Michigan Births - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
These records cover births from 1867 to 1902..

Record Description
County birth records were entered into register books with multiple entries to a page. Pages are preprinted and the entries are handwritten.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in Michigan birth records are:


 * Name of the child
 * Birth date and place
 * If still-born, illegitimate, or twin
 * Sex
 * Color or race
 * Record Number

How to Use the Records
Birth records are the best source after 1867 of birth information. Use the family residence at time of birth to find other records about the family. Use the parents' names to search for information about them and earlier generations

Record History
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%.

Why This Record Was Created
The state required counties to begin recording births to document the occurrence of a birth and to track public health issues.

Record Reliability
Information on birth records is generally reliable, though there is always the chance of misinformation.

Related Web Sites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Related Wiki Articles
Michigan Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections

Please add sample citations to this article following the format guidelines in the wiki article listed above. Examples of citations:


 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023
 * Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Michigan. Birth record. From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), April 23, 2010. James N. Cox, b. 18, Oct. 1867, Penn, Cass, Michigan, page 273, record number 175.

Style Guide
For guidelines to use in creating wiki articles that describe collections of images and indexes produced by FamilySearch, see: FamilySearch Wiki: Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections pages

Sources of Information for This Collection:
"Michigan Births, 1867-1902," database, FamilySearch; from Michigan Secretary of State. "Birth records, 1867-1902." Michigan Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Michigan. FHL microfilm, 137 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections