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 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 of birth information after 1867. 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

 * Michigan Genealogy Records - hosted by RootsWeb
 * Access Genealogy

Related Wiki Articles

 * Michigan
 * Michigan Vital Records

Known Issues With This Collection
There are some problems with the way that the images are displayed in the viewer program. When moving from image to image using the forward or back buttons, instead of moving consecutively from image to image, the images skip. For example, if you are on image 356 and click the Next Record button, the next image to view will be 387.

Workaround: You can move consecutively from image to image by keying in the next image number and pressing the Enter key. For example, to move from image 355 to 356, simply enter the number 356 after the word image and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection
"Michigan Births, 1867-1902." index and images, FamilySearch (https://wwwfamilysearch.org: accessed 25 March 2011. entry for James Bler, born 12 June 1877; citing Birth Records, FHL microfilm 4,206,432; Michigan Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Michigan.

Sources of Information for This Collection:
"Michigan Births, 1867-1902,"index and images, 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.