“Throughout Michigan’s varied and fascinating history, its people have been leaders. They have led the nation in the production of automobiles, iron and copper, lumber, and many agricultural products. Of even greater importance, Michigan citizens have been leaders in the movements for equitable working conditions, civil rights, and a clean environment. Perhaps, to paraphrase William Faulkner, Michigan will be a leader in helping humans to not merely survive, but prevail over our common problems.”
NGS Research in the States Series: Michigan; written by Shirley M. DeBoer; Revised and Updated by Brenda Leyndyke.
Michigan’s European settlers began with the French and British, with some others mixed in. “Later Italians and Scandinavians were miners and lumberjacks.” Quality farm land attracted many Dutch, Germans, and Irish. Of course, before the European settlers were the Native Americans, predominately the Chippewa (Ojibwa) and Potawatomi.
Each guide in this series offers a bit of history behind each type of record or resource as well as names and descriptions for specific archives. For example, under the heading Prison Records, a section not found in most of the guides, you will find the following:
“Michigan has three historic state prisons: Jackson (1837) and Ionia (1877) in the Lower Peninsula and Marquette (1889) in the Upper Peninsula. Information, from comprehensive card indexes, for individuals who served time in state facilities is available upon request at the Archives of Michigan. In addition to the card file, three Archival Circulars are helpful. No. 3 Correctional Records contains records from the three major correctional institutions; No. 48 Pardons, Paroles, Warrants, and Extraditions; and No. 8 Youths, Records Relating To for adopted children or children who had a problem adjusting to society. The latter restricted-access records are available with permission of the originating department.”
“The state has had two federal prisons. …”
In the guide, each section is handled in like manner. Plenty of specific information on what records are available and where to find them.
About the Series
Beginning in 1987, the National Genealogical Society began publishing a series of state guides in the organization’s magazine, the Quarterly. These guides were later re-issued as special publications designed to support genealogical research in each state. Eventually those guides became outdated and out of print. The current set of guides represents a refresh of those publications, updated and improved for today’s traditional and digital research resources.
More About the State Guides (from the Introduction)
“Readers should be aware that every effort has been made to include current web addresses throughout the publication and all were verified immediately prior to release…”
“Two research facilities used by many genealogists are the Family History Library (FHL) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Most genealogists are familiar with the abbreviations used for these two facilities and they are used in these publications. Otherwise the use of abbreviations and acronyms is kept to a minimum.”
Table of Contents
History and Settlements
- Early History
- Settlement
- Migration
Economy
Archives, Libraries, and Societies
- Archives of Michigan
- Library of Michigan
- Library of Michigan
- Other Libraries
- Michigan Genealogical Council
- Historical Society of Michigan
- Michigan Oral History Association
- National Archives at Chicago
Major Resources
- Aids to Research
- Atlases, Gazetteers, and Maps
- Biographical Guides
- Business Records
- Cemetery Records
- Census and Census Substitutes
- Pre-Statehood Census
- Federal Census
- State Census
- Special Census
- City and County Directories
- City-Level Research
- County-Level Research
- Territorial Courts
- State and Federal Courts
- Court Reports and Digests
- DAR Records
- Ethnic Records:African American, Canadian, Cornish, French Canadian, Ontarian, Dutch, Finnish, German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Native Americans, Polish, Scandinavian, Yankee
- Geography and Transportation
- Land Records
- Maritime Records
- Military Records and Benefits
- Veterans’ Benefits and Soldiers’ Homes
- Naturalization and Immigration
- Newspapers
- Prison Records
- Religious Records – Roman Catholic, Jewish, Protestant
- School Records, Youths and Orphans, and Institutions
- Tax Records
- Vital Records
- Adoption Records
- Birth, Marriage, Divorce, and Death Records
- Voter Rolls
- Women of Michigan
- Conclusion
These guides are an excellent resource for state by state research.
NGS Guides for the following areas are currently available from FRPC:
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New York City, Long Island and Westchester County
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma – American Indians
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
