Reference Requests to the Archives of Michigan
Prepayment of All Requests
The Archives of Michigan requires payment for research conducted
for off-site visitors. This fee is necessary to ensure the day-to-day operation of the
reference unit.
To receive a fee assessment, researchers can send an e-mail to archives@michigan.gov or call (517) 373-1408 during the business week (Monday-Friday). The Archives can take credit card information via telephone but not via e-mail or U.S. mail. Checks or money orders must be payable to the State of Michigan and should be mailed to: the Archives of Michigan, PO Box 30740, Lansing, MI 48909.
Do not send credit card information through mail or e-mail.
Any questions or comments
may be directed to (517) 373-1408. Researchers may visit the Archives in person at no
charge. Photocopies are $.20 per page.
Information Needed to Process Any
Reference Request
We need the following information in order for us to process your request. Also,
please provide detailed information about the records that you are seeking. Review the Archival Circulars for assistance
before submitting a request. If your research involves a topic not mentioned below, be as
specific as possible.
-
Naturalization
Records
If your research question involves a naturalization record, please provide the
county
in which the person was naturalized, the approximate
date of naturalization, and the
name(s) of the person with each possible spelling for the name. Please also provide
any available biographical information, such as date of birth, death, approximate arrival in
the U.S. (up to ten years), and names of spouse and children.
-
Vital Records
Indexes
If your research question involves a vital record (birth, death, marriage, divorce record),
you may visit the Archives of Michigan
in person to search our indexes, but you will
need to contact the Michigan Department of Community Health for an actual copy of the
record. Click
COPIES OF VITAL
RECORDS to obtain ordering information from their web site.
IMPORTANT: The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics is not part of the
Archives of Michigan. Information from vital records can only be obtained by sending in a
completed Vital Records Application Form. Please do not request free research services.
Information about the division's services and fees is available at the Michigan Department of
Community Health Web site.
-
Legislative History: Special Committees,
Standing
House Committees,
Standing Senate
Committees
If your research question involves legislative history/intent, please provide the public act
number and the year of passage, or the bill number and year of passage. Indicate if the bill
was first introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate, the subject of the bill,
and the committee which reviewed the bill.
Compiled Laws references will not be
accepted. We can only research one request (one bill) at a time.
-
Land Records
If your research question involves a land record, you must provide the legal description,
e.g., the township, range and section numbers, or at least provide the city or village.
The following form exists for online requests (Researchers will still have
to prepay via telephone or check. Do not provide credit card information on this form. Credit card information can be taken by telephone only.):
Online Reference
Request Form.
Please complete all fields on the form. We need your phone number so
the archivist can talk to you directly if there is a question. Your complete postal mailing
address is necessary because the search is most likely to provide paper copies that will need
to be mailed.
NOTE: The best way to research your topic of interest
at the Archives of Michigan is to visit the Archives of Michigan Reading Room. Click VISITOR INFORMATION for more
details. If you have a more extensive research project and cannot travel to our reading room,
a list of contract researchers can be provided upon request. Click CONTRACT
RESEARCHERS to submit such a request. The Archives of Michigan provides the names as a
public service and cannot assist in the arrangements between patrons and researchers.
The Library of Michigan also provides a list of Michigan genealogical societies and
professional genealogists who will provide genealogical research services for a fee. Click MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
NETWORK to view this list.
The Archives of Michigan accepts reference requests by mail, telephone and
FAX.
Address:
- Archives of Michigan
- P. O. Box 30740
- Lansing, Michigan 48909-8240
- Telephone: (517) 373-1408
- FAX: (517) 241-1658
All requests must be prepaid. Please call (517) 373-1408 for research services and fees information. If you wish to FAX or mail your request, you may print and use a
Reference Request Form. Click REFERENCE REQUEST FORM to access the form.
- Please call (517) 373-1408 for research services and fees information.
- Click PHOTOGRAPH
PRICE LIST for a guide to photograph prices (Payments must be made in advance.).
- Certified Copies: $10.00 for the first certified page plus $1.00 for each
additional page (Payments must be made in advance.).
- Photocopies: .20 per page for
onsite researchers (For offsite requests, the photocopy charge is included in the research
fee.).
Click ARCHIVES OF MICHIGAN to
visit the Archives of Michigan home page.
Archives of Michigan
Michigan Library and Historical Center
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: (517) 373-1408
E-mail: archives@michigan.gov
Updated 11/02/2009
Michigan
Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Use and Reproduction
Information [PDF]
Send comments about this page to archives@michigan.gov.
