Welcome to the Website
of the
Bay County Genealogical Society of Michigan
The Society strives to promote genealogy and educate persons interested in genealogy, with a focus on Bay County, Michigan.
It encourages the sharing of Bay County genealogy information and resources and helping others with their Bay County based families and ancestors, both past and current.
Members have read headstones from Bay County's rural cemeteries, collected interment information from Bay County cemeteries, transcribed birth, marriage, and death records from the Bay County Clerk's office, and indexed obituaries from the Bay City Times. All of this data is available at the Wirt Library.
NOTICE
Second floor of the Wirt Library, which includes the Genealogy Room, is scheduled to be closed from August 4 through August 23.
No Society members will be available at the library during that period.
Upcoming Presentations
Bay County Genealogical Society Meetings
July & August - no meetings
September 4, 2025 (Thursday)- Jon Ringelberg (in person) "Michigan Log Mark Registrations/Log Marks"
October 8, 2025 - Alan Spencer (in person) "The Spencer Family Project - A Reverse Genealogy Approach to the Four Spencer Brothers of Tuscola County"
Go to the "Meetings" page to see more about upcoming meetings
To find out how to attend a meeting via Zoom. Click Here.
Genealogy Classes by Mary McManman
Title: Discover Your Roots: Family History Research for Beginners
Description: Find your family in the census using Ancestry Library Edition. Learn how to find vital records and organize your research.
When: 9:30 - 11:30 AM, Saturday, September 20, 2025
Where: 2nd Floor Community Room Wirt Library, Bay City, Michigan
How to Register: Begins-August 20, 2025
Via Phone: Reference Desk-989-893-9566 ext. 5
In Person: Reference Desk at Wirt Library (2nd Floor)
Space is limited. If you are registered but unable to attend, please notify the Reference Desk so your spot can be offered to someone else.
Title: Intro to Genealogy Databases at the Library
Description: Learn how to use Ancestry Library Edition and MyHeritage Library Edition in your family research. Print or save your research documents electronically.
When: 9:30 - 11:30 AM, Saturday, September 27, 2025
Where: 2nd Floor Community Room Wirt Library, Bay City, Michigan
How to Register: Begins-August 27, 2025
Via Phone: Reference Desk-989-893-9566 ext. 5
In Person: Reference Desk at Wirt Library (2nd Floor)
Space is limited. If you are registered but unable to attend, please notify the Reference Desk so your spot can be offered to someone else.
Delegate News
(1) Find what, from Michigan counties, is at the Michigan Archives:
michigan.gov/mhc/archives/archive-collections/county-guides
(2) 1949 Death Certificates are available on Michiganology.org
(3) Programs for the Public from the Library of Michigan.
Free monthly family history Zoom programs.
www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/public/programs-for-the-public
(4) Our local genealogy society is looking for yearbooks from Bay County to complete our collection. If there are duplicates, we will share them with the Library of Michigan, as they are also looking to finish their collections. So, check your attics, basements, and closets. Contact the Society by using this Contact Form.
(5) Save the Date: November 15, 2025 - Curt Witcher from the Allen County Public Library will be the speaker for the MGC Fall Family History Hybrid Event. It will be held at the Library of Michigan in Lansing.
What's New Inside
Items from the Bay City Times have been interspersed within the website. They will be changed periodically.
The current items are from the June 29, 1936, issue.
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List of speakers for the 2025/2026 session of the Bay County Genealogical Society is posted on the "Meetings" page.
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The current issue (July-September 2025) of The Clarion, Bay County Genealogical Society's newsletter, and the most recent issue of the Michigan Genealogical Council newsletter are available for viewing by all site visitors.
They are located by clicking the Newsletter tab on the Main Menu.
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A listing of items located in the Bay County Genealogical Society's Private Library can be accessed via the Queries tab under the Research tab.
Downtown Bay City-1940s
Looking South from Center and Washington
City Hall-Tall thin building on the right
in the back