NOTICE: The Eastwood Branch will be closed on April 29th & 30th for maintenance needs. 

Notice of Public Meeting: Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees | April 22nd| 5 pm | Central Library/Van Deusen Room. The packet of information for the meeting can be found on the library’s website. 

See the latest updates about Alma Powell Branch.

Local History

Microfilm

Local History Collection Microfilm Sets

Microfilm Collection

See also: Area Newspapers

Censuses

  • Michigan: 1820–1930, plus soundexes for 1880–1920. Printed indexes available for 1820–1870. The only available index for the 1930 census is on the Internet. Consult the staff for assistance.
  • Michigan — Kalamazoo County: 1850–1880, non-population census (agriculture, social statistics, and industry)
  • Census microfilm for some other states in storage. Check with local history librarian.

Kalamazoo County Vital Records

The indices for Births and Marriages continue through 1975, even though the corresponding records have not been filmed. The index to Foreign Deaths continues through 1998. There is no index to the Poorhouse Records.

  • Births: 1867–1903
  • Marriages: 1831–1950
  • Deaths: 1867–1997
  • Foreign Deaths: 1931–1989
  • Poorhouse Records: 1885–1941, 1950

Miscellaneous Government Records

  • Kalamazoo County deeds: 1831–1903 (through Liber 70), including grantee and grantor indexes
  • Early Kalamazoo city government records

County Histories

Michigan County and Regional Histories and Atlases (88 rolls)

Civil War

Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, 1861–1865, 46 volumes on seven rolls. There is a separate printed index to this set (H 977.4 M61 Index).

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Sanborn fire insurance maps for cities and villages in Kalamazoo County

Genealogical Register

New England Historic Genealogical Register, volumes 1–136, 1847–1982, including an index to volumes 1–50. Later volumes of the Register are available in paper copy. Volumes 51 through 148 are indexed in four bound volumes that are kept on top of the cabinet that houses the Register microfilm.

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