Genealogy Research Resources

Local Resources

Coopersville Area Historical Society

The Coopersville Area Historical Society is committed to serving the community by telling the continuing story of the people of the Coopersville region through exploration, preservation and presentation of their historical and cultural heritage.

Ottawa County Clerk

Ottawa County has electronically archived death records dating back to 1867 and marriage records from 1905 to the present.

General Genealogy Research

American Ancestors

One of the nation's leading research centers for genealogists of every skill level.

Ancestry Library Edition

Available for free at the library only. Search billions of genealogical records, including census and voter lists, birth, marriage and death certifications, military records, immigration and passenger lists, and more.

FamilySearch

Search billions of ancestory profiles, photographs, and historical documents for free.

Find a Grave

The world's largest gravesite collection.

MyHeritage Library Edition

Family history/genealogy resource including more than 6 billion historical records from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and other regions. Provided through the Michigan eLibrary.

National Archives and Records Administration

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records.

Michigan Resources

Archives of Michigan

The Archives of Michigan preserves and makes available the records of Michigan government, public institutions, private individuals and organizations.

Closed Adoption Agencies and Their Holdings

This is a list of closed adoption agencies in Michigan and the organization who holds the records from that agency.

Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan

The Bentley Historical Library is the campus archive for the University of Michigan. It houses collections related to the history of the University of Michigan and the state of Michigan.

Michigan Family History Network

The Michigan Family History Network is a state site for doing genealogy in Michigan. It features free databases of records that have been put online for use. It presently has over 180,000 Michigan records thanks to transcribers and individual visitors.

Michigan Genealogy on the Web

Part of USGenWeb®, this is a volunteer-run site specializing in Michigan genealogy.

Michiganology

Michiganology.org began as SeekingMichigan.org in 2009 when the Archives of Michigan and Library of Michigan partnered to deliver more than 1 million records online. Now, more than 10 million records are available online along with interesting educational materials and countless stories chronicling the everyday lives of Michiganders. Search death certificates from 1897 to 1952 as part of this collection.

Military and Service Related Research

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) is a database containing information about the men who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.

Fold3 by Ancestry

Access military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents, of the men and women who served. This database requires a Library of Michigan digital card for access which is available for free for Michigan residents ages 18 and older. Click here to apply and recieve your digital card entirely online.

Newspapers and Newspaper Archives