Skip to main content
Donations

Donations

Donations to the Archives

While state and local government records are the core of the Archives of Michigan’s collections, the Archives also collects manuscripts — the records and papers of persons, organizations, businesses, and private institutions of Michigan — that document the culture, society, life, physical and human environment of the state, from pre-statehood to the present.

The Archives of Michigan accepts personal donations in the following collecting areas:

  • Private papers of public officials.
  • Private papers of individuals or families reflecting the social, cultural, economic, military, or political history of Michigan.
  • Manuscripts pertaining to military service of Michigan persons, especially in Michigan military units.
  • Records of organizations, institutions, and businesses that reflect the religious, social, cultural, civic, educational, or economic development of Michigan.
  • Records of Michigan veterans’ organizations.
  • Private papers documenting the exploration or development of the state.
  • Papers and records that complement existing private or public records in the Archives or that fill gaps in underrepresented collection areas.
  • Medical and public health–related organizations that pertain to public health issues and treatment at state hospitals.

In addition, the Archives of Michigan maintains the Abrams Foundation Historical Collection which includes published local and family history and genealogical resources that complement the Archives of Michigan’s primary source documents.

  • Published indexes and/or transcriptions (including, but not limited to vital records, naturalizations, cemetery transcriptions, church records, city directories, military records, census records, tax lists, court records, passenger lists, land, ethnic-specific sources, and newspaper extracts)
  • Local history (state, county, local, migration, ethnic)
  • Methodology (handbooks, manuals, bibliographies)
  • General (genealogical periodicals, lineage societies, social history)
  • Compiled genealogies (Michigan families)

If you are interested in donating items – or know of any possible archival collection — that fall within the collecting guidelines listed above, please contact the Archives of Michigan.