Michigan History General Sources
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Detroit: Looking Back to Move Forward (Oral Histories)Searchable archive of photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other digitized primary-source materials related to Detroit and Michigan history.
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Digital Public Library of America - MichiganPhotographs, manuscripts, records, and other primary source materials related to the history and experiences of the state of Michigan.
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Detroit Public Library - Digitized Special CollectionsOnline archive of photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other digitised primary-source materials related to Detroit and Michigan history that are part of the library’s Special Collections.
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Making of Modern MichiganSearch digitized local history from dozens of Michigan libraries, including photographs, newspapers, oral histories, family papers, maps, and community archives
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Michigan MemoriesProvides access to digital collections from cultural institutions throughout the state of Michigan.
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Michiganology (formerly Seeking Michigan)Digitized materials from the Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan.
Michigan Newspapers
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Ann Arbor District Library - Old NewsSearchable historical newspapers and photographs from Ann Arbor area publications, including the Signal of Liberty, the Ann Arbor Argus, the Ann Arbor Courier, and the Ann Arbor News.
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Chronicling America: Michigan NewspapersSearch select Michigan historic newspaper pages from 1836 to 1963.
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Detroit Free Press Historical (1831 - 1999) This link opens in a new window
Search and browse the Detroit Free Press backfile in pdf. Includes news, editorials, ads, photos, graphics.
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Detroit News (1970 to present)Also available at the University of Michigan's Hatcher Graduate Library from 1873 to present.
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Digital Michigan Newspaper PortalMichigan newspaper titles available online from various institutions including the Library of Congress.
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Michigan Historical Newspapers This link opens in a new window
Search and browse the backfiles of Battle Creek, Lansing, and Port Huron newspapers in PDF. Includes news, editorials, ads, photos, graphics.
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Upper Peninsula NewspapersCloverland Magazine, Escanaba (Daily Mirror, Morning Press and Daily Press, Tribune, and Iron Port), Grand Marais (Gazette, Herald, and Superior Sun [Grand Marais High School]), Ishpeming, Manistique (Courier, Pioneer Tribune, Saturday & Sunday Morning Star), Marquette, Negaunee, Nishnawbe News.
Digitized Collections - Michigan Archives, Repositories, & Special Collections
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Benson Ford Research Center - Digitized CollectionsAccess to thousands of digitized artifacts and archival materials that document America’s story of innovation and ingenuity—from early industry through modern design.
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Bentley Historical Library - Digitized Collections (University of Michigan)Complete or large segments of various archival collections, such as alumni surveys, records of the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, photo albums, letters, and diaries.
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Clarke Historical Library - Digital CollectionsMichigan history materials including digitized newspapers, university archives, children’s literature, and other rare books and documents from the region.
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Clements Library - Digitized Collections (University of Michigan)Maps, prints, photographs, manuscripts, and books focused on the history of the Americas, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Detroit Public Library - Digitized Special CollectionsOnline archive of photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other digitised primary-source materials related to Detroit and Michigan history that are part of the library’s Special Collections.
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Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections - Digitized MaterialsBrowse and search thousands of collections, with options to limit to digital materials and to explore by subjects, names, and more.
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Michigan Tech Archives - Digital CollectionsAccess to selected digitized materials documenting Michigan Technological University and the Copper Country, including collections like the Copper Range Company Records and Winter Carnival.
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Northern Michigan University ArchivesDocuments Northern Michigan University and the Central Upper Peninsula, with browsing by keyword name title subject and collecting area.
Use the "Limit to digitized material" option under "Limit by Record Type." -
Reuther Library Image GalleryProvides searchable photographs documenting American labor, metropolitan Detroit, and Wayne State University history across curated themes and collections.
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Wayne State University - Digital CollectionsThousands of digitized primary sources such as photographs, yearbooks, campus and Detroit history collections, maps, and manuscripts.
Michigan Maps
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Michigan County Histories and AtlasesAn online collection of 428 Michigan county histories and atlases.
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Sanborn Insurance Maps - Michigan This link opens in a new window
Detailed historical town and city maps from 1880s to 1950s
Subjects: Historic Preservation, Local History, Geography, Genealogy
Michigan Government Documents
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Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan (1837-1977)Digitized volumes of the official daily records of Michigan’s House proceedings, documenting bills introduced, committee actions, votes, and other legislative business rather than verbatim debate.
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Documents Accompanying the Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of MichiganA series of government documents that records reports, petitions, appropriations, and legislative proceedings submitted to the Michigan House of Representatives during its sessions.
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Journal of the Senate of the State of Michigan (1837-1921)Digitized volumes of the Senate’s official daily proceedings, with many full-view years available (for example, 1835 to 1836, 1841, 1861 to 1865, and 1891 to 1921) that researchers can use to trace bills, committee actions, and votes.
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Documents Accompanying the Journal of the Senate of the State of MichiganA series of government documents that records reports, petitions, appropriations, and legislative proceedings submitted to the Michigan Senate during its sessions.