Belgians in Michigan

Belgians in Michigan PDF

Author: Bernard A. Cook

Publisher: MSU Press

Published: 2007-11-08

Total Pages: 167

ISBN-13: 1609170229

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At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Michigan was home to the second-largest Belgian population in the United States, and Detroit had one of the largest Belgian populations in the nation. Although immigration declined after World War I, the Belgian- American community is still prominent in the state. Political, religious, and economic conditions, including a nineteenth- century economic depression, helped motivate the move to America. Belgians brought with them the ability and willingness to innovate, as well as a tradition of hard work and devotion. The Gazette van Detroit, a Flemish-language newspaper first printed in Detroit in 1914, continues to be produced and distributed to subscribers throughout the United States and overseas. Belgian-Americans continue to incorporate traditional values with newfound American values, enabling them to forever preserve their heritage.

Michigan Genealogy

Michigan Genealogy PDF

Author: Carol McGinnis

Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Com

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 518

ISBN-13: 9780806317557

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This is one of the finest statewide sourcebooks ever published, a remarkable compilation of sources and resources that are available to help researchers find their Michigan ancestors. It identifies records on the state and regional level and then the county level, providing details of vital records, court and land records, military records, newspapers, and census records, as well as the holdings of the various societies and institutions whose resources and facilities support the special needs of the genealogist. County-by-county, it lists the names, addresses, websites, e-mail addresses, and hours of business of libraries, archives, genealogical and historical societies, courthouses, and other record repositories; describes their manuscripts and record collections; highlights their special holdings; and provides details regarding queries, searches, and restrictions on the use of their records.

Sterling Township

Sterling Township PDF

Author: Sterling Township Public Library and Historical Commision

Publisher: Arcadia Publishing

Published: 2005-10-31

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1439632804

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Sterling Township, located about 18 miles northeast of Detroit, was first settled after the Erie Canal was opened. The rich soil, relatively flat land, and the vital Clinton River attracted pioneer and immigrant families who arrived to establish farmsteads. The first influx of immigrants came mainly from the British Isles, and by the 1870s, German families had flocked to the area, raising dairy cattle and establishing farms. Belgians, arriving in the early 1900s, developed truck farming—growing fruits and vegetables to sell every week at the farmers’ market in Detroit. Farm culture prevailed until the 1950s, when large industrial plants began moving in, bringing with them workers and a need for housing and city services. Sterling Township became the city of Sterling Heights in 1968, and this collection of photographs will showcase the families and the way of life in the early days of this community, a historic community that is now the fourth largest city in Michigan.

Upper Peninsula of Michigan: A History

Upper Peninsula of Michigan: A History PDF

Author: Russsell M. Magnaghi

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 1387016814

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"Get ready to discover the rich history of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From its earliest days, it has evoked words of love, beauty, mystery, and legend. Drawing on oral histories, newspapers, census data, archives, and libraries, Russell M. Magnaghi has written the seminal history of a very 'special place' as seen through the eyes of the men and women who have lived here- the famous and not so famous. For the first time in over a century, a complete history of the U. P.- from prehistoric origins to the present- is available. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan: A History is an extraordinary book celebrating this unique sense of place."--Back cover.

Searching for Flemish (Belgian) Ancestors

Searching for Flemish (Belgian) Ancestors PDF

Author: Jozef J. Goethals

Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Com

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 81

ISBN-13: 0806353422

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"The book begins with a very informative historical introduction. Readers will learn, for example, that (1) Belgium did not become an independent country until 1830; (2) the area that became Belgium had been a focal point of international power politics for hundreds of years; (3) the inhabitants of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, constitute 60% of the population, while the remainder are French-speaking and, to a far lesser extent, German-speaking; (4) Flemish emigration to the U.S. began in earnest during the last quarter of the 19th century; and (5) today, there are about 350,000 Americans of Flemish descent, most of whom live in the upper Midwest (Michigan and Wisconsin)"--Publisher website (July 2007).

The Belgians in Ontario

The Belgians in Ontario PDF

Author: Joan Magee

Publisher: Dundurn

Published: 1987-01-10

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1770700609

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The Belgians in Ontario chronicles more than 300 years of Belgian presence in Ontario, beginning with Father Louis Hennepin, the Recollet missionary who accompanied La Salle on his explorations. This book examines the contributions of the Belgian community in a diverse range of activities including agriculture, sports, and the arts. Magee offers a detailed analysis of reasons and methods of immigration (including a study of the pioneering agricultural labourers who participated in the swallow migration). Of special interest to students of social and ethnic studies is the extensive survey of Belgian Canadians, reflecting their attitudes and experiences. Lavishly illustrated with more than 50 rare photographs culled from private and public collections, The Belgians in Ontario is a visually-interesting look at the many contributions of a determined people.