Grand Rapids (Mich.) -- Genealogy

Abstract

The Birdsall Funeral Home was operated by Ira Birdsall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection contains seven volumes of burial records for deaths handled by the funeral home. The volumes date from 1912-1938. They contain such data as the name of the deceased, address, occupation, death date, age at death, cause of death, parents' names and birthplaces, funeral costs, and place of internment. The volumes are in chronological order.

Abstract Joseph Henry Brewer (1875-1943) was a successful Grand Rapids, Michigan banker and hotel owner. His son, Joseph Hillyer Brewer (1898-1990) was a publisher, academic, and college president. They were descended from the Brewer family of Vermont and England's Brind and Escott families, who emigrated to the United States in 1843. This collection includes letters, genealogies, and family papers documenting these families' histories. Also represented are the families and descendants of Mary...

Abstract The Frydrych (Frederick) and Mroz family photograph collection contains twenty-eight photographs, mainly formal portraits, taken in the early to middle part of the 20th century and left at the Grand Rapids Public Library by an anonymous donor. The people represented are members of the Polish Catholic community from the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is unclear if all of the individuals represented are part of a larger family. However, the Frydrych (Frederick) family and the Mroz...

Abstract

This is an incomplete census of school children in Grand Rapids conducted by enumerators from the Grand Rapids Board of Education. The information was collected systematically, going street by street through the different school districts and city wards. Each record contains the home address, the name of the parent or legal guardian, the child's name, gender, age, the school they attend, and supplementary remarks.

Abstract The Grand Rapids Township death records includes photocopies of death certificates for those listed as residents of Grand Rapids Township, Michigan at the time of death. It is believed that the original books from which the copies were made are located at the State Archives. The copies list deaths from 1906-1910 and from 1914-1952. The records provide information such as name, age, sex, and birth date, along with date of death and cause. Additional information is included in later...

Abstract The Haan family papers consist mainly of photographs of the Herman and Susan (O'Connor) Haan family. Herman Haan was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Albert and Margaret (Sikkenga) Haan, shortly after their immigration from the Netherlands in 1867. Susan O'Connor was born in 1866, in Ionia County, Michigan to Cornelius and Susan (O'Laughlin) O'Connor, Irish Catholic immigrants. Together they had seven known children. Herman passed away July 4 of 1928 and Susan July 8, 1952. They are buried...

Abstract The James M. Crosby family papers mainly consists of a large, binder containing well organized genealogy materials including family records, ancestral charts, photographs and newspaper clippings. James Moseley Crosby was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan July 6, 1867. In 1893 he took over J.S. Crosby&Co., the insurance company began by his father and grandfather in 1858. Crosby's son, James M. Crosby, Jr. (1901-1973) joined his father in the insurance business, as...

Abstract The Latzek Funeral Home records include ten volumes that record burials of Grand Rapids, Michigan area residents. The volumes date from 1903-1961. They contain such data as the name of the deceased, the age at death, cause of death, funeral costs, parent's names and occupation. The volumes are in chronological order, an alphabetical index is available. A comprehensive index of the deceased has been prepared by genealogy volunteer Evelyn Sawyer. It is available as a database on the Western...

Abstract The Maxine Sowerby Genealogical Collection reflects years of research collected around a handful of families pertinent to the donor, Maxine Sowerby of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The research was collected in the late 20th century, but traces families back many years using family trees, printed genealogical research, scrapbooks, original photos, certificates, diaries, newspaper clippings, and other types of ephemera. Perhaps the most notable ancestor researched in the collection is Leo Salkeld...

Abstract The Michigan Genealogical Council (MGC) is comprised of genealogy societies and institutions around the state of Michigan. This collection contains a directory of member societies and their publications as of 1994. In October 1992, MGC hosted its annual seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This collection includes a syllabus and audio cassettes with recordings of presentations given at that seminar. That year the theme was "The Great Crossing to the New World," and the presentations centered...