Michigan Compiled Genealogies

United States Michigan  Genealogy

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special collections and indexes of genealogical value.

Centennial Celebrations Collections. Beginning in 1976, Michigan issued certificates to applicants who could prove direct descent from an ancestor living in Michigan a century earlier. The records are in:

Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983. (On 81 Family History Library films. Not available at Family History Centers.) Michigan settlers by 1876 and their descendants. The questionnaires, applications, vital statistics, and documentation are alphabetical by ancestor.

Centennial Family Certificate Applications: A Project of the Michigan Genealogical Council. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1983. (On 12 Family History Library films and fiche beginning with . Not available at Family History Centers.) Same as above but questionnaires only. Questionnaires show name and address of applicant and lineage chart. Alphabetical by ancestor.

Michigan Centennial File Index. Lansing, Michigan: Microform System, Inc., [198-?]. . Not available at Family History Centers. Indexes to the previous two collections by ancestor, applicant, and certificate number.

. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994. (On 129 Family History Library films. Not available at Family History Centers.) Michigan settlers prior to 1837 and their descendants. Four indexes by applicants, pioneers, certificate number, and participants who did not qualify. Applications, certificates, and indexes from the Library of Michigan and State Archives of Michigan.

The originals are at the Library of Michigan.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. The DAR has collected transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriages, deaths, obituaries, and wills:


 * Daughters of the American Revolution (Michigan). Genealogical Records. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973. (On 9 Family History Library films.) Includes index.
 * Daughters of the American Revolution (Michigan). Genealogical Collection. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971. (On 40 Family History Library films.) Many volumes are individually indexed. Most are arranged by county or town name.

These volumes are also available at the DAR Library, in the Burton Historical Collection, and at the Library of Michigan.

Pioneer Records. For families in early Michigan see:


 * Michigan Pioneer Records, 1800–1900. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973, 1974, 1976. (On 13 Family History Library films.) Birth, marriage, death, burial, and previous residence information. Indexed.
 * Michigan. State Library. Pioneer Family Collection. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973. . Includes folders (alphabetically arranged) of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other materials for various surnames. The collection is also at the Library of Michigan.
 * Michigan. State Library. Link Collection. Lansing, Michigan: State Library, 1973. (On 12 Family History Library films.) A collection (alphabetically arranged) of research notebooks, folders, and newspaper clippings. The collection is also at the Library of Michigan.

Surname Indexes. For alphabetical surname indexes see:


 * Western Michigan Genealogical Society (Grand Rapids, Michigan). Surname Index, 1600s–1900s. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1976. . A card index containing genealogical information from lineage charts, family Bibles, and other sources. The index is also at the Grand Rapids Public Library.
 * DeZeeuw, Donald J., ed. The Michigan Surname Index. Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Genealogical Council, 1984. . Contains information on more than 100,000 Michigan ancestors. Lists the names and often the birth, marriage, and death dates, localities, and spouse or other relatives.

Writing and Sharing Your Family History
Sharing your own family history is valuable for several reasons:


 * It helps you see gaps in your own research and raises opportunities to find new information.
 * It helps other researchers progress in researching ancestors you share in common.
 * It draws other researchers to you who already have information about your family that you do not yet possess.
 * It draws together researchers with common interests, sparking collaboration opportunities. For instance, researchers in various localities might choose to do lookups for each other in remote repositories. Your readers may also share photos of your ancestors that you have never seen before.


 * See also:
 * Create a Family History
 * Writing Your Family and Personal History
 * A Guide to Printing Your Family History

Web Sites

 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
 * Detroit Public Library
 * List of Michigan Biographies
 * Michigan Library and Historical Center offers a wide range of family history research materials.
 * MichiganGenWeb
 * Michigan at Access Genealogy
 * Michigan at GeneaLinks