The Library of Michigan's Abrams Foundation Historical Collection is one of the 10 largest genealogy collections in the United States, with more than 100,000 books, microforms and electronic resources to serve researchers. Supported by the Talbert and Leota Abrams Foundation, the collection's holdings emphasize the Great Lakes region and states east of the Mississippi River. This includes the Great Lakes, New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southern states, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

For assistance during your visit, please ask the librarian at the Genealogy Desk on the south side of the second floor. While staff members assist in the use of the collection, they cannot provide extensive research. The Library offers information for Conducting Your Genealogy Research.

The Library of Michigan has several additional collections. Resources housed in the Michigan Collection, Reference Collection, Michigan Documents, U.S. Documents, Law Library and Rare Book Room may provide genealogical information. Please note, hours for these collections vary.

Census Resources

Census records are available for the entire United States from 1790 to 1930, including the Civil War Union Veterans and Widows Census of 1890. Printed indexes for Michigan to 1870, as well as for other states, are shelved alphabetically by state on the shelves east of the Genealogy Desk. Microfilmed indexes for later census years are shelved in the Genealogy Microfilm Room at the west end of the floor. Patrons may access the Library's online 1870 Michigan Census to view and download census images. The Library offers all the census records and select indexes for Canada. Some state census schedules are also available for Michigan and other states.

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Electronic Resources

The Electronic Resources Area behind the Genealogy Desk provides access to several databases, including: ANSWER, the Library's online catalog Ancestry Library Edition Ellis Island Records Family Search HeritageQuest Online Michigan Cemetery Sources, which gives information about published cemetery transcriptions located at the Library of Michigan and links to cemetery transcription Web sites New England Historic Genealogical Society's Databases

Access to the Internet is available in other areas of the Library. While you do not need to sign up to use the Electronic Resources computers, you do need to sign up at the Circulation Desk for the Internet computers. The Library's Internet Use Policy and Procedures are online.

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Print Genealogy Materials Genealogy books are shelved in the Genealogy stacks on the south side of the second floor, behind the Genealogy Desk and Electronic Resources computers. Holdings include national and international materials, such as:

• Cemetery transcriptions
• City directories for many Michigan cities, with directories for some Michigan cities and cities in other states available on microform
• County and local histories for many Michigan and out-of-state counties and towns. Additionally, the Library has the microfilm edition of County Histories of the Old Northwest, which covers Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Microfilms of county histories and atlases for New York and Pennsylvania are also available.
• Family histories, including thousands of individual and collective family genealogies in print. Nearly 7,000 genealogies on microfiche complement this collection.
• Genealogy how-to guides
• Land records such as plat maps, as well as the first purchase of Michigan land from federal and state sales on microfilm, arranged by county, town and range. Many of these have been transcribed and indexed.
• Maps and atlases, including Michigan plat maps and the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps for several states. Selected maps and atlases for other states and Ontario are included as well.
• Military service indexes to many state, colonial and other military records from every period of American history up to World War I
• Periodicals, such as society newsletters, from 150 genealogical and historical organizations. The periodicals are shelved alphabetically at the west end of the genealogy stacks on the second floor.
• Vital records

Service records of Michigan's Civil War volunteers, a passenger and immigrant lists index and other popular items are shelved on the tables in the Electronic Resources Area. Michigan genealogy materials are shelved with the Michigan Collection, on the north side of the second floor. The Library collects current and historical materials related to Michigan, ranging from local government publications to history and biography, business and industry to literature and folklore.

State government publications, such as Michigan History magazine, are shelved in the Michigan Documents Collection.

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Genealogy Microfilm Room

Microfilm, which is on rolls, is organized on shelves in the middle and back of this room. Holdings include: City directories for major U.S. cities from 1860 to 1935 Michigan vital records, including birth, death, marriage, tax, probate, land, town, church and cemetery records for Michigan, as well as some records for other states. Indexes to Michigan vital records are on microfilm:

• Births 1867-1915
• Deaths 1867-1914
• Divorces 1897-1969
• Marriages 1867-1921, 1950-1969

Microfilmed copies of death, marriage and divorce records are available for:
• Deaths 1867-1920
• Divorces 1897-1922
• Marriages 1867-1925

Microfiche is flat and is filed in the drawers at the front of the Genealogy Microfilm Room. Popular microfiche items include:

City directories for major U.S. cities prior to 1860 Civil War Unit Histories Genealogy and Local History Collection, which features more than 17,000 genealogy and local history titles, including out-of-print family and local histories, periodicals and public records, from University Microfilms Incorporated (UMI) Michigan Pioneer Records Index

Newspaper Microfilm Room

Dating to the early 1800s, the Michigan newspapers collection provides a wealth of primary documents, making it indispensable to researchers, genealogists and historians. The microfilms are shelved alphabetically by place of publication and then by title. The Library also carries national publications, including the New York Times from 1857 to today. The Library has more than 3,000 titles of Michigan newspapers on microfilm.

Special Collections

• Family History Library, Salt Lake City: The Family History Catalog, the International Genealogical Index (IGI), the Family Registry, Research and Outline Papers and FamilySearch's Ancestry File.
• Manuscript Collection: The Library has microfilmed more than 400 boxes of unpublished genealogical materials. Manuscript materials are housed in the Rare Book Room and in the Microfilm Collection on the second floor.
• Michigan Project Files: Microfiche indexes to the Michigan Centennial and Sesquicentennial Project Files. The indexes include 18,000 applications from people proving relationship to ancestors living in Michigan prior to 1838 and 1877. Additionally, the Surname Index lists 100,000 surnames submitted by a thousand members of Michigan genealogical societies.
• Michigan Pioneer Records: 3,200 data sheets submitted by researchers listing people living in Michigan prior to 1880. An index is available on microfiche.

Microfilm Scanner

The Library of Michigan recently added a microfilm scanner to allow patrons to create digital images of microfilmed newspaper articles, ship passenger lists, death certificates and more. Users scanning images may save files to a flash drive. Attached to a microfilm reader-printer in the Newspaper Room on the second floor of the Library, the scanner still may be used for traditional printing. To create digital images, users should set up the microfilm on the reader-printer and are then prompted to name the file and click a couple buttons to scan and save the image using the attached computer.

Users try out the new microfilm scanner at the Library of Michigan. The scanner allows patrons to create digital images of microfilm and save them to a flash drive.

Please note that flash drives with U3 technology are not compatible with the microfilm scanner and will not save scanned images. U3 flash drives are those that come loaded with U3 software; a logo on the flash drive will indicate if it is a U3 drive.

Next time you're at the Library, please give the scanner a try. Staff members are happy to assist.

Tips for Using These Resources

• ANSWER: Before your visit, you may wish to search ANSWER, the Library's online catalog. ANSWER can help you identify materials of interest at the Library of Michigan.
• Research services: Because of the amount of time needed for genealogical research, Library of Michigan staff members cannot provide research services. The Library maintains the Michigan Genealogy Research Network, a list of certified genealogists and genealogy societies that have indicated their willingness to conduct research for a fee.
• Microform readers: The Library of Michigan has more than 40 microform readers and reader-printers. When others are waiting to use the microform machines, please limit your time to one hour on the readers and 10 minutes on the reader-printers. Rewind your film when you are finished and leave it on one of the carts stationed throughout the microform rooms. If you need help, please ask a staff member.
• Copy cards: Printing for the microform printers, photocopiers and computer printers is $0.20 a page. You will need to purchase a copy card from one of the card dispensers near the copy machines on the second floor. The dispensers take only paper bills. One photocopy machine on the second floor takes coins.
• Photocopying: Fragile or oversized materials cannot be copied. Materials in good condition may be photocopied within the limits of current copyright laws. Please ask a reference librarian for assistance if you have questions concerning the condition of materials you wish to photocopy. Digital cameras may be used.
• Shelving: Library staff members reshelve all materials. Please put books and microfilm on the carts and place microfiche in baskets.
• Circulation: Because of in-house user demand and the fragile condition of many genealogy and Michigan materials, most of the collection is available for reference use only at the Library of Michigan.
• Food and drink: A snack shop and vending machines are available on the first floor of the Michigan Library and Historical Center. The snack shop is open Monday-Friday mornings and afternoons. The vending machines are accessible all hours the Library is open. You may bring your own food and drink to eat in the snack shop seating area. No food or drink is allowed in the Library.
• Planning a visit: For hours, directions and parking information, please see Visit the Library of Michigan For additional information, please see Plan a Visit to the Michigan Library and Historical Center.
• Questions: For more information, see the Abrams Foundation Historical Collection: Frequently Asked Questions. Please ask for assistance. The Library staff is here to help you!

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Updated 02/21/2008