Basic Guides
All of the three books listed below have a small section covering each state that includes maps, historical information, vital records coverage and a bibliography of resources for that state.
Family History Library
Bookmark or print out these FHL documents:
Use the catalog at the FHL to find out what has been filmed covering the state of Michigan
- Click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the county you are researching
- Once there click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the township or city.
- You will want to check for resources in all three jurisdictions, although most people check the county holdings first, township next and state last.
Don't even think aboout starting research without a map at hand !
All County Sites
Next, see what is available for your counties of interest at at one of these multi-county resource sites . For each, use the county selection list to find out what is available for the various counties. Content will vary.
Libraries Archives & Societies
Library of Michigan -- see especially their Genealogy page and read their Genealogy Newsletter. To locate cemeteries and identify cemetery resources available at the Library of Michigan, check their Michigan Cemetery Sources (links are on the bar at the top of the page) See also their list of the 50 Best Michigan Genealogical Resources --one of several Abrams Collection Genealogy Highlights.
Michigan State Archives -- see epecially their State Circulars page, which offers PDF handouts that describes the various records available at the Archives.
Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library. --see especially their Guides to Genealogical Records in the Burton Historical Collection. Staff there will search Detroit newspapers for an obituary; see this handout for charges and conditions.
The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan houses the Michigan Historical Collection of manuscript material, as well as the University of Michigan Archives and Records .
There is no statewide genealolgical society, except the Michigan Genealogical Council, which is comprised of delegates from member societies.To find local genealogy societies, see the Michigan Genealogy Society Directory . The Western Michigan Genealogical Society covers several western counties and has several searchable datatabases. WMGS also has a list of the publications of the various Michigan societies.
The Historical Society of Michigan does not have a genealogy component, although some of their member societies may combine genealogy with local history.
Find Records
Michigan Cemetery Records:
Michigan Census Records
In addition to federal census records, there are state census schedules for Michigan. The Library of Michigan offers a summary of what is available at the Library of Michigan. If the LDS Library has film copies, they will be found under the county. Images and index of the federal census for 1870 is available online (free) and the 1880 can be searched for free at Familysearch.org Find other online census records and more census information at censusfinder.com's Mighigan links.
Michigan County Histories
A searchable library of Michigan County Histories is available on line. Once you have a view of the page you want, choose image, pdf or text to view. (The advantage of choosing text is that you can cut and paste.)
Naturalizations
Michigan Naturalizations have been indexed by the Library of Michigan. (an ongoing project -- check back if the county you seek hasn't been indexed.
Naturalization Records From U.S. District Courts (RG 21) in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, held in the National Archives, Chicago; SEE ALSO this blog from the Archives of Michigan which describes some research material relevant to these records held at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. .
Newspapers
Find out about newspapers at the website of the Michigan Newspaper Project . The Library of Michigan site has a chart showing the genealogies of newspapers by town ( you may have to click the little orange symbol to expand the screen) and a list of Library of Michigan newspaper holdings by county.
If you need an obituary, see if there is a volunteer for your area at Obituary Lookup Volunteers: Michigan.
Michigan Vital Records
Vital records can be found in bouth county and state records. Some Detroit records can be otained only from the City of Detroit.
- Births and deaths that occurred and were filed with the state since 1867. Some of the records (especially pre-1906 births and pre-1897 deaths) were not filed with the state and can only be obtained from the counties. There are few pre 1867 official birth or death records in Michigan.
- Marriages were recorded in all counties from the beginning of the formation of the couny; state copies begin with 1867. Many marriage pre 1867 records are available from the counties; some marriages (especially pre-1926) were not filed with the state and can only be otained from the county.
- Divorces 1897 can be ordered from the State Vital Records Office. Some divorces (especially pre-1924) were not filed with the state.Records can also be obtained from the county in which the event was recorded and earlier record can only be obtained from the county.
- To get information about vital records, check the Michigan Vital Records (official page) or the Vitalrec Michigan Page.
- The Library of Michigan maintains a Michigan County Clerks Directory.
- A guide to Michigan vital record research lists all records available at the Library of Michigan.
- See what has been filmed by the Family History Library -- all but 9 counties in Michigan allowed filming of some portion of their vital records.
- Online Michigan Death Indexes and Records
- Be sure to check FamilySearch.org's Pilot Project which has these Michigan records online
(NB: if you don't find a record there, don't assume it doesn't exist)
- Seeking Michigan is putting online Michigan Death Records 1897-1920; it is now 99% complete.
- Online Birth and Marriage Indexes (scroll down to the Michigan section)
- But this fails to mention The Dibean Michigan Marriage Index, which covers a massive number of marriages in Michigan. (the link titled "Search the New Marriages" is really a search of all marriages) .
- Search the IGI to see if an birth or marriage has been submitted or extracted. Most will be be 19th or very early 20th century. Limit your search to Region: North America country: United States and then choose Michigan from the drop down in the next box)
- Remember: sometimes records are kept by the city, not the county. In Michigan that is the case with some later Detroit birth and death records, (births since 1894, deaths since 1897) which can only be obtained from the city of Detroit.
Miscellaneous
Finally, check out Michigan Black Sheep Ancestors
Work with Other Reserchers
Leave a query on a Michigan county message board or see if one of the volunteers at Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: Michigan can help you.
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