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Collections

Collections

The Archives of Michigan is responsible for preserving the records of Michigan government and other public institutions. The collections also include documents, maps, photographs, and audiovisual material from private individuals and organizations.

The Archives of Michigan houses Michigan's public records dating back to 1792. More than 80 million state and local government records and private papers, 10 million photographs and 500,000 maps, plus films and audio tapes are available for research.

The historical records preserved by the archives are one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. Therefore, archival materials are maintained in high-security, fire-resistant storage facilities within acid-free boxes and folders in shelving and cabinets designed for record preservation and efficient use of space. Humidity and temperature levels are also carefully monitored and controlled to ensure longevity of the records.

The Archives of Michigan’s collections include primary sources, the Abrams Foundation Historical Collection, and digital collections. The collections are available for use and research in the archives reading room. However, some larger collections are stored offsite and requires advanced notice to retrieve. Please contact the Archives of Michigan before planning a visit.

Primary Sources

The majority of the Archives of Michigan’s collections are primary sources, original documents or records that provide first-hand evidence of the state’s government, people, and culture. These primary sources include state and local government records, as well as non-government collections from private individuals, families, and businesses with a strong connection to Michigan. These primary sources include:

  • Naturalization records for most Michigan counties.
  • State government commission meeting minutes.
  • Committee records from the Michigan State Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Military records from the American Civil War to World War I.
  • Records from the original land surveys that laid out Michigan’s township and range system.
  • Circuit and probate court records from across the state.
  • Approximately 500,000 cartographic images and over 10 million photographs.

Abrams Foundation Historical Collection

The Abrams Collection emphasizes published works focused on states east of the Mississippi River, including the Great Lakes region, New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southern states, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. This collection is located in open stacks in the archives reading room and while browsable, the publications do not circulate. Some examples include:

  • County and local histories, cemetery transcriptions, vital record indexes, and much more from across the U.S.
  • Thousands of collective and individual family genealogies.
  • Birth, death, and marriage records for a number of states across the U.S., as well as Ontario.
  • A large collection of historical directories for major U.S. cities.
  • Plat maps and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for many eastern U.S. states.
  • Immigration records consisting of thousands of National Archives microfilms and a large collection of printed resources.

Digital Collections

A growing number of collections are available online at Michiganology.org, the Archives of Michigan online collections portal. These digital records include both digitized historical materials and born-digital state and local government records. There are more than 12 million records on Michiganology, and new material is added frequently. A sample of the collections available online includes: