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Projects & Committees

Activities and databases the Martin County Genealogical Society (MCGS) membership and visitors may participate in and view include (listed alphabetically):

Bible Records Project:


Go To:  Surname Index.


If you find a name of interest in the INDEX, contact Walt Bruetsch for a copy of the record.
The Bible Records Project has become a sizable collection; however, an editor is needed to transcribe some of the less readable copies and to organize and index the book for publication. Members who have not yet turned in copies of their own bible records are invited to do so. For more information, contact WaltBruetsch@usa.net (772) 220-1638.

Cemetery Project: 


Go To:  Selection of Cemeteries.


MCGS volunteers have and are visiting, transcribing, and recording the data of ALL cemeteries in Martin County, FL. We're always in need of volunteers to transcribe data. Contact Walt Bruetsch, Chairman waltbruetsch@usa.net or (772) 220-1638; or Jerry Bloom, Assistant jerrybloom@fales.org.

Civil War, 1861 - 1865, Project


Link to the Members and Their Soldiers Database.


In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the U. S. Civil War, MCGS has started a list of MCGS members
who have ancestors who fought in the U. S. Civil War from 1861 thru 1865.
Here's a free database containing 6.3 million records: Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System,
Washington, D.C., National Park Service.

E. Lee Vought will collect your information. Email: eleevought@bellsouth.net

In the interest of internet safety, members names have been replaced with a CODE #.
Send an email to: mcgsfl@gmail.com if you wish to contact a member about an ancestor.

Family History Books Surname Project:


Go To:  Selection of Family Surnames.

There are several shelves (and a file drawer) of Family History books located in the Special Collections / Genealogy Room of the Blake Library.  And within each book are many SURNAMES.  Some books have so many names that a researcher has to check a region and/or state: i.e. New England, Pennsylvania.
The purpose of this current project is to create an index of these surnames, which will make it easier for a researcher to find information that may be pertinent to their genealogy.  Shirley Pizziferri is the leader of this project.    Come in whenever you have time and work with the materials and instructions provided on the main table.
The latest Internet update was on 5 February 2012.

Historical Societies Liaison: 

Alice Luckhardt is the MCGS liaison to the historical societies in Martin County. She can be contacted via email: stuartwriter@gmail.com.
The Martin Co. GenWeb has a summary of historical info in Martin Co. And here's a link to a Masters Deg. in History.

House of Refuge Project


Link to Keepers of the Various Houses of Refuges Database.


The Historical Society of Martin County has started a new genealogical project for the House of Refuge and they have invited the Martin County Genealogical Society’s members to help them with it. In March 2012 there will be a big opening exhibit and then a permanent exhibit at the HOR on the women and children who lived in the various Houses of Refuges up and down the eastern coast of Florida.

MCGS members are asked to research the various Keepers of the Houses of Refuges and determine the names of their wifes and children, with all the various dates, places, etc. Send your results to MCGS’ historical societies liaison, Alice Luckhardt, at E-mail: stuartwriter@gmail.com and cc MCGS at E-mail: mcgsfl@gmail.com

Library Volunteers Committee: 


Go To:  Webpage with more information.


Members of MCGS serve as volunteers to the Blake Library and provide valuable assistance to anyone researching their family lines in the Genealogy Room. All volunteers are trained by library staff and are well-qualified to assist patrons. For more information, contact: Donna Markowitz at mstead5@comcast.net or (772) 287-6069.

Members' Surnames Being Researched:


Go To:  Webpage for the Surnames.

Members Web Pages:


Go To:  Webpage for the selection.

Mentoring Program:

MCGS has started a Mentoring Program where members will work one-on-one with researchers on topics of interest to the person seeking help. For information call Walt Bruetsch at 772-220-1638.

Obituaries Project:


Go To: Index 1913-1995, Clipped Obits Index Dec. 1995-Nov. 1999


MCGS volunteers have prepared an index of the obituaries appearing in the Stuart News beginning with the year 1913. The Obituaries Project is now online and has generated quite a bit of interest. If you would like to participate in this endeavor or would like to request a "lookup", please contact Walt Bruetsch at waltbruetsch@usa.net or (772) 220-1638.



Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee was authorized to foster interest in genealogical research and family history specifically to encourage participation by high school students by granting an annual award of financial aid towards their higher education. Unfortunately, this committee has been discontinued due to low participation and lack of funding.

SIGs (Special Interest Groups):


Go To:  Webpage with more information.


In this day and age of computers and the myriad of problems inherent with them, a number of our members have joined various Treasure Coast Computer/Special Interest Groups. MCGS currently has the following SIGs:

Speaker's Bureau of Martin County Genealogical Society, Inc.

As a community service and to promote interest in the field of genealogy, the Martin County Genealogical Society offers experienced speakers on a variety of subjects relating to genealogy and Family History for local organizations and other genealogical societies.

We would like to present one to your group.

Speakers available and their subjects:

Arlene Ackermann
Genealogy on the Internet

Walter Bruetsch
The Fascinating Hobby of Genealogy
DNA Research
Searching for My Swiss Ancestors

Shirley Pizziferri
(available winter months only)
How to Begin Your Genealogy
What to Do Once You Have Begun
The Mayflower

Reba Shepard
How Census Can Help You in Your Research
Searching Your Lineage
Chief Cornstalk and his famous Curse
So You Want to Get Into Genealogy
Finding Your Roots on the Internet
Researching England without Leaving Home
The Oral Interview
Organizing Your Research

Contact: Reba E Shepard, Education Chairman of the Martin County Genealogical Society
Phone 772-288-4606 or e-mail Rshepfl@bellsouth.net.

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