Detroit Public Main Library

United States Michigan  Wayne  Archives and Libraries  

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Contact Information
E-mail: Ask a librarian form.

Address:


 * 5201 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48202 USA

Telephone: 313-481-1300;  Burton Historical Collection 313-481-1401

Hours: T, W 12-8;  Th, F, Sa 10-6;  Su, M Closed

Map, directions, and public transportation:


 * Map: Google map: Detroit Public Library Main Branch
 * Directons:
 * Public transportation: Detroit DOT bus routes 16, 53, 450, 460, 610, and 851 all stop near the Detroit Public Library Main Branch.

Internet sites and databases:


 * Detroit Public Library calendar, news and highlights, special collections, favorites, catalog and database search, special services, locations, research and resources, and services.
 * Detroit Public Library catalog online by keyword, author, title, subject, series, or periodical title.
 * Burton Historical Collection has background history of the Great Lakes area, New England, and New France as well as local and county histories for both the United States and Canada.

Collection Description
The Detroit Public Library Main Branch is home to the Burton Historical Collection and to the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research. They also have many unpublished family histories, research aids like indexes and cemetery guides, and an obituary collection. Their family folder collection is large, as is their very good newspaper collection.

The Burton Historical Collection contains records pertaining to Detroit’s history from her days as a 17th century settlement to present day, with information about the Great Lakes Region including the role of Canada, the French and English influence. There are atlases, maps, photographs, pamphlets, bound newspapers, personal papers and much more. Some Vital records such as marriage, birth and death records are available. Federal population schedules along with family histories, personal papers, immigration records, some Detroit high school yearbooks, probate indexes and records plus city directories for most years and other supporting resources are also available.


 * An inventory of this collection is:
 * Sprenger, Bernice Cox. Guide to the Manuscripts in the Burton Historical Collection. Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Michigan1985. (Family History Library .)


 * A sample of Onsite resources include:
 * Records of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865, First Michigan Colored Infantry
 * Burial Transit Permits 1941–1953
 * Wayne County Coroner’s Files 1865–1906
 * Wayne County Death Record Indexes 1934–1953
 * The Burton Historical Online collection includes:
 * To access these, click on the word "Resources" at the bottom of their web page.
 * (accessed 28 August 2014)
 * Michigan and Detroit Select Genealogical resources
 * Roman Catholic Church records from the Archdiocese of Detroit
 * Selected resources for Civil War research
 * Selected African American resources
 * War of 1812 resources, and
 * Wayne County Death Record Indexes

Tips
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Guides
{''Optional: Internet or guide books describing this collection for genealogists. ''}

Alternate Repositories
{'' List (link to a Wiki article for) at least one or more other repositories that collect overlapping records, or similar family history material including central repositories, affiliated or branch repositories, higher level jurisdiction repositories, parent or daughter jurisdiction repositories. Also list neighboring repositories with similar records. Please briefly explain how each substitute repository is related.''}

If you cannot visit or find a source at the , a similar source may be available at one of the following.

Overlapping Collections


 * Alternate Repository {create link for each, and give line or two describing collection}
 * such as: NARA I
 * NARA II
 * National Archives at _____
 * State Archives
 * State Library
 * State Library

Similar Collections


 * National Personnel Records Center
 * LC
 * FHL
 * LC
 * FHL

Neighboring Collections


 * County Vital Records Office
 * City Vital Records Office
 * County Archives
 * County Orphan's Court
 * County Probate Court
 * County Recorder
 * County Coroner
 * U.S. District Court
 * County and local historical societies
 * County and local genealogical societies
 * Public Libraries
 * Museums and heritage societies
 * Repositories in surrounding counties: [Chattam], [Durham], and [Franklin]
 * State Vital Records Office
 * State Historical Society
 * State Genealogical Society
 * University Libraries
 * Church archives
 * Repositories in surrounding states (or provinces): [SC], [TN], and [VA]
 * Repositories in surrounding states (or provinces): [SC], [TN], and [VA]