High school yearbooks in Michigan began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as collections of photos, essays, and artwork documenting academic life. Over time, they have become cherished keepsakes and valuable archives that reflect student milestones, community identity, and local history.
The Library of Michigan is accepting yearbooks of Michigan high schools, colleges/universities, and other post-secondary institutions (e.g. nursing schools, business schools, vocational/technical schools). These include public, private, and parochial schools across the state. Publications from both closed and currently operating institutions are accepted.
The goal is to have two copies of each yearbook – one that will always remain at the building as a reference copy while the other being available as a circulating item that Library of Michigan library cardholders can check out.
Yearbooks of elementary schools, middles schools, and junior high schools are not part of this project.
The Library of Michigan is not digitizing or scanning yearbooks as part of this project. All yearbooks collected will be incorporated into the library's physical collections. Look for a directory of Michigan yearbook digitization projects on the Michigan Yearbooks at the Library of Michigan page. Other digitized Michigan yearbooks may be found on Ancestry.com and MyHeritage databases through our online resources.
If a Michigan library or cultural heritage organization is looking to digitize their own yearbook collection, find guidance on the Library of Michigan's Digitization page. Libraries and cultural heritage organizations can request digitization kits from the Library of Michigan and have files hosted on the LM Digital platform.
Please include the school's name, its location within the state, the years of volumes you have, and a basic description describing the condition of each volume. If possible, also include photos of the yearbooks in your email to the Library of Michigan.
Donors can either drop off donations at the Library of Michigan during open hours or mail them to our facility. The mailing address to use is:
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
P.O. Box 30007
Lansing, MI 48909-7507
When mailing donations, be sure to ask US Postal Service staff about the availability of sending items via Media Mail. Please also fill out our online Gift Form when the items are mailed. Donors dropping off items at the Library of Michigan will also be asked to fill out a donation form.
Library of Michigan hours are Monday through Friday 10AM-5PM and Saturdays 10AM-4PM.
If neither options work, please indicate that to library staff to see if other arrangements can be made.
If an item is in acceptable or better condition, try reaching out to the library or cultural heritage location that the item might best fit with.
If you are unsuccessful in finding a new home for your item and you are willing to recycle it, consider bringing it to a Paper Gator bin in your area or your local recycling services.
Help support the Library of Michigan's initiative for collecting Michigan yearbooks. Please use these downloadable/printable posters at your library or organization.
The goal of the initiative is to have 2 copies of each yearbook at the Library of Michigan. Please connect with library staff beforehand to ensure potential donations do not duplicate items already in the collection.
All donors are asked to submit a donation form when gifting physical items to the Library of Michigan. This allows staff to inventory incoming donations prior to processing. Physical forms are available at the Library of Michigan's 2nd Floor Reference Desk. Donors may also use our online donation form, especially if they mail items to the Library of Michigan.
Do not submit form until after communicating first with Library of Michigan staff. Contact the Library of Michigan at Librarian@Michigan.gov or 517-335-1477.
