baptist - Ch. # 127
  30. German Methodist - Ch. # 113
  31. Grace Episcopal - Ch. # 3
  32. Grandville Avenue Christian Reformed - Ch. # 161
  33. Immanuel Lutheran - Ch. # 57
  34. Independent Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 76
  35. LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed - Ch. # 121
  36. Mission Wood Presbyterian - Ch. # 64
  37. Oakdale Christian Reformed - Ch. # 207
  38. Protestant Episcopal - Ch. # 78
  39. Second Congregational - Ch. # 69
  40. Second Reformed - Ch. # 122
  41. Second Street Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 114
  42. South Congregational - Ch. # 16
  43. St. Adalbert's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 67
  44. St. Alphonsus' Roman Catholic - Ch. # 86
  45. St. Andrew's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 65
  46. St. James Roman Catholic - Ch. # 94
  47. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran - Ch. # 154
  48. St. Joseph Roman Catholic - Ch. # 108
  49. St. Mark's Episcopal - Ch. # 1
  50. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 110
  51. St. Paul's Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 74
  52. St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal - Ch. # 2
  53. Swedenborgian - Ch. # 49
  54. Temple Emanuel - Ch. # 124
  55. Third Presbyterian - Ch. # 64
  56. Trinity Lutheran - Ch. # 63
  57. Trinity Methodist - Ch. # 52
  58. Valley Avenue Methodist - Ch. # 113
  59. West Leonard Street Christian Reformed - Ch. # 175
  60. Westminster Presbyterian - Ch. # 5
  61. White Swan Society of Spiritualists - Ch. # 15
  62. Y.M.C.A - Ch. # 50 Zion Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 71

Grandville

  1. Grandville Congregational - Ch. # 45
  2. Grandville Methodist - Ch. # 46

Grattan

  1. Grattan First Baptist - Ch. # 101
  2. Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 102

Grattan Twp.

  1. Congregational - Ch. # 103

Greenville

  1. First Congregational - Ch. # 148
  2. Free Baptist - Ch. # 148
  3. Greenville Baptist - Ch. # 53
  4. Greenville First Baptist - Ch. # 148
  5. Greenville Methodist - Ch. # 39
  6. Greenville Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 148
  7. Greenville early churches - Ch. # 148
  8. Roman Catholic - Ch. # 148
  9. Seventh Day Adventist - Ch. # 148
  10. St. Paul's Protest Episcopal - Ch. # 148

Hart

  1. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic at Weare - Ch. # 134

Holland

  1. Ebeneezer Reformed - Ch. # 225
  2. First Reformed - Ch. # 199
  3. Fourth Reformed - Ch. # 228
  4. Hardewyk Christian Reformed - Ch. # 179
  5. Hope Reformed - Ch. # 222
  6. Mayfair Christian Reformed - Ch. # 182
  7. Niekerk Christian Reformed - Ch. # 206
  8. Noordelos Christian Reformed - Ch. # 180
  9. North Holland Reformed - Ch. # 223
  10. Pillar Christian Reformed - Ch. # 181
  11. Prospect Park Christian Reformed - Ch. # 170
  12. Providence Christian Reformed - Ch. # 159
  13. St. Francis De Sales - Ch. # 209
  14. Third Reformed - Ch. # 224

Hubbardston

  1. St. John's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 145

Hudsonville

  1. Forest Grove Reformed - Ch. # 202
  2. Hudsonville Christian Reformed - Ch. # 162
  3. Hudsonville Congregational Church of Christ - Ch. # 190

Ideal Park

  1. First Congregational - Ch. # 47

Ionia

  1. Sts. Peter and Paul's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 146

Jamestown

  1. Jamestown Christian Reformed - Ch. # 178

Jenison

  1. First Jenison Christian Reformed - Ch. # 119
  2. Grandville/Jenison Congregational - Ch. # 45

Kalamazoo

  1. First Reformed - Ch. # 200
  2. Fourth Reformed - Ch. # 203
  3. Third Christian Reformed - Ch. # 212
  4. Third Reformed - Ch. # 214

Kellogsville

  1. Kellogsville Christian Reformed - Ch. # 48

Kent City

  1. Kent City Adventist - Ch. # 42
  2. Kent City Baptist - Ch. # 70
  3. Kent City Methodist - Ch. # 111
  4. Kent City United Brethren - Ch. # 44
  5. St. Paul's Adventist - Ch. # 42

Kentwood

  1. Kentwood Baptist - Ch. # 68
  2. Paris Baptist - Ch. # 68

Lamont

  1. Lamont Christian Reformed - Ch. # 163

Laphamville

  1. First Baptist - Ch. # 54

Leighton

  1. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 112

Lisbon

  1. Christian Union Association - Ch. # 41
  2. First Free Will Baptist - Ch. # 12

Lowell

  1. Congregational - Ch. # 73
  2. First Baptist - Ch. # 81
  3. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 82
  4. German Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 107
  5. Methodist-Piscopal - Ch. # 89
  6. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 126

Lucas

  1. Lucas Christian Reformed - Ch. # 205

Ludington

  1. St. Simon Roman Catholic - Ch. # 130

Marne

  1. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 153

Miriam

  1. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 144

Montague

  1. St. James Roman Catholic - Ch. # 136

Muskegon

  1. Allen Ave. Christian Reformed - Ch. # 191
  2. German Methodist - Ch. # 189
  3. St. Jean's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 138
  4. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic - Ch. # 138
  5. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 139
  6. St. Mary's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 137

Oakfield

  1. Ashley Baptist - Ch. # 8
  2. First Baptist - Ch. # 8
  3. First Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 83
  4. Second Baptist - Ch. # 9
  5. United Brethren in Christ - Ch. # 38

Overijsel

  1. Benteim Reformed - Ch. # 194
  2. Overijsel Christian Reformed - Ch. # 166
  3. Overijsel Reformed - Ch. # 208

Parnell

  1. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 20

Pentwater

  1. St. Vincent Roman Catholic - Ch. # 151

Pine Lake

  1. Pine Lake Methodist-Episcopal - Ch. # 36

Plainfield Twp

  1. Christ's Episcopal - Ch. # 56

Portland

  1. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 147

Reed City

  1. St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic - Ch. # 131

Remus

  1. St. Michael's Roman Catholic - Ch. # 135

Rockford

  1. First Baptist - Ch. # 54
  2. First Congregational - Ch. # 51
  3. First Methodist - Ch. # 150

Sand Lake

  1. Congregational - Ch. # 87
  2. Sand Lake United Methodist - Ch. # 59

Saugatuck

  1. East Saugatuck Christian Reformed - Ch. # 172

Solon

  1. Solon Branch of Cedar Springs Baptist - Ch. # 85

Solon Center

  1. Solon Center Wesleyan - Ch. # 37

South Ensley

  1. South Ensley United Methodist - Ch. # 60

South Olive

  1. South Olive Christian Reformed - Ch. # 211

Sparta

  1. First Baptist - Ch. # 11
  2. Mamrelund Lutheran - Ch. # 10
  3. Sparta Methodist - Ch. # 40

Spring Lake

  1. Spring Lake Christian Reformed - Ch. # 187

Tyrone Twp.

  1. Free Will Baptist - Ch. # 70
  2. Methodist Church of Tyrone - Ch. # 111

Vergennes

  1. First Christian - Ch. # 104
  2. Vergennes Society of Spiritualists - Ch. # 106
  3. Vergennes United Methodist - Ch. # 105

Vriesland

  1. Vriesland Christian Reformed - Ch. # 217
  2. Vriesland Reformed - Ch. # 220

Zeeland

  1. First Christian Reformed - Ch. # 197
  2. First Reformed - Ch. # 201
  3. North Street Christian Reformed - Ch. # 186
  4. Second Reformed - Ch. # 210
  5. Third Christian Reformed - Ch. # 213

Zutphen

  1. Zutphen Christian Reformed - Ch. # 164

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
WMGS Church Records Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Richard Harms and Evelyn Sawyer
Date
January 1989, July 1989, June 1990 and November 1990
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository

https://www.grpl.org/history/
Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497

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