Birth and Death Certificates |
Detroit City Directory
Last updated on November 8,
Census Schedules are microfilm copies of the original questionnaires filled out by
Census takers since 1790. They include the names of individuals and varying amount of
detail about their social and economic conditions. Genealogists
often use the Census Schedules for their initial research. Information from
any given census is released 72 years after the date is was taken in order to protect the privacy of individuals. The
latest Census schedules currently available are from the 1930 Census.
Information on the Census schedules varies with the year the Census was taken.
For example, literacy was first asked in 1830 and place of birth in 1850. Sample questionnaires
appear in Measuring
and Population and Housing Inquiries
Decennial Censuses, 1790-2000
Individual Census Questionnaires
Holdings at the University of
Images for Census records of ALL STATES, 1790-1930, appear in
Heritage Quest is available to all University affiliates. Many public libraries also subscribe to the
Microfilm for the State of MICHIGAN, 1830-1880, and 1900-1930, is
located in the
Serials/Microforms Room under the call number MICRO X1209. The cabinet is situated
at the Northeast end of the room. The original 1890 Census was destroyed in a Washington, D.C. fire and is unavailable anywhere in the nation.
of Michigan and Burton Historical
Collection have all census microfilm for all states through
Those affiliated with the University of Michigan may obtain
from other states through Interlibrary Loan.
series number and reel number necessary for Inter-Library Loan can be
obtained using a series of indexes located in the Documents Center under
the call number: Z 7553 .C3
Those not affiliated with the University might want to contact either
local public library for Inter-Library Loan, call the Burton Historical
Collection at the Detroit Public Library (313 833-1480), or the Library
of Michigan (517 373-1300)
Online provides links to available on-line indexes for the
entire country. It draws together statewide projects and those conducted
by local historical societies and individuals.
name indexes for 1790-1930.
Paper indexes exist for the 1830-1870
Michigan Censuses. They
are located on the top of the microfilm
cabinet that contains the census microfilm in the northeast section of
the Serials/Microforms Room.
- 1830 Federal Census: Territory of Michigan
(Serials/Micro F 565 .U58 1830)
- Index to 1840 Federal Population Census of Michigan (Serials/Micro F 565 .M321)
- Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan (Serials/Micro F 565 .M58)
- Index to the 1860 Federal Population Census of Detroit and Wayne County (Serials/Micro F 572 .W4 S93)
- Michigan 1870 Census index (Serials/Micro F 565 .M56 1991)
and also on the web as http://envoy.libofmich.lib.mi.us/1870_census/
From 1880 to 1920, the microfilm census
schedules are indexed by a second set of
microfilm called the Soundex index. There is one Soundex
index for each state, although the index may
itself be on several rolls of microfilm. The Soundex index for Michigan is filed with the Michigan microfilm in the Serials/Microform Room (MICRO -X1209) under the year of the Census.
The Soundex index supplies an alphanumeric code to each last name.
According to the Soundex coding guide:
|Code||Key Letters and Equivalents|
Soundex indexes for 1930 were only compiled
for twelve states
(not Michigan) so people without access to
Heritage Quest must
- Identify the street address of the person being sought
- Use conversion tables to determine the enumeration district number for
that street on the census microfilm.
1. City directories can be used to identify street
- Polk's Detroit City Directory
- Polk's Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Washtenaw County
- 1930 volume in Serials/Microforms: AY2001 .A39
- For additional city directories, search Mirlyn
- Use advanced search with city or county and directories as subject
- This will also identify materials in the Bentley Historical
lansing or ingham - as subject
directories - as subject
2. Determine Enumeration District(s) of street
(film is arranged by state, county, place, and ED)
- For large cities (over 25,000) throughout the nation and the following
cities: use Stephen Morse's Obtaining EDs for the 1930
in One Step
[http://stevemorse.org/census/index.html]. This will
provide the enumeration district number and reel number for
* Select State
* Select City
* Select Street from pulldown menu
* If the street has more than one Enumeration District and you know a
cross street, pull down the menu and select the new street. It should
give you the correct ED number where the two streets intersect.
* If you do not know a cross street, use the street address to view a
map at the bottom of the page. Then go back and select the new street
from the pulldown menu.
- For all other places, use
Archives web site
[http://1930census.archives.gov/beginSearch.asp] to search by
state and county
- This will give a description of the boundaries of each enumeration
- Microfilm 35099 in Serials Microform Room with Detroit
filed as GLMR FILM X1209
Census microfilm for other states is available to those affliated with the University of Michigan
(have library borrowing privileges) through Inter-Library Loan.
- Identify the National Film Group and Reel Number using Federal Population Censuses located in the Documents Center's Statistical Reference Section (Doc.Cen.
Z 7553 .C3 U54). EXAMPLE: the number for Blount County, Alabama, in the 1870 Census is M593, Reel 3.
- Since the University of Michigan Library does not have the printed indexes for other states, it is
essential to know the state and location of the person being traced.
- Beginning in 1880, the Library may also borrow the Soundex Index. The reel numbers of the
Soundex index are also located in Federal Population Censuses.
- An Inter-Library Loan form might read:
United States Bureau of the Census. Federal Population Census Schedule: 1870, Blount
County, Alabama, M593, Reel 3. Washington, National Archives.
- Give the completed form to the Graduate Library Information Center.
Additional Genealogical Resources
- View images from the Federal Censuses, 1790-1930
- Some indexes for the period
- Court records, immigration lists, slave narratives, U.S. and European
- Alternatives for the missing 1890 Census (burned in National Archives
and Reference Sources for Family History (Tinney)
Annotated sources for archives, surnames, family trees, and military
Passenger manifests from Ellis Island, 1892-1924. May be hard to access
due to popularity.
- Family Search
Web site of the Latter Day Saints archive in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Covers birth and christening records for the 17th through 19th
Centuries in the U.S. and abroad but does not index the U.S. Decennial
Census. Search ancestor or parents by
name. Extensive list of additional genealogical sources.
- Genealogy: A
Family History Resources at the Graduate Library
Guide to genealogical resources at the library, including passenger
lists, census, vital records, and books.
- Genealogy Home Page
Extensive list of free and commercial genealogy resources on the web,
including general sources, religious records, and ship passenger lists.
E-mail groups and mailing lists for genealogists
Annotated guide to archives, commercial sites, names indexes,
and military records. Section on how to conduct genealogical research.
Numerous hot links and evaluation of sources make this a "best of the
- General Land Office
Patents (sales) awarded for federal lands, 1820-1908.
Covers Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Within state, indexed by name or description of property.
Data includes name, date of sale, property description, and a tiff
image of the original patent.
- National Archives source for military and federal civilian personnel
records is in St. Louis
- Describe how to obtain historic records
- National Death Index
Search decedents with Social Security numbers by name, SSN, birth date,
death month/year. "Last location" is city/state where lump sum death benefit
Records Information State Index
Where to write for birth, death, and marriage records for all states
and most counties. Includes links to state and national genealogical
Historical Collection (Detroit Public Library)
- Resources for family history include all census schedules for all
- Many of the Soundex indexes
- Detroit city directories and church records
- Parts of the Ontario Census
Genealogical Death Indexing System
- Full text of 170,000 death records between 1867 and 1884
- Searchable by first and last name of decedent, father's last name,
county, and date
- Information includes date and cause of death, marital status, exact
- Genealogy Guides for the
University of Michigan Library
- Series of guides written by Don Callard in 1987 and 1988 on major
geneaology sources in the Graduate Library
- File includes migrations between southern states and 1790-1930
Premier collection of Michigan genealogy with description of collection
and instructions of research. Includes all census schedules east of
Mississippi to 1920, Ontario schedules, mortality schedules, Civil War
veterans and widows (1890), and the Durant census of Chippewas and
717 West Allegan, Lansing, Michigan 48909. (517) 373-1580.
- Michigan 1870 Census
Indexes 1870 microfilm by name of person. Can narrow search by county or
township. Data includes name, county, township or city, and page on the
Division of Vital Records
- Instructions and application forms for obtaining birth, marriage,
divorce, and death records
- Michigan in the
- Burial places and regiments of all Michigan soldiers who died in the
- Brief summaries of Michigan regiments
- Additional information for purchase on CD-ROM
Census schedules for businesses have been
microfilmed for 1850-1880. They appear in National Archives Microfilm
Catalogs under Record Group 29 and have numbers in the T1128 to T1163
range. Many of these schedules for agriculture, manufacturing, and
mortality are available at the Bentley Historical Library on
campus. Search MIRLYN under
the title: federal non population. Additional locations in OCLC's
WorldCat under the title
"Federal Nonpopulation Census Schedules."
Birth and Death
Certified copies of birth, death, marriage and
divorce records since 1867 can be purchased from the Michigan
Department of Community Health
for a reasonable fee. There are eligibility restrictions for ordering a
birth certificate. Directions for finding vital records in other states
is published by the National Center
Denise Schoene, Reference Desk Coordinator, Documents Center
Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
University of Michigan Library
Send comments and suggestions to firstname.lastname@example.org
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