Sebewa Recollector
Items of Genealogical Interest

Volume 18 Number 4
Transcribed by LaVonne I. Bennett


     LaVonne has received permission from Grayden Slowins to edit and submit Sebewa Recollector items of genealogical interest, from the beginning year of 1965 through current editions.


THE SEBEWA RECOLLECTOR; Bulletin of the Sebewa Center Association;
February 1983, Volume 18, Number 4: (Submitted with written permission of editor, Grayden D. Slowins)

THE MICROFILM READER AT THE SUNFIELD LIBRARY

The Sunfield Library is about to have a microfilm reader. To those of you who have not used this kind of instrument, it is time to get acquainted. Microfilming is photographing on a reel of film of newspapers, magazines or whatever is desirable.

When the reel is in place on the machine, the film can be read on the screen that faces the operator. Microfilming is desirable because the film reels take up little storage space in relation to the material copied. A shoebox of film storage holds all of the SUNFIELD SENTINELS from 1896 to 1934. Compared to the cost of reproducing those issues of the paper in print, the film is very inexpensive.

During the past year those early volumes of the SENTINEL have been microfilmed and the film is available for use at the library. A copy is retained at the State Library in Lansing for use there or for loan to other libraries on request. Similarly, other local newspapers throughout Michigan have been microfilmed and can be borrowed from the State Library by local libraries when you make a request for them.

Census records, too, are on microfilm and those records for Eaton and Ionia Counties are soon to be available at the Sunfield Library. When you look at a census reel you are seeing the record in the handwriting of the census taker for the years of 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910. Walter Reed told me that as a young man, he took census for half of Sebewa Township in 1910. I remember Louise Gunn and Henry Whorley doing the same in 1920. The census records are released after 70 years of confidentiality. This gold mine of information is shortly to be available at the Sunfield Library. Portland Library also has a microfilm reader. Make the most of it!

 

Last update October 20, 2021