More Collections

• GLO Plat Maps

  This collection contains dozens of maps from the Government Land Office depicting Michigan's 1,400 individual township parcels, with the parcels divided into 36 larger sections. Most of the maps in this collection were created in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Three copies of these maps were produced, one for the U.S. Government Land Office in Washington, D.C., one for the federal land office in Michigan, and one for the state land office in Michigan.

• Early Photography

  The Early Photography Collection is comprised of over 200 nineteenth century cased images. These include formats such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes.  The collection is of both identified and unidentified individuals, including women, children, and some identified Civil War soldier images.
  
  

• Music of Michigan

  The Library of Michigan’s sheet music collection contains more than 400 pieces of music written by Michigan composers and/or issued by Michigan music publishers.

• Architecture

  The Architecture Collection contains the architectural drawing of the Ransom Eli Olds Mansion in Lansing, Michigan.  Upcoming additions to this collection include the drawings from the Barnes Mansion (also in Lansing) and drawings of lighthouses throughout the state.
  
  

• Civil War Battle Flags

  Visitors to the State Capitol fondly remember its rotunda ringed with battle flags. These flags now show the ravages not only of battle, but also of storage under less than ideal conditions.

• WPA Property Inventories

  Between c1936 and 1942, the Works Progress Administration collected data about land and buildings throughout rural Michigan.  These documents contain information describing the land, buildings and surrounding area. Records are arranged alphabetically by name of township, then numerically by section number. Currently, Hillsdale, Isabella, Jackson, and Oakland counties are available online.

• Maps

  The online map collection contains a sampling of the thousands of maps housed at the Archives of Michigan.  Currently, the digital collection includes early survey maps, county maps, and railroad maps. All date from 1841-c1900 and depict various areas of Michigan.
  
  

• Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations

  Michigan has over 120 lighthouses and life-saving stations, more than any other state. This is a collection of photographs and postcards of these Great Lakes sentinels. The images date from 1852 to 1980 with the majority taken between 1910 and 1950.

• Early Documents

  The Early Documents Collection chronicles Michigan's road to statehood including the original Constitution passed in 1835 to the Senate Bill admitting Michigan as the 26th State of the Union.

• Oral Histories

  The Archives of Michigan offers these recorded interviews with Michigan citizens. By sharing their memories, these individuals enlighten our understanding of the past and often bridge gaps in the written historical record.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Main Streets

  The Main Streets collection depicts street scenes from various towns and cities throughout Michigan.  Images of lakes, city parks, buildings, hotels, and nature scenes are also included in the collection.   The dates range from the 1850s through the 1980s.

• Governors of Michigan

  A useful collection of Michigan's forty-seven governors. Subjects range from Stephens T. Mason (1835-1840), the first governor of Michigan through Jennifer Granholm (2002-), the forty-seventh. Entries include personal information, party affiliation, residence, and location of manuscript materials.