Access Michigan Genealogy

This page of our website helps you access Michigan ancestry and historical records. These genealogical records may include, vital records (birth, marriage and divorce, death), ethnic records (Native American), court records (land, probate and wills, criminal and civil), church records (Bibles, baptisms, marriages, burials and histories), cemeteries, census records, military records directories and yearbooks.

Michigan Ancestry

Ingham County

Records of Ingham County Michigan Pioneer Families
These records were typed from manuscript copies of the original records made by George L. Hammell, which were willed to the Michigan State Library by Mr. Hammell of E. Lansing, Mich. who died Sept. 26, 1952. They consist of a variety of typed sources including Bible records, cemetery records, family records, and probate records for early families of Ingham County, Michigan.

Oakland County

Oakland County Michigan Tax Rolls, 1834-1840
Mrs. Edward V. Rowlett extracted the 1834-1840 Michigan tax rolls for the Pontiac Michigan chapter of the DAR, who self-published them in 1953 and presented copies to various institutions. Extracted information may contain the name of the assessed, description of the property being assessed, acreage, value of property, taxed amount, section, township range where the property exists. The values in the headers do change as you look at the various roll tables.

Porter County

1917 Phone Book

Valparaiso University Yearbook Collection
The digitized yearbook collection includes annuals covering the period from the late 1890s up to a decade ago.

Old School Ledgers 1895-1919
The Old School Ledgers are the financial ledgers of Valparaiso University (and its predecessors Northern Indiana Normal School and Valparaiso College) and cover the years 1895-1919. It is useful for genealogical researchers looking for information on alumni who were students during that time period.

Tuscola County

History of Fairgrove Michigan, 1852-1956
The document provides a detailed history of Fairgrove Township, Michigan, from its early settlers to significant developments up to 1956. The initial pages describe the purpose of the document and its contributors. Eliza Black Atkinson, born in 1867 and a long-time educator in Tuscola County, wrote the primary history in 1949, focusing on pioneer families who settled before 1890. The history covers various aspects of township development, including land acquisition, the establishment of infrastructure, and the community’s growth through personal stories and family histories.

Michigan Biographies

Biographical History of Genesee County, Michigan
Biographies of influential people of Genesee County, Michigan.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan
FREE – Readable and downloadable copy of the Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan published in 1892.

Michigan Cemetery Records

Michigan Census Records

Michigan Federal Census Records

Michigan 1910 Census Addition Map

1920 Michigan Census: Lithuanian Compilation

Michigan State Census, 1827-1894
The state of Michigan conducted its own regular and special censuses at various times throughout history. This collection of state census records is incomplete because many of the documents have been lost over time. 

Civil War Soldiers in the 1894 Michigan State Census

Michigan Church Records

Registers of the Parish of Michilimackinac
The records from the register at Michilimackinac are here provided as they were translated by Edward O. Brown back in 1889. His translation came from a transcript of the original, which latter is kept in the parish church of Ste. Anne, at Mackinac. Annotated throughout are Mr. Brown’s biographical knowledge of the events of Michilimackinac and the people within. Don’t pass over the footnotes for the record, you may find a biographical reference hidden there!

Grand Rapids: 1929 Membership Records, St. Peter & Paul R.C. Church

Saginaw: St. George Church Membership List (1918-1931)

Michigan Family Trees

The family of Nelson Drake
The family of Nelson Drake; back to 1630, New York and Michigan pioneers, with genealogy supplement. Surnames: Allen, Barre, Bickford, Boyer, Bravender, Brosius, Brown, Christmas, Corner, Coey, Cozzi, Davis, Day, Diener, Drake, Dust, Engleberg, Fishel, Fookes, Gorton, Groce, Hawkins, Hewes, Hill, Hilton, Hirsch, Huddlestun, Kaiser, Kellogg, Langfield, Lear, Martinchak, McClellan, Point, Rae, Rayner, Ritter, Roehm, Rossi, Shilander, Smith, Soule, Stingley, Tucker, Ward, Wauvle, West, White, Wickham, and Wright.

Descendants of John and Mary Howes of Montgomery County, Maryland
John Howes of Montgomery County, Maryland, was born ” … after 1740, m[arried] Mary_____, and d[ied] between November, 1808 and March 1809. He is buried in Laytonsville, Maryland with his mother, his brother James and daughter Sarah. About a year after his death his widow, Mary, went to Bucks County, Kentucky.”–P. 8. Descendants and relatives lived in Maryland, Kentucky, New York, Michigan, Ohio, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, D. C., Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.

Descendants of Matthew Watson of Leicester, Massachusetts
Matthew Watson (d. 1720), of English lineage, married Mary Orr in 1695, and in 1718 the family immigrated from Ireland to Boston, Massachusetts and settled in Leicester, Massachusetts. Descendants and relatives lived in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nebraska, Rhode Island, California, Nevada, Michigan and elsewhere.

Michigan History

American Ancestors of Michigan Governors

Charles Alonzo Horton Letter, Great Lakes Disaster, 1913

A Short History of Michilimakinak
No more colorful settlement existed in the Middle West than the mission and fort at the Straits of Mackinac, for the French early realized its importance and directed their westward explorations from this base. The concentration point for the fur trade of the Middle West, Mackinac held an important place for many years, both during the British and American regimes.

The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828
The story of the transfer of the British garrison from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene in 1828 and the migration of voyageurs connected with the post has never been told in print. In the following notes Mr. Osborne has endeavored to gather this story from the lips of the few survivors who migrated at that time. Descendants of French-Canadians largely predominated in this movement, but we also get glimpses of what a strange and heterogeneous people once gathered around Mackinaw and Drummond Island, especially about the time of the coalition of the two fur companies in 1821. The migrant voyageurs settled principally near Penetanguishene, in the township of Tiny, Simcoe County. Offshoots of the band settled at Old Fort Ste. Marie, at Fesserton and Coldwater, and another south of Lake Simcoe, near Pefferlaw, York County. These notes will form a useful supplement to Joseph Taase’s “Les Canadiens de l’Ouest.”

W.A. Craker Diaries

Charlevoix County

1901 Charlevoix County MI Plat Book

Livingston County

History of Livingston County, Michigan
Biographies, illustrations, towns, and the history of Livingston County, Michigan.

Newaygo County

First Hundred Years – Newaygo County, Michigan, 1853-1953
The book “First Hundred Years Newaygo County, Michigan, 1853-1953,” published by the Newaygo County Centennial Committee, offers a comprehensive historical account of Newaygo County from its establishment to its centennial year. This factual and illustrative compilation provides insights into the county’s development over a century, documenting its evolution from the lumbering era to its status as a hub of industrial growth and scenic beauty.

Porter County

City of Valparaiso

Saginaw County

Richland : its sons and daughters
“Richland: Its Sons and Daughters” by Lorenz H. Loesel offers a comprehensive review of the first century of Richland Township, located in Saginaw County, Michigan. Authored in the aftermath of the township’s centennial celebrations in 1962, the book emerges from a deep-seated interest in local heritage among the community’s residents—an interest that prompted the Richland Township Board to commission and fund this work, with hopes of recouping the investment through book sales. The book covers a broad spectrum of topics, from the early pioneers like Lemuel and Martin Cone to the development of local infrastructure such as roads, railroads, and schools, including the history of the Hemlock School District. It delves into the civic, religious, and educational growth of the township, spotlighting key figures and events that have shaped its trajectory. The narrative also touches on challenges faced by the community, including pandemics and disasters like the 1906 fire of Hemlock, Michigan, showcasing the resilience and solidarity of its people.

A History of Saginaw County, Michigan
History of Saginaw County, Michigan; together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

Tuscola County

History of Fairgrove Michigan, 1852-1956
The document provides a detailed history of Fairgrove Township, Michigan, from its early settlers to significant developments up to 1956. The initial pages describe the purpose of the document and its contributors. Eliza Black Atkinson, born in 1867 and a long-time educator in Tuscola County, wrote the primary history in 1949, focusing on pioneer families who settled before 1890. The history covers various aspects of township development, including land acquisition, the establishment of infrastructure, and the community’s growth through personal stories and family histories.

Wayne County

The History of Detroit and Michigan
The manuscript featured here is a comprehensive study into the first 200 years of Detroit and Michigan history. Source: The History of Detroit and Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopaedia of the Past.

Michigan Land Records and Maps

U.S., Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908
3,907 land management tract books containing official records of the land status and transactions involving surveyed public lands arranged by state and then by township and range. These books indicate who obtained the land and include a physical description of the tract and where the land is located. The type of transaction is also recorded such as cash entry, credit entry, homesteads, patents (deeds) granted by the Federal Government, and other conveyances of title such as Indian allotments, internal improvement grants (to states), military bounty land warrants, private land claims, railroad grants, school grants, and swamp grants. Additional items of information included in the tract books are as follows: number of acres, date of sale, purchase price, land office, entry number, final Certificate of Purchase number, and notes on relinquishments and conversions.

Arizona Land Patents online. Index.

Surveyor Field Notebooks, 1815-1918
This collection consists of scanned pages from the original surveyors’ field notebooks. Commonly referred to as GLO notes, these handwritten notebooks were created between 1815 and 1918 and encompass the majority of the State of Michigan.

Surveyor Maps, 1816-1860
This collection contains maps that document land surveys that were conducted by the federal government to lay out Michigan’s township and range grid system. Some maps documenting resurveys are also included. The maps show bodies of water and land formations throughout the state. You can use these maps to get an idea of what Michigan’s landscape was like pre-statehood.

Archives of Michigan Map Collection, ca. 1810-1970
The Archives of Michigan Map collection includes a wide range of geographic and cartographic materials. You can find maps developed by state agencies, local governments and private publishers in this collection spanning the years of 1810 to 1970.

Michigan Military Records

Military Records
On this page you will find an extensive listing of American military records found online for personal, genealogy and professional researchers; this list includes much free and searchable data. Because the military, being the archetype of bureaucratic organizations, has kept detailed records, these records are an invaluable source of information about servicemen and women and the families they may have left behind.

Michigan Forts
List of colonial forts, trading posts, named camps, redoubts, reservations, general hospitals, national cemeteries, etc., established or erected in the United States from its earliest settlement to 1902.

Revolutionary War Records

Revolutionary War Pension Records

1840 Pensioners Census
The information contained in this 1840 Pensioners Census database is a compilation of the data on the Revolutionary War pensioners gathered from the 1840 census returns. The information is organized by place – state, county, then township. It also lists the name and age of the veteran, and the name of the head of household with whom the pensioner resided on the census date.

War of 1812

War of 1812 – Pensions

War of 1812 Pensioners in Michigan, 1883

Civil War Records

Civil War Soldiers in the 1894 Michigan State Census

Civil War Pensions Index Cards
Each card gives the soldier’s name, unit, the application number, the certificate number and the state from which the soldier served. In some cases, the soldier’s rank, terms of service, date of death and place of death are given. The index cards refer to pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917. The majority of the records pertain to Civil War veterans, but they also include veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, Indian wars, and World War I.

Civil War Soldiers in the 1894 Michigan State Census
Otherwise known as the 1894 Michigan Veterans Census. This document lists the names by ward, township, and county of United States Soldiers of the Civil War Residing in Michigan, June 1, 1894. The information was extracted from the 1894 Michigan State Census. Since the 1890 federal census was destroyed in a fire, researchers can use this list of names as an additional tool beyond the census, to document their ancestor’s whereabouts during the 1890’s. There are approximately 50,000 names provided.

History of the 7th Michigan Cavalry
The 7th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade, commanded for a time by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer.

Thirteenth Michigan Infantry

World War 1 Records

World War 1 Draft Registration Records

Grand Rapids: WWI Draft selections, 1st Ward

World War II Records

World War 2 Casualties – Army, Air Force

Michigan World War II Navy – Marines Casualty List

Korean War Casualty List
The National Archives and Records Administration prepared these Korean War casualty lists by creating extracts from the military casualty data files in the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Record Group 330). The lists are based on the “home of record – state” data provided by the serviceman or woman upon last entrance into military service. “Home of record” does not necessarily refer to the place of birth, residence of next of kin, place of longest residence, or other common uses of the term “hometown.”

Vietnam War Casualty List
The National Archives and Records Administration prepared these Vietnam War casualty lists by creating extracts from the military casualty data files in the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Record Group 330). The lists are based on the “home of record – state” data provided by the serviceman or woman upon last entrance into military service. “Home of record” does not necessarily refer to the place of birth, residence of next of kin, place of longest residence, or other common uses of the term “hometown.”

Allegan County

Indigent Soldiers and Sailors

Michigan Native American Records

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) is a federally recognized Native American tribe situated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Primarily composed of members of the Anishinaabeg people, specifically the Ojibwa (also known as Chippewa), the KBIC has a rich history that’s woven into the broader narrative of Native American existence in the Great Lakes region. This article delves into the detailed history of this vibrant community, tracing its roots, its struggles, and its achievements.

A Tribal History of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, originally a nomadic group in Michigan, adapted to permanent life due to European settlement, starting businesses and halting migrations. Despite this adaptation, the U.S. Government breached treaty promises, leading to litigation for rightful claims. The Odawa formed influential groups like the Michigan Indian Defense Association and the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association to politically unify and press their rights. Initially lacking federal recognition, the Little Traverse Bay Bands reorganized and were federally recognized in 1994 after relentless advocacy. This achievement honored the 1836 and 1855 Treaties, affirming their sovereign rights and heritage.

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
This comprehensive history delves into the origins, struggle, and current status of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Starting from their ancient Anishinaabeg roots in the Great Lakes region, it chronicles their interactions with European settlers, loss of traditional ways, and efforts for federal recognition. The article also recounts the tribe’s transformation from a community with meager resources into a significant economic entity, spanning across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is a testament to the tribe’s resilience, highlighting their continued growth and importance in today’s socio-economic landscape.

Michigan Historical Newspapers

Michigan Vital Records

Michigan Vital Records

Registers of the Parish of Michilimackinac
The records from the register at Michilimackinac are here provided as they were translated by Edward O. Brown back in 1889. His translation came from a transcript of the original, which latter is kept in the parish church of Ste. Anne, at Mackinac. Annotated throughout are Mr. Brown’s biographical knowledge of the events of Michilimackinac and the people within. Don’t pass over the footnotes for the record, you may find a biographical reference hidden there!

Michigan Birth Records 1867-1902
Name index and images of Michigan statewide birth registration entries. Clerks of each County Court recorded births that were reported by parents, doctors and midwives beginning in 1867. This information was then sent to the secretary of the state. From 1867 to 1879, about 15% to 20% of the births were recorded; from 1880-1902, coverage increased to about 60% to 70%

Michigan Death Records 1867-1897
Name index and images of Michigan statewide death registration entries. From 1867 to 1897 the township supervisor or city assessor or supervisor annually canvassed their area and recorded the deaths that took place the year preceding the first Monday in April. The supervisor or assessor returned the results to the county clerk within 30 days of completing the canvass. Each year the county clerk forwarded the records to Secretary of State. The Secretary of State had the records bound in books, one for each year, and made an annual report to the Governor. Registration was initially very incomplete. Some counties did not report any deaths during the first three years of this statute. This law remained in effect until 1897 when the state required a death certificate be issued. It is believed that approximately half of the deaths were missed in the time period from 1867 until 1897.

Death Certificates, 1897 – 1952
This collection consists of approximately 1.6 million death records created between 1921 and 1952. Records created between 1921 and 1948 include an image of the death certificate. Records from 1949-1952 are index-only. 

Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
Name index and images of marriages recorded in the State of Michigan between 1868 and 1925. In some instances, marriages were celebrated and recorded in a county different from the county where the marriage license was issued. An 1805 law required registration of marriages with the clerk of the local district court. In 1867 an additional law required the counties to send copies of the records to the Office of the State Registrar. A very high percentage of marriages that took place in Michigan were recorded by civil authorities.

Michigan Divorce Records from 1897-1952
Michigan began requiring divorce records to be recorded on a county level in 1897, however, some counties began recording them as early as 1892.There are two sets of information for this database. The first, comprises images, and an index to those images, of Michigan divorce records for the years of 1897-1938; the second contains only an index of records from 1939-1952. In total, however, you have access to divorce records issued in Michigan for the years 1897-1952, and a few earlier than that.

Van Buren County

Michigan Websites

Regional Michigan Websites:

Michigan County Guides
The Library of Michigan contains a wealth of historical and contemporary resources specific to Michigan counties. They include books, maps, newspapers, government publications and more. These are their guides to this collection.

Michigan Yearbooks

Berrien County

Coloma High School Yearbooks, 1952-2021

Charlevoix County

Charlevoix High School Yearbooks, Charlevoix Michigan
These are Charlevoix high school yearbooks for Charlevoix, Charlevoix County, Michigan. If your ancestor attended high school during the years of 1924, 1945-2008 then the following yearbooks may have a photograph of them. This is part of a collection of free yearbooks being scanned and placed online by the cooperation between the Charlevoix Public Library, Friends of the Charlevoix Public Library, and a local company, Village Graphics, who performed the digitization.

Porter County

Valparaiso University Yearbook Collection
The digitized yearbook collection includes annuals covering the period from the late 1890s up to a decade ago.

Tuscola County

Caro High School Yearbooks 1922-2006, incomplete

Van Buren County

Paw Paw High School Yearbooks 1915,1939-2014