MIGenWeb Supports Keeping
The Library of Michigan Intact
We, the members of the Michigan GenWeb project, wish to publicly state that
we fully support the efforts of the Michigan Genealogical Council to keep
the collections from the Library of Michigan from being separated or
otherwise removed under Executive Order 2009-36, which disperses the
archives amongst different departments and dissolves the Department of
Histories, Arts and Libraries. We do acknowledge the financial crisis
currently facing Michigan, however, we feel that the amount of money coming
into the state from the number of tourists, visitors, genealogists,
researchers and future entrepreneurs visiting the Library of Michigan is a
revenue stream for the future of Michigan that the Governor should not shut
down.
In the words of Dr. William M. Anderson, on December 8, 2005, "I believe
culture, broadly defined, is an untapped economic resource. When
appropriately engaged, at local, regional, and statewide levels, our state's
cultural resources can leverage significant new tax revenue, provide good
paying jobs, and create sustainable enterprise.
Additionally, Governor Jennifer Granholm stated on March 1, 2006, "We are
going to base our economy more and more on our intellectual property, on the
creative side, the value-added side of what we can offer.The power of
creativity in propelling our economy is a fundamental building block of our
state's transformation." The resources that the Library of Michigan holds
are the stores of Michigan's intellectual property. Without them,
researchers would have nowhere to find:
- The largest collection of Michigan newspaper microfilm, which calls the
Library of Michigan home. It covers all 83 counties of the state, over 1700
titles spanning more than 400 cities, townships, and villages. A collection
of this scope cannot be found anywhere else.
- The largest collection of Michigan city directories in the state. These
directories document places of residence and occupations of Michiganders
throughout the years. Patrons of the Library still use this collection for
not only for studying genealogy, but also in planning for the future
entrepreneurial enterprises and small businesses.
- Ethnic Collections, like the Gorski collection, which focuses on Michigan's
Polish Heritage, are not available elsewhere.
- The Archives of Michigan holds over 300,000 historical photographs.
Particularly important holdings deal with Michigan lumbering, Great Lakes
shipping, Michigan mining, urban and rural life styles, and Michigan
community scenes.
- The collection also covers the entire Great Lakes Region, including New
England, the Mid Atlantic, Quebec, and Ontario. Michigan is not in a vacuum.
The Governor's Executive order would dissolve this part of the genealogy
collection.
Finally in the words of the Michigan Genealogical Council: "Innovation and
Reinvention' can be done anywhere. Our state's cultural heritage center
belongs together, in the Michigan Historical Center."
Sincerely,
The Michigan GenWeb Project
Jan Cortez,
State Coordinator
Patricia Hamp
Assistant State Coordinator
Alcona - Jennifer Selbrede
Alger - Colleen Pustola
Allegan - Robin Ellis
Alpena - Concetta Phillipps
Antrim - Margaret Fallone
Arenac - Greg Knopp
Baraga - Patricia Hamp
Barry - Jan Sedore
Bay - Donna Hoff-Grambau and Carol Szelogowski
Benzie - Wayne Summers
Berrien - Deanna West
Branch - Burt Fuller
Calhoun - Sandy Redmond and Ann Heisler
Cass - Deanna West
Charlevoix - Ron Fuller
Cheboygan - Deb Haines
Chippewa - Esther Thompson
Clare - Donna Hoff-Grambau
Clinton - Wayne Summers
Crawford - Ila Miller
Delta - Patricia Hamp
Dickinson - Joe Markovich
Eaton - Jan Sedore
Emmet - Dannielle Thomas
Genesee - Pat McArthur
Gladwin - Carol Szelogowski
Gogebic - Colleen Pustola
Grand Traverse County - Brenda Wolfgram Moore
Gratiot - Patricia Hamp
Hillsdale - Pat McArthur
Houghton - Patricia Hamp
Huron - Judy Visner
Ingham - Jan Cortez
Ionia - Wayne Summers
Iosco - Shone Brooks
Iron - Dennis and Cheryl Stromberg
Isabella - Donna Hoff-Grambau
Jackson - Steve Shiley
Kalamazoo - Robin Ellis
Kalkaska - Pat McArthur
Kent - Evelyn Sawyer
Keweenaw - Patricia Hamp
Lake - Jan Tripp
Lapeer - Deb Axtman
Leelanau - Gene Nowak
Lenawee - Mary Teeter
Livingston - Emma Winegarner
Luce - Ron Fuller
Mackinac - Patricia Hamp
Macomb - Margaret Fallone
Manistee - Nedra Evans
Marquette - Patricia Hamp
Mason - David Peterson
Mecosta - Jan Cortez
Menominee - Joe Markovich
Midland - Donna Hoff-Grambau
Missaukee - Donna Hoff-Grambau
Monroe - Michael Sandridge and Janet Kwasniak
Montcalm - Pat McArthur
Montmorency - Joe Markovich
Muskegon - Patti Norton
Newaygo - Jan Cortez
Oakland - Joe Markovich and Concetta Phillipps
Oceana - Jan Cortez
Ogemaw - Grace Dooley
Ontonagon - Colleen Pustola
Osceola - Elna Wilder
Oscoda - Meg Fuller
Otsego - Peggy Morey
Ottawa - Evelyn Sawyer
Presque Isle - Janet Anderson
Saginaw - Patricia Hamp and Donna Hoff-Grambau
Roscommon - Ila Miller
Saint Clair - Kathleen Rodegeb
Saint Joseph - Joel Newport
Sanilac - Judy Visner
Schoolcraft - Ron Fuller
Shiawassee - Pat McArthur
Tuscola - Carol Szelogowski
Van Buren - Joan Jaco
Wayne - Carol Dunn
Wexford - Robin Ellis
Other links of interest:
MIGenWeb - Free Genealogy By Volunteers
http://www.migenweb.net
Michigan Genealogical Council
http://mimgc.org/